Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-02
RaiSulii's Debut
From the Christian Science Monitor.

Some IS years ago, the attention Of q
world which had never given much attention
to the country before was suddenly riveted, in
the most engaging way, upon Morocco.
Morocco, it is true, had, for many years previ-
ousy, been moving in and out of the realms of
high diplomacy, but the average man never
concerns himself greatly with high diplomacy
when it relates to what he regards as side is
sues, and so Morocco had fain to be content
to enter into general thought only in associa-
ton with an expensive kind of leather or at
best, in the less delectable company of pirates
and buccaneers
In the June days of 1904, however, melo-
drama, such would have rejoiced the heart of
Drury Lane theater manager, was suddenly
staged in Morocco. And, one morning, the papers
were full of it. They told how a certain Moor
ish brigand named Raisu, who, for some time
past had been making a name for himself in
the hill country behind Tangier. had swept
down at the head of a few followers and carried
of an Englishman, Mr.. Cromwell Varley, and
Mr.. Ion Perdicaris, an American subject. from
house some miles outside the city, and was
holding them for ransom.
Now the Shereehan government was not at
tain recognized course of procedure in such
matters. Relatives would take the matter in
hand, and the ransom, and so it would be
settled Or if they did not pay the ransom,
why, it would be settled in some other way. So
Fee gossiped about it, and Tanger gossiped
fain have dismissed the subject for some other
topic. But hard on the heels of the first news,
came the demand from London and Washing
ton that the Shereefian government should take
steps to secure the release of these kidnapped
men, and that without delay. Fee was sur
prised, not little puzzled, and somewhat hurt,
but agreed to attend to the matter. And Fee
did attend to the matter, but in true Shereefian
style, and the Shereehan idea of celebrity did
not harmonic with the ideas held on the ques-
ton in either Washington or London. Within
few days, therefore, there came from both
capitals a peremptory demand for more ex-
petition, within few more days, small
American squadron of six Warshlps was steam
ing across the Atlantic, and within a few
more, had anchored in Tangier bay.
By this time, all the world was agog. The
American commander did not mince matters
Full assurance that Mr.. Perdicaris would be
released would have to be given, within "a
hours, or else the American guns would open
fire upon Tangier. Fee was amazed and in
credulous but messengers coming hot foot
able fact that the American commander was in
earnest. 1t was Friday evening, close to the
longest day, and when the sun had at last sunk
into the sea, far north of west, beyond the
shoulder of Gibraltar, peace was very much in
evidence on all hands, rather than war. There
stir in the air and no stir on the sea.
The white immensely of the Atlas mountains
was still discernible agains the purple sky; the
lighted warships, white from stern to stern as
they were in those days rode double" in the
still waters whilst the only sound was the
faint strains of music from one of the ships. and
every now and then the bark of dog from
the shore: Raisuli and his doings had been dis
cussed all day. Moors who had rowed out to
the ships in large, fat-bottomed boats had dis
cussed him, and argued about him with one an
other in that terrible manner" Of the east
which signifies nothing, yet seems to portend
EVerybodv a
talked about him. And now everybody was
just waiting, without much anxiety, it must be
confessed either ashore or ahoat- For the
necessary assurance would certainly be given.
There would be- no bombardment. And so in
deed it happened. The complete surrender
came before dawn. Fee paid the ransom, Mr..
Perdicaris and Mr.. Varley were released, and
Rasuli scored the first great success of the
career he has followed, intermittently, ever
since. 1t was, in fact Raisus debut. =