The Washington herald., 1910-10-02
nx CHARLOTTE NJ. coNeEn.

by CHAHLOtTE VI. SONOEa.
For generation upon generation before
our war with Spain the sulu Archipelago
had been a difficult problem 10 the Span
iards
The Moros. who peopled the islands
were Mohammehans, piracy was indulg-
ed In by most of those who could buy or
steal a boet and horrible cruelties were
practiced It's conquest had again and
again been attempted. and again and
again been accomplished. that Is officially
and on paper. but actually the sulus
were as free as air. pirates on the sea,
bandits on land.
They might acknowledge the Spanish
authority. did acknowledge IL outwardly
but actually they obeyed no one but their
Sultan. whose subjects. their mode OF life
or their means OF livelihood. did not
trouble him so long as they paid the
tribute ne exacted. The Sulu group forms
a long curved line with Mindanoa at the
head and Tawi Tawi at the end 10 the
southwest OF the Philippines and between
them and Borneo.
sultan an AutOcraf.
Sulu. the largest island in the group
after MindanOa and Basilan. is the seat
Of the Sultan. who was the supreme au-
tocrat. the absolute ruler OF the Moros.
Now and again Spain established a gov
ernor at Sulu, but these officials were
governors in name only. The Sultan re-
manned. although Spanish governors came
and Spanish governors went, the real
authority the head of the Mohammedan
church, until the United States accom-
plished by peaceable methods. through a
show OF power and the inventions of the
magician. Edison. what Spain was I'M
able 10 do by military force.
Some time after the fall OF Manila the
battle ship Charleston. under command
Of Capt. Pigman was sent To take pos
session OF the Sulu Islands. peaceably.
IL possible, but If not peaceably. then
forc.bly
The captains first move, after he had
anchored and fired the usual salute. was
10 invite the Sultan aboard for tiffin.
Now the Sultan was not given TO accept
ing invitations TO board strange battle
ships. but this invitation was couched
in such terms he deemed it wise 10 ignore
his usual rule and went out to the ship
with his head man." or prime minister
On his arrival along side the royal per-
sonage was saluted with seventeen guns
which so fattered his vanity that he
stepped on deck swelling with pride and
Importance. Here he was received by
the captain and his suite in full regalia
and the most rigid ceremony was ohserv-
ed from the moment he came aboard
until he was conducted 10 the captains
cabin. where refreshments We're laid and
a real entertainment prepared in his hon
or While he was drinking his tea an cleo
trio fan threw a great breeze upon his
august neck.
Whats that?" he demanded 10 know
through his interpreter. What makes
that great wind here in this cahin?"
Royalty Given Proof.
The current was turned of and the far
was set before his royalty, who was In
fored that this was the machine which
made the breeze. or course he was
skeptical, but the Oriental, especially ths
Oriental follower OF Mohomet. scorns u
show surprise, so he politely asked how
/ IL was operated. His highness had only
to blow his royal breath on II, he wa.
| Informed. and the wind would come. Hi:
highness was still skeptical. but his high.
ness blew and behold the thing began 4
whiZZ and sent off such current Of ail
/ that the royal breath was almost takeF
away, so he demanded that it be shut of
BLOW upon H." he was again instruct
I ed and his highness blew. whereupon tht
/ great wind stopped. then he blew agar
and the wind again prevailed, so he sa
/ fascinated playing with the thing until
a bright light was placed before his won
dering eyes, a light that almost dazzleC
the royal sight by It's intensity.
| II would go out. he was informed. II h,
would blow upon il as he had blown upor
the fan. He blew. the light went out
Again he blew, II reappeared. II wa.
even more fascinating than he the won.
derful fan and he sat blowing It on unit
new toy was brought. This time {
| telephone. He was instructed 10 tall
into the instrument and an answer would
fome in return. That was too great ,
test for his credulity so he demurred. bu
/ finally was persuaded to try.
| He spoke and an answer came back II
his own tongue. for one of his suite haC