The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-18
ONE CREATIVE
GENIUS IN THE
TURKS EMPIRE
At Least Although the Arts and
Sciences Languish under
Rule of the SuItans.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-"While
the arts and sciences nave languished
under the sultan's rule: while the
technology of u thousand years ago
Is still widely employed in supplying
the wants OF the Turkish populace;
while all social progress has been left
TOO largely to the unhurrieI care of
Fate. the Ottoman empire has. new
eitheless. produced one creative
genius. the Khoja Of Aqshchir. the
renowned humorist around whose
name all the fun OF nation has gath
cred" begins a bulletin issued today
by the National Geographic Society.
which tells OF the great man born,
nurtured. and buried In Aqshehir
Ave centuries ago. The bulletin con-
tinues:
"Rhoja Nasr ed-Din was an Imam.
a sort of Mohammedan country par
son. naive, llllteratc. happy-go-
lucky fellow. part clown, part gentle
philosopher. and altogether thor
orghly comical and human. The rea-
son of the Khoja's existence was his
legion of funny adventures. He was
remiss priest. a shiftless citizen,
and an exasperating husband. His
native town lies about 40 miles
from konia. In Asia Minor, and is sit
uated picturesquely in the mountains.
Here Is his grave. where his body re-
poses and the lock of his house.
which he insisted upon taking with
him.
Court Jester.
The khoja was u contemporary OF
Tamerlane's. and served the conuuer-
or us privileged court jester. Now
the khoja is saint to people OF his
town and his grave works miracles.
The stories told of the Khoja are
without number: they are the humor
OF Turkey and the legacy OF the old
en- fun-master.
he was an evasive priest, and
sought fearfully to escape his relig-
ious duties. such as preaching a SER
mon. He dreaded the task OF deliy-
ering sermon, and won his first
rame In squirming out OF his duty.
% Moslems.' he said one Friday
In the pulpit. do you know what /
am going to Say to your No. they
answered. And no more do H. the
khota said and left the Mosque.
Next Friday, he put the same ques-
uon. and. thinking to catch him, the
congregation answered, Yes IL you
Know. then ! needn't tell you the
philosopher replied. and made off
again. The following Friday. to his
usual question the congregation
sought to entrap him with the an
swer. Some OF us do. but some of us
don't. Then let those who know
tell those who don't the Khoja said,
and went away. On the next Friday,
the congregation decided to keep ST.
lent and see what their priest would
do. The khoja put his set inquiry.
and receiving no response. made this
evasion: Dear me! am quite
alone; nobody has come to Mosque
today. Whereupon he went home.
The khoja and two friends bought
ram and two. lambs in the market.
each paying an equal share. Arriv
Ing home, his friends asked how they
should make the division. That's
easy said the Khoja, You two will
take one lamb. and the ram and
the other
Another Anecdotc.
His wife woke him one night from
a surly sleep and asked him to rock
the baby. 1t has been crying for an
hour, she said. and now its your
turn to rock it, as half of It is yours
Let my half go on crying he
yawned, turning over. you can 20 on
rocking your half. II you want to-
The khoja dreamed one night
that someone was offering him nine
coins. He was not satisfied, but
wanted ten. In the midst of the