The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-22

NTH stria0 Of his ODn.
TN the reign Of the caiiph Harour
Alraschid. Commander of the Faith.
l. ful. there died IN the city Of Bagdat
rich merchant who left a widow and ar
only son. The great wealth OF the mer'
chant went to the son. who was named
Abou Hasssn. Abou Hassan. having been
kept on rather short commons during the
ne - HE -1'fE- determined to enjoy him.
.-.f r.a -aa. vas able TO do so. But
----- 90 gc.. had inherited some Of
as -a',e ia. .aess sagacity. so he d.
r-s-! go sErf.Ts into two parts. One
PSI %. i -..-e and the other part he
-'s..t ars devoted to the pursuit OF
ss-.-.. Va Gathered about him, without
Srr-.'v ~sry merry company Of young
-r. -., ar7ar he gave gorgeous enter
q .ea
-.= r5~ wing was the talk OF Bag
GsE IA sa- scs ndal Of the Imaum-a sour
e --.-. Who presided over the neigh
mig n.u=gua And four intensely re-
spsS.--.- 81 netlemen. great friends OF
the Imaum, were much scandalized at the
"goings on" N the house o: Abou Hassan.
They used to make complaints to the cadl
and have aim fined and, generally. did all
Of the young sport They predicted that
Ahou would come TO no good-and their
prophecy was fulfilled.
The first thing the gay young man
knew was that the half OF his paternal
fortune which he had set aside FOR inc
pleasures and vices of life was gone.
Some young men would have proceeded al
once to make use OF the reserve funo.
But Abou Hassan was the son OF sue
cessful merchant and had been brought up
as such. He shut down upon his revelry
at once. He had been lavishing wealth
upon his comprehensive it was Their
turn 10 entertain him. But when he gave
I'm his feasLs 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 90
several blocks our 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 Disguised at such
conduct, was by way Of becoming a MS
anthrope He said to his mother. II have
found out the value Of human friendship
Not one OF the companions who formerly
Toasted with me is worthy of my friend
ship or regard. l give them all up-I will
have companionship with them never
more" But Abou could not do thout
cOmpanionship. So he sat every evening
al the end Of the Bridge OF Bagdad and
watched for strangers. When he saw one
whom he thought would make an accept
able companion he would invite him hoTe.
give him d inner and entertain him for the
night. Never would he make his guest OF
any one but stranger, he vowed and
never should even a stranger be his guest
for more than one night After he had
entertained a stranger he would send him
away and, should he meet him afterward,
would never recognize him
Thus did Abou continue for a whole
year. Then. one night, just before sunset.
as he sat at the end of the bridge. he
saw a merchant attended by tall. stout
Save 1t was the Commander Of the Faith
full. the Caliph Haroun AlraschId. who de-
lighted in wandering about his city in dis
guise But this Abou did not know and
so ne approached him politely and said:
Sir. see you are a stranger to Bagdad.
viii you do the honor Of supping at nv
house and lodging there for the night after
the fatlgues Of your Journey?' Amused
al this singular request, and curious to
know what 1t meant, the Sultan accepted
Abou's invitation and was conducted by
the young man to his house where in a
neatly furnished room. the cloth was laid
and bountiful supper ready.
When they had eaten. Abou's 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
II had grown dark numerous candles OF
wax were lighted. Abou's mother and the
slave Of the Sultan withdrew and Hassan
and his guest were left alone. They drank
and ate until the night was pretty far ad-
Vanced- The Sultan found Abou a droIl
person full OF tests when comforted by
the wine and the good living. Finally the
ealiph said:
have much enjoyed your HOSPITALITY
beg that you VIII tell me of some :wav
IN which 1 can serve you. I declare that
you shall not find me ungrateful Though
am only merchant II may be In INV |
power 10 do you some favor-either I nv
eeh or through some friend" 'T thank |
you replied Abou, there is Just one |
thlns mat / should like. That Is TO be |
Cs4iph FOR day and then I would have
my revenge upon the Imaum of the
mosque Of This district and his friends
who have so often annoyed me. 1 would
give them a hundred strokes each on the
soles Of their feet. just to teach them 70
mind their own business. But Haroun
Alraschid is Caliph, and not L So let
us have another glass OF wine"
The Caliph was much amused, and tail.
ing the bottle and the two glasses he
filled the latter, saying: Here is a drinl,
OF thanlcfuiness to you for your hospital
ity; I beg you to drink 1t for my sake"
He pushed one Of the glasses over to
Aoou. who tossed It on. Scarcely had the
young man set the glass back upon the
table than he began to nod and was soon
u a sound sleep. The Caliph secretly had
tropped q powerful sleeping potion into