Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-01
AS He SAW HIMSELF
Memoirs of Tameflane, the
Grand Khan of Tartary.
FULL OF MORAL MAxiMS
Desired to Be Known as Wise King
and Patron Of Learning.
HAD BRILLIANT INTELLECT
Says He COMPOUNDED His Enemies
With His Kindness, But His Co.
temporaries Thought Otherwise.

BY WILLIAM T.. CURTIS.

SVAAPOA "a AGO = AVu6At SS0SA " ~S~s
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
CONSTANTINOPLE. September %, 1910.
The political military and moral max
inns found in the institutes of Tanner
lane, the Grand Khan Of Tartary, who
reigned over two-thirds Of the world 500
years ago, are as full of wisdom and
philosophy as the meditations of Marcus
Aurelius, and were household words in
the courts Of the grand moguls of India
his descendants. One OF them, Akbar
the Great two hundred years later actu-
ally carried out these regulations in prac-
teal form, and his fame as a wise and
just ruler is forever secure for that rea-
son.
Tamerlane was doubtless illiterate from
our standard, but wise in his generation
He was born a nonad shepherd, although
his family came from famous stock. He
probably never went to school a day in
his life. although he is said to have been
able to speak in three languages-Arabic,
Persian and Turk. But he had brilliant
intellect and a long course of instruction
in that greatest Of universities, human
experience. When he reached degree
of power and authority which enabled
him to do so he surrounded himself with
men OF learning, and although he de-
stroyed Bagdad and Damascus, which
were the centers Of literary life and scho-
lastic research in those days, the mosques
and colleges which he afterward erected
at Samarkand were worthy rivals OF the
best institutions In those ancient cities
1t 0ovrS sHlrn md
the beginning of the fifteenth century was
probably the center of civilization.
Wished to Be Kindly Remembered.
This Tartar warrior desired to be re-
membered by posterity as a wise king
and a patron Of learning, and he wrote
these memoirs late in life because he de-
sired to leave a memorial Of himself
which would place him upon a level with
the most intelligent of the sovereigns he
had overthrown. His sons inherited from
him unusual talent, which in some cases
amounted to genius, and they founded an
empire in India which lasted to our own
time.
In 1887 Ulugh Beg, a grandson OF Tam.
erlane, built at Samarkand the greatest
observatory I'm the world. and with his
own hands prepared Astronomical tables
which are the wonder of modern astron-
omers The thirty-eight years this cui-
tured prince occupied the throne Of his
father was the golden age of centra!
Asia He gathered about him the most
famous men of science of that time. and
his artistic taste was displayed in build
ings which still stand. Other OF Tamer-
lanes descendants were also men OF
learning and patrons OF science and arr
and literature, and by their works IT is
evident that they desired to be so known.
The institutes" Of Tamerlane doubt
less attracted great attention in the Mos
lem world when they first appeared, and
were the subject Of much comment IN
1850. when they were first transiateo INTO
English, but like many good things. they
were buried under flood of publications.
and have been forgotten. Their revival
would be opportune even at this day.
Some of His Political Maxims.
Among the political maxims which Ia
merlane handed down to his successors
for their guidance in governing the en-
pire he had established over two-thirds
Of the continent of Asia are the follow
ing:
I'm conducting the concerns of govern
ment take by the hand four assistants:
Deliberation. counsel, vigilance and cir
cumspection.
.'Those are worthy only to be counsel
ors who steadfastly adhere to what they
say and do.
IA friend in all places cometh to use.
"One obstinately resolved on resist
ance, who is dangerous, may often be
won by indirect commentator which he
may hear.
"Unless it be quite necessary, a prince
should not displace officers of his own
promotion.
'Since God is one and hath no partner.
therefore the ruler over the land must be
one only.
1T is good to pardon. to be LIBERAL to
be merciful: but II Is better to be just.
Those who are disposed to hurt others
should not be admitted to intimacy.
"A prince must be just and good as
we'll as valiant.
Not only good and useful men are to
be rewarded; but enemies and traitors
on submission can be pardoned and
made useful II their hearts can be won.
Especially If they are brave and saga
cious men.
teachers of the divine law should
furnish an example Of their precepts.
mo prince can be strong and secure
unless he is religious.
PLENTY and population are the main
ends in a government.
"A prince should hear advice from
every one, but he should so attend to
none as to make them equal or superior
to himself in wisdom or in authority.
"Too great a share Of government
should be trusted to none, but the power
OF every officer, even the most inferior,
should be absolute over all below him.
ministers should not be condemned ex-
cept on fair trial and clear proof, be-
cause many seek their ruin, either envy
ing them or plotting against their sov-
eregn.
"He who forgetteth his duty once
should be trusted no more.
..He who in the hour OF trial search
eth after excuses, or would transfer I'M
I'll tomorrow the business of today, let
him be held In contempt.
"If good servant be unjustly put to
shame or modification, let 1t be re-
paired promptly.
when one who hath forsaken his mas
ter returns Of his own accord, let him be
received with kindness, but not honor"
Reliance on Divine Favor.
These are samples Of the wisdom Of
| the great, Tamerlane In political policy.
| and in his Institutes he gives a SINH
! lar series for the guidance OF his sue
cessors In military affairs. He also gives
! a series of theological and religious
max.ms which are equally sagacious. For
example, he says:
"Victory proceedeth not from the great
| ness Of armies, nor defeat from In
| feriority of numbers, for conquest Is OBJ
| tanned by divine favor and skillful meas
| ures.