The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-11

for instance-but no other story told iii those marvellous Thousand and One Nights during which Schahria the great king of India, was kept amused is so full of fun, so fairly rollicking in humor. Scheherazade must have been in a particularly merry mood when she told it. The story has q distinctive char aeter of its own and differs in many ways so much from such stories as Sinbad and Alladin as to go far to support the hypothesis that the Arabian Nights Entertainments is a collection of stories of many countries by many authors gathered together and written dewn by some old forgotten Arabian chronicler who "gathered other mems posites" and bound them with string of his own.
 IN the reign of the Caliph Haroun
 Alraschid, Commander of the X Faithful, there died in the city of Bagdad a rich merchant, who left widow and an only son. The great wealth of the merchant went to the son, who was named Abou Hassan Abou Hassan, having been kept on rather short commons during the l1fe of his father, determined to enjoy him- self now that he was able to do so. But withal the youth had inherited some or his fathers business sagacity, so he di- vided his fortune into two parts. One part he laid aside and the other part he consigned and devoted to the pursuit of pleasure He gathered about him, with out difficulty, very merry company of young men, to whom he gave gor- geous entertainments.
 rs..s- AnI 1f Ragdad, and the scandal of the Imaum "a sour old ascetic who presided over the neighboring mosque. And four in tensely respectable old gentlemen, great friends of the Imaum, were much scandalized at the "gofngs on' in the house of Abou Hassan. They used to make complaints to the cadi and have him fined, and generally, did all they could to interfere with the pleasures of the young sport. They predicted that Abou would come to no good and their prohecy was fulfilled.
 The first thing the gay young man knew was that the half of his paternal fortune which he had set aside for the pleasure and vices of life was gone. Some young men would have proceeded at once to make use of the reserve fund. But Abou Hassan was the son of suc- cessful merchant and had been brought up as such. He shut down upon his revelry at once. He had been lavishing wealth upon his companions-now it was their turn to entertain him. But when he gave up his feasts his boon companions gave him up-and that right suddenly. When one of them caught sight of him in the street his former fellow reveler would go several blocks out of his way to avoid meeting him, and when, by any chance, Abou was brought face to face with one of his former friends the friend would hastily excuse himself on the pretext of pressing business and hurry away.
 Abou, shocked and disgusted at such conduct, was by way of becoming mis- anthrope. He said to his mother, ''I have found out the value of human friendship. Not one of the companions who formerly -5feasted with me is worthy of my friend l. ship or regard. I give them all up-I will have companionship with them never more" But Abou could not do without 
 at the end of the Bridge of Bagdad and watched for strangers. When he saw one whom he thought would make an accept able companion lro would invite him home, give him dinner and entertain him for the night. Never would he make his guest Of any one but a stranger he vowed, and never should even stranger be his guest for more than one night. After he had entertained stranger he would send him away and, should he meet h,m afterward, would never recognize him.
 Thus did Abou continue for a whole year. Then, one night just before sunset, Il as he sat at the end of the bridge, he saw merchant attended by a tall, stout 2 slave. It was the Commander of the Faithful, the Caiiph Haroun AlTaschld, who delighted in wandering about his city in disguise But this Abou did not know and so he approached him politely ana said: "Sir, I see you are a stranger of Bagdad. Will you do the honor of sup ping at my house and lodging there for theanight after the fatigues of your jour- ney? Amused at this singular request, and curious to know what it meant. the Sultan accepted Abou's invitation and was conducted by the young man to his house wheN, in a neatly furnished room, the cloth was laid ani a bodntiful supper ready.
 When they had eaten, Abous mother cleared the table and brought in a dessert of fruits and a bottle of wine and glasses. There was excellent pastry, also. and as it had grown dark numerous candles of wax were lighted. Abou's mother and the slave of the Sultan withdrew and Hassan and his guests were left alone. They drank and ate until the night was pretty far ad- person. full of jests when comforted by the wine and the good living. Finally tho Caiiph said
 T have much enjoyed your hospitality. I beg that you will tell me of some way in which can serve you. I declare that you shall not find me ungrate1 ough I am only merchant it may be in my power to do you some favor--either I my self or through some friend" 'I thank you," replied Abou, there is just one thing that I should like. That Is to be Caliph for a day, and then would have my revenge upon the Imaum of the mosque of this district and his friends who have so often annoyed me- I would soles of their feet, just to teach .nem to