Gilpin observer., 1916-03-23
TURKISH MARK TWAIN
kHOJA OF AosHEHIR Is EMPIRES
RENOWNED HUMoRIsT.
FIourIshed Five Centuries Ago, But
His wiz 10 Remembered and Ap-
preciated Today = Specimens
That Have Been Translated.


preeIated Today - Specimens
That Have Been Translated.
"While the arts and sciences have
languished under the sultans' rule;
while the technology of 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 unhur-
has. nevertheless. produced one Gre
ative genius. the Khoja of AQshehir.
the renowned humorist around whose
name all the fun of nation has gath
ered." begins a bulletin issued by tho
National Geographic society, which
tells Of the great man born, nurtured
and buried in Aqshehir FIVE centuries
ago. The bulletin continues:
"Khoja Nasr ed-Din was an Imam.
a sort of Mohammedan country par
son. naive. illiterate, happy-go-lucky
fellow, part clown. part gentle philoso-
pher. and altogether thoroughly COM
ical and human. The reason of the
khoja's existence was his legion Of
funny adventures. He was a remiss
priest, shiftless citizen and an exas-
perating husband. His native town
lies about 110 miles from Konia, in
Asia Minor, and is situated pictur-
ssquely in the mountains. Here Is his
grave, where his body reposes, and the
lock of his house, which he insisted
upon taking with him.
"Tho Khnip Wao rOnfovprOro ~
Tamerlanes and served the conqueror
as 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 Tur-
key and the legacy of the olden fun
master.
"He was an evasive priest and
sought fearfully to escape his reli-
gious duties, such as the preaching of
sermons. He dreaded the task of de-
livering sermon and won his first
fame in squirming out of this duty.
"'Oh, Moslems,' he said one Friday
in the pulpit, do you know what l
am going to say to your No. they
answered. And no more do L. the
Khoja said and left the mosque. Next
Friday he put the same question and,
thinking to catch him, the congregation
answered, Yes If you do, then l
needn't tell you,' the philosopher re-
piled, and made off again. The fol-
lowing Friday, to his usual question
the congregation sought to entrap him
with the answer. 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 Fri
day the congregation decided to keep
silent and see what their priest would
do. The Khoja put his set inquiry
and, receiving no response, made this
evasion: Dear me! l am quite alone;
nobody has come to mosque today
Whereupon he went home.
'The Khoja and two friends bought
q 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 I the
other
His wife woke him one night from
q surly sleep and asked him to rock
the baby. 1t has been crying for an
hour she said. and now it's your turn
to rock 1t. as half of 1t is yours Let
my half 60 on crying he yawned.
turning over. You can 90 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 trouble he awoke
and found his hand empty. Bitterly
disappointed. he closed his eyes again,
held out his hand and said. I have
changed my mind. will take nine
"one day the Khoja left his cloak
upon his donkey and q thief made OF
with the garment during the masters
absence. Discovering his loss. the
Khoja berated the donkey thoroughly,
demanding what 1t had done with his
cloak. Receiving no reply. he took
the saddle OF the beast and said. Very
well, then. when you give me back my
cloak will give you back your sad.
de-
"The Khoja put his COW up for sale.
His auctioneer took 1t through the
streets, calling out, Who will buy Q
fine cow. q COW whose milk is like
creamT Dear me- the Khoja NUT.
tered to himself. what lucky thing
1t is that heard him say that. had
no idea before that she was such q
good mixer. could not possibly think
Of selling her now,' and he took his
COW back home"