The sun., 1906-12-30
BIGGEST TRUST IN TIE WORLD
A C0RNER IN PARADISE LOTS
FIELD BY A MOSLEM PRIEST.
Bxs fhe Monopoly Contrlved by AbdullAh
sf samarra Was In Peril when in an
Tncaualeus Moment He Sold Hades 90
astrAnger for the Sum Of Five Iiras.

IncaualOus Moment He Sold Hadcs 90
astrAnger for the Sum Of Five Iirss.
The oil trust or the steel trust, the sugar
combine or a corner in wheat or beef NAV
seem q huge affair to one outside of Wall
Street, and even the Wall Street broker
believes them to be the most powerful con-
Germs in the history Of the world. As mighty
as they are they are but slight things, OF
trthing importance. when compared with a
monopoly which il controlled by a half
civilized Arab.
The Arab is not frequenter Of Wall
Street: it is doubtful il he has ever heard
It's name. OF stocks and bonds he knows
nothing; the financial news of the daily
papers he never reads; the rise and fall
Of the market affects him in no way. and a
stock exchange he has never seen.
Only once or twice in all his life has he
left his little native village, and then he
wandered as humble pilgrim to the sacred
ctty Of Mecca. He lives in no sumptuous
palace; to attend him are no clerks or SER
wants other than half naked cook, whose
principal occupation is to bring him fire.
quent sips of black coffee and fresh Goals
TO light his long narghie.
His Office is the obscure chamber where
he sits by day and sleeps by night, yet he
controls monopoly of the greatest impor-
tanoe to millions Of Moslem people, and in
comparison with which the name of Sta andard
OIL is insignificant.
Abdullah is the name Of this marvellous
nnancier, and his home is in the little town
Of Samarrs, on the Tigris River. two days
north Of the famous city of Bagdad. Here,
squatting upon a straw mat, which Is spread
upon the floor. with a reed pen, a bottle Of
ink, q dish of sand to serve rs a blotter
and an impressive seal lying at his side,
he transacts his own business. He is the
president, the board Of directors, the secre-
tary, the treasurer, the clerk, the porter
and ofice boy all in one.
generation ago Abdullah was q strug-
Cling Moslem priest, and, like many Of his
fellows, was endowed with greater amount
Of cunning than piety. His religious duties
brought him an exceedingly small income
but an abundance Of time, which he in
dustriously employed in devising ways and
means 20 increase his revenue. The fact
that he became the worlds greatest mo-
nopolist is evidence Of his ability.
Samarra, though far from Mecca and the
other sacred cities, is on the pilgrim route
from all northern Mesopotamia and Persia.
To tho vast companies Of passing pilgrims,
o. they paused on their long journey for a
days rest, Abdullab announced that he
had received a special revelation.
According TO the revelation, no one,
however pious, however many times he
had made the pilgrimage to Mecca, not
even though he had killed a Christian in
battle, could be sure of entering Paradise
unless he possessed a title to some OF its
sacred soil. The announcement was start
ling, but TO the pious pilgrims it was true
beyond a doubt; priest had said 1t.
The news of the revelation spread over
the desert with a surprising rapidity and
crowds fiocked to Abdullah to learn how
they might obtain some OF the celestial
real estate. To the inquiring bands he
showed complicated maps and plans which
none could understand, and then explained
that IL one would escape the flames OF
Hades It was well to pray, better to make
the pilgrimage to Mecca, but the best and
surest way Of all was to purchase title
deed to a building lot in Heaven. He alone
had been commissioned by Allah to sell to
all Of the Faithful who came.
Thus the monopoly started, and Abdullah
was busy from morning till night writing
the deeds. For all who came parcel OF
Paradise was selected and defined and
Its deed was quickly prepared, sealed
with an impressive seal and delivered for
the consideration Of a substantial fee.
Some desired corner lot; others. less
endowed with worldly goods, were con-
tented with a less conspicuous location;
while those who were too poor to purchase
90 large a tract Of land might obtain stand
ing room for a smaller sum. Even the
beggar could be sure of entering Paradise
n he possessed Of the heavenly soil enough
sor the resting place of foot.
Had the poorest Of the pilgrims reflected
how they might be compelled to spend all
sternity standing upon one leg, with no
place to rest the other, Abduilah's business
would not have increased, but the monopo-
list was safe; the Moslem pilgrims never
think of thinking.
The prices charged for a lot in Paradise
varied exceedingly. No one could tell eI-
actly how Abdullah regulated the charges;
that was a part of the revelation, but TO an
outside observer it seemed that the ap-
pearance of the customer, the amount OF
money he displayed, his eagerness to pur-
chase and other considerations known only
TO Abdullah regulated the price.
For a corner lot, IL the customer were
wealthy, the price was never less than five
Turkish lras (s22), but it was the duty OF
n good Moslem never to bar any from the
way to Paradise for the want OF single
Ira or a few piasters, so others received
deeds actly defining the location Of the
land. its dimensions and boundaries, in
perfect accordance with the law. No one
was too poor to purchase; no one, unless
the price which he could pay was less than
the cost Of the paper Of the deed, went away
In disappointment.
Abdullah's business rapidly increased, for
as the pilgrims far and wide saw the deeds
Of their friends they fastened to purchase
a bit of Heaven before it should all be sold.
One day when there seemed to be lull in
the trade and Abdullah sat long in the real
estate Office a stranger entered and asked if
be could purchase a deed Of Hades.
The shrewd Abdullah, with an eye TO
business, Immediately replied in the affirma-
tive, and though wondering why any one
.houId desire TO own a part OF the place