The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-23
Through Our ChiLdho
Memories of Sinbod fl


principal sciences to Europe. II is hard
ly necessary to explain that algebra" Is
an Arabic word and that we find import
ant traces of their terms and methods
in many of our sciences to-day.
Harun-alRaschid was the great ideal
OF the Oriental monarch, one who is
perfectly Just and personally administers
Justice to all his people. sven to the
poorest OF them. II is said that there
was no man. even II he were a peddler
or a street sweeper, who could not
gain a personal audience with this
Caliph with a little patience. This ideal
or a monarch fingers among the people
OF the East to-day. although. OF course,
II Is seldom realized. One OF the diff
culties which the English n other
Europeans find in governing Asiatio
colonies is that their important officials
are not sufficiently accessible TO the poor
people.
The Asiatics have a certain tendency
20 what Americans call democracy" but,
strange 10 say, they expect TO find II com
btned with absolute despotism. Harun-
al-Raschid appears TO nave been the best
example OF the democratic. Just and
benevolent despot. In his passion for
Justice he wandered about the city In
disguise. listening TO what the people
were saying about him and his officials.
and often risking his life by venturinS
into strange places and rough company.
In the days OF the Caliph Harun-aL
Rasehid-blessed be his memory-thers
lived In the city OF Bagdad-"
This Is the commonest beginning Of
the stories I'm THE Arabian Nights"
more correctly termed, as IN SIR Richard
Burton's translation. The Thousand
Nights and a Night" The beginning is.
or course a tribute to the great popu-
larity OF the Caliph at the time the
stories were gathered together. for tbev
had been current for many Centuries IN
various Asiatic countries.
Here. for instance. IS the beginning Of
n story that tells OF the Carph's wan
derings in Bagdad:
The Caliph Harun-aLRascchid one dav
commanded the Grand Vizier Jaafler TO
come 10 his palace the night following
Nizier. said he. i Will take a walk round
the town, TO inform myself what people
say. and particularly how they are
pleased With my officers OF Justice. N
there be any against whom they have
cause OF Just complaint. we will turn them
out, and put others in their stead who
shall oniciate better. n. on the contrary,
there be any that have gained their ap-
plause, we will have that esteem for them
which they deserve The Grand vizier
being come 10 the palace AZ the hour ap-
pointed. the Caliph, he. and Mesrour. thu
chief OF the eunuohs. disguised them
selves so that they could not be known.
and vent out all three together.
They passed through several places.
and BY several markets. As they entered
small street. they perceived By the HKht
or the moon a tall man with a white
beard."-and 20 on.
Perhaps the most entertaining view OF
the Caliph's character r. given In the
story or AbOulhassan. who sat on the
bridge and entertained strangers 10 Bag
dad. The CaliDh came along In disguise.
feasted and drank with AbouIhassan.
and then gave him a sleeping drauFht
While AbOulhassan was IN this condition
the Caliph had him carried 10 the Palace
and put 20 bed. 20 that he woke up IN the
morning imagining ho was Caliph and
thinking mat The harsu1 belonged 10 him.
and continued In that belief FOR several
days. One wonders N there are any
monarchs Ike Harun-al-R aschid today.
h Arabian Empire fell into decay
like other human Institutions. and sue
cessive savage races from Northern Asia
Overran o. Houlag0u. a grandson 81 the
terrible Mongol chief. lengths Khan.
captured and sacked BaFdad On 1862
Later n passed into the possession Of tho
koriouli Turks for q period. Then n vas
conquered BY the ferocious Tartar.