Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 161, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1920 — WOULD KEEP THE DEVIL BUSY [ARTICLE]

WOULD KEEP THE DEVIL BUSY

Why One Wise Old Turk Decided That the Telegraph Must Be a Good Thing. When western civilization first began to make its way into the Ottoman empire it provoked some very interesting reactions upon the oriental mind. One story that Sir William Whittali tells allows how unquestionably even the wisest Turks attributed the triumphs of western invention to magic and diabolism. During the Crimean war, says Sir William, the first telegraph was established in Turkey. This wonderful invention created tremendous astonishment among the Turks, who were quite unable to understand its workings. Among the more intelligent the discussions were not concerning the scientific principles that lay behind it but whether It was a good or a bad thing for humanity? — r— To solve the question It was at last decided to have a full debate by the ulema of the province of Smyrna, over which at that time a very wise old mullah presided. The meeting was held and fierce was the contention. Half the ulema declared that the telegraph was a good thing, because it quickened communications; the other half asserted that it could not be good, because it was an invention of the devil.. There seemed to be no way of arriving at a conclusion, when some of the Turks perceived that their chief, the old mullah, had not yet expressed an opinion. Both parties, therefore, eagerly pressed him for his ciew on the subject and agreed to abide by his decision. The old mullah replied: “My children, the telegraph, is a good thing.” “What!” said the conservatives indignantly. “Do you mean that it Is not a work of the devil ?” “Oh, yes,” repiled the old man. “Assuredly it is a work of his; but why are you so dull of understanding, my children? Can’t you see that if the devil is occupied going up and down the wires with each message sent he will have less time to trouble us mortals on earth below?” All the ulema acknowledged the wisdom of their chief. —Turkish Stories and Parables.