Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1881 — Only Half Wise. [ARTICLE]

Only Half Wise.

Spiridion Gopcevich, in his amusing book upon Upper Albania, accounts for the dilapidated state of Scutari Castle by the following narrative, the authenticity of which he guarantees : In the spring of 1874 the Vali of Scutari happened to hear that 100 years or so ago, a Giaour named Franklin had invented an instrument, by the judicious use cf which lightning strokes might be ren dered harmless to human life and property. Forthwith he resolved to become possessed of one of these wonder-work-ing contrivances ; but, upon inquiring its price, he found that the resources of his exchequer would not avail to defray the cost of the complete apparatus. He, therefore, ordered from abroad the superficial portion of a lightning conductor, deeming its subterranean complement of wires superfluous; and, when it arrived, caused it to be set up exactly over the powder magazine of the castle, in order to insure perfect immunity from electrical dangers to the explosive contents of that repository. An unusually long spell of fine weather succeeded the erection of the instrument, much to his Excellency’s vexation; but at length, one sultry day, heavy clouds gathered rapidly over Scutari, and the exultant Vali, fortunately for himself, hurried down from the citadal to the tower in order to waten the effect of the first flash from a window of his serai commanding a fine view of the lightning-conductor. He had not long to wait for a coup that surpassed his wildest expectations. A fiery streak darted from the sky, followed by a tremendous concussion; and when the smoke cleared off it was the Pasha’s melancholy privilege to behold his beloved citadal in ruins. The Vali’s mortification may be better conceived than described, especially when it reached his ears that a leading notable of Scutari, commenting upon the result of his scientific experiments, had observed : “ God is great, and the Vali is an ass I He has swallowed the Giaours’ dirt, and paid them for it to boot. His face is blackened for ever. Allah’s will be done ?” London Telegraph.