Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1917 — SAMPLE OF EASTERN WISDOM [ARTICLE]

SAMPLE OF EASTERN WISDOM

Parable That Has Come Down Through the Age* la Worthy a Place in Memory. A - “Now, as all men know,, the Brahmaqs burn, whereas the Muslims bury, their ; wherefore the Rajah Birbal, holding all men to be brethren, made the proverb which declares, ‘Father Adam had two sons; one was burned, one was buried.’ “Then those who pondered mischief against him carried this word to the king with much scorn; and Akbar, seeming, as was his wont, to mock at Birbal, said to him: __ —““‘Thou wouldst have it that there is so small difference betwixt Muslim “ andTßrahman. me a Brail* man.’ - “ ‘Even so, my lord,’ replied Birbal; T shall make a Brahman of thee as soon as I shall have finished a like task that I have begun.’ “ ‘And what is this task ’of thine, rajah?’ asked the king. “ ‘I pray that my lord and his nobles do but come into the court of my poor house at eventide, and they shall see,’ answered Birbal. "So at set of sun they came to Blrbal’s house, and there they beheld him currying a shaggy-coated ass. “‘Oh Birbal!’ cried the king; ‘is this thy so great work? Truly, a task worthy of a rajah of Akbar! What art thou doing with that poor beast?’ ‘ “ ‘Mock not, my lord,’ answered Birbal ; ‘I am making a horse of him; and when I have accomplished that feat, I shall make a Brahman of thee.’ “Thus is it said in the bazaar, ‘Trimming a donkey’s ears will not make him a horse.’’’—Arthur Gulterman in St. Nicholas.