Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-30

w FOttuuc Us tHo SCe"o VI "'" 3'oN'
philosophical romance "Zadig." The
story told here portrays Zadig in a
role strkingly ike that played by
Conan Doyle's "SherlOck Holmes"
or Poe's IN. Dupin" in modern lit
eratare.
In the days of King, Moabdur of
Baby1onia there dwelt in the city of
Babylon rich man named Zadig. Tai
ented, accomplished, handsome and
healthy, he still was unhappy. He had
been disappointed more than once in
friendship and finally most sorely in
love. Convinced that destiny lies In
wait for the ambitious and distin-
guished, he withdrew to a simple coun-
try home on the Euphrates river.
Being resolved not to tempt fate, he
looked about for an occupation that
promised the least possible entangle-
ment with the ways of providence, and
decided upon the study of nature.
One day as he .strolled in grove
near his home, troop of officials and
slaves ran up to him and asked: Have
you seen the queens dOgT"
"Was it small dog?" asked Zadig.
IF so, such a dog has passed here. 1t
had beautiful long ears and it limped
slightly with the right forefoot."
"Then you have seen it~ cried the
leader, delighted.
mo" said Zadig. 81 have not seen
+, 1t. In fact, did not even know until
this moment that the queen owns a
dog"
Before the astOunded man could re-
ply, another party of officers and serv-
ants appeared, exclaiming breathlessly
that the kings finest horse had strayed.
"Was it bitted with gold?" asked Ia
| dig. "a horse thus bitted, and shod
with silver, galloped through here. 1t
had a magnificent stride and gait, and
was of the purest blood. Was not its
tail at least four and one-half feet
longT
"Yes! Yesi" said the master of
horse eagerly. "In which direction
did it run? Where is it nOw?"
Il have not seen it," answered Ia
dig. "This is the first time that l
knew the king had such horse"
The men of both parties stared at
each other for a moment. Then with
out a word they pounced on Zadig
with: "Thiefl You shall learn what
IL means to trifle with the property of
| your ruler!"
The slaves hustled him to the city
| of Babylon, not without presenting him
with many undesired bruises. He was
led at once before the chief council
and charged with having stolen the
dog and the horse of the royal family.
The tale told by the officers was so
convincing that the council did not per-
NIT Zadig to speak, but sentenced him
at once to Imprisonment for life.
Just as he was being led away, beg
ging vainly for leave to say word in
defense, messengers arrived with the
news that the missing animals had
been found. The council perceived the
painful necessity of resembling its SEN
tence; but it felt justified in fining
Zadig 400 ounces of gold for asserting
that he had not seen. something when
he had already admitted that he had
seen II.
Again Zadig asked for permission to
make a trifling explanation, but the
| judges decided after earnest consulta.
ton that the fine must be paid first
after which he might address the
court.
Zadig sent for the gold and paid II
over with many a sigh. Then he bowed
low and said:
"Oh, stars Of justice, abysses Of wis.
dom, mirrors of truth! Since 1t is per-
mitted that speak before your illus.
trious gathering, hear me while / swear
by Ormuzd that never did my eyes be.
queen nor the sublime horse Of the
king of kings! Listen, Oh We pillars OF
charity and tolerance! was strOlline
in the grove when I observed the trail
left by q small animal in the sand
Having trained myself to study nature
infinitely, 1 knew at once that it was
the track Of a dog, and from the size
and depth Of the indentations I de
duced that 1t was small one. Tiny
marks along both sides of the line OF
footprints indicated to me that the ami
NAL had very long ears, for they hung
so low as to brush the ground.
ut was an easy matter, Oh merciful
ones, to discover that the respected
dog of our most mighty queen limped
with one foot, If one may venture t
utter a remark so disrespectful.
'As to the noble horse of the king OF
kings" continued Zadig, Il saw the
footprints of a steed, and / knew al
once that 1t was of purest blood, fol
no other would have had hoOfs sc
small and dainty. The imprints tOld
me, also, as they would tell anyone
who knows horses, that it had a mag
nificent stride and that its gait was Of
the best, betting its birth.
"As followed the trail, reached 9
path only seven feet wide, and / no
ticed that the dust had been sweep
from the palms on each side. Judged
that this must have been done by tn
animals tail and 1t was simple to cal
culate that the tail must be beautiful
one, fully four and half feet long.
II knew that 1t had shoes of silver,
said Zadig, for found the mark o.
silver on a stone that 1t had spurnet
in its fight. On a rocky wall In a mar