Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-02
An Effort to Quench
the Sphinx's Thirst

f<THAT recent escapade OF the British
official who poured a libation OF
sacrilegious wine down the back of a
sacred image in Hindustan recalls Il
somewhat similar incident that involved
one of our own diplomats back in the
restless days OF the seventies, said u
veteran official of the State Department.
He was young fellow. the favorite
nephew of a statesman OF national proul-
nence, and he turned that statesman s
hair prematurely gray with his wild
Vagaries.
Ben for We'll call the young fellow by
that name, was a man of most vasrant
mind and versatile bibulosites His uncle.
hardening all his Bohemian obiiquities
LAUNCHED him forth time and again on
many a promising venture in this line OF
that but ever Ben came floating home
on a high. tide of alcohol. At length the
statesman. seeking to sober him by the
burden of responsibility, gave him long
,lecture-and the consularshfp to Cairo.
Ren took the pledge. took drink ana
took the first boat for the land OF the
Pharaons.
Now. all might have gone We'll with
him in that sunny land had not there
been frequent arrivals there of vessels
from the wine ports of France, and Ben,
being all adept in the french iaIiguage
turned for companiOnSh. TO the roiiick-
ing officers of the liners. Under their
futelage he soon forgot the harsh dis
tIllates of Kentucky for the ruddy vlnt-
ages OF Bordeaux and the sparkling life
water from the champagne country.
..Ben was Of most romantic nature.
smothered heretofore under the stern
moistened by these subtle liquors and
nourished by the Egyptian stars glinting
their soft images In the waters of the
aee-old Nile, ii bourgeoned forth and
throve amain. 1t was his wont-when
loaded to The Plimsoll mark with what
tha Genial Horace might have termed
Odd Falernian'-to wander beyond the
sacred river and, crossing the interven-
ing sands sit for hours In silent com
mun:on with the Sphinx. Here he felt
he had met his afhm nS,,a at d ias5
IN ON, of these affinity Quaker meetings
With his stony lady love. the thought
was suddenly borne in upon him tlat'
otter sitting out there for countless ages
m the dry and hot and dusty desert, the
old girl must nave iiios' 'pp'iii''e
thirst. 49,, ill.,, ,o, 8. Co;ro
purchased half dozen cases OF the best
rh.mpagne from Sheperd. loaded them
,,r>,,, a camel and. hi ing q fellah. as
assistant barkeep, so to speak, betook
Himself and his wine back through the
snft egyptian night TO the sand-swept
naws Of his silent sweetheart.
ARRIVED, ne and the deckhand of his
shin of the desert broke open the cases.
loaded themselves down with their con-
tents. and, clambering upon the head of
the aged female, poured IA bottles oil
wine down her neck. Having accom-
nIished this act OF favor for the idol of
i,is heart Ben returned TO Cairo and
slept the slunlber OF the peaceful hearted.
s"Now all this romantic adventure,
worthy, of a Knight OF the Round Table.
,,a;phf have been blown out into the
desert upon the winds had not certain
inauisitive busyhodies about the lobby
of Sheperd's Hotel al Cairo learned the
sentimental story and brought it back
to America. where 1t reached the official
ears OF the State Department. Officials