Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1894 — “LIGHTS OF THE HAREM”. [ARTICLE]

“LIGHTS OF THE HAREM”.

They Rap Two American Tonrista Over the Head Wfth Pokers. a While the two Americans, Messrs. Allen and Sachtleben, who made a jicycle tour around the world, were Aradan.Per&ia,a-present from the tillage khan was announced, as they •elate in The Century for July. In itepped two men bearing a huge ;ray filled with melons, apricots, mgar, rock candy, nuts, pistachios, itc., all of which we must, of course, .urn over to the khan-keeper and lis servants, and pay double their . r alue to the bearers, as a present. This polite method of extorticn was followed, the next morning by me of a bolder and more peremptory lature. Notwithstanding the feast jf the night before at our expense, ind in addition to furnishing us with jed-elothes which we really ought to lave been paid to sleep in, our oily lost now insisted upon throe or four prices for his lodgings. We refused so pay him morethdn a certain sum. ind started to vacate the premises. Thereupon he and his grown son jaught hold .of our bicycles. Remonstrances proving of no avail, md being unable to force our passage through the narrow doorway with the bic3 r cles in our hands, wo topped them, and grappled with lur antagonists. A noisy scuffle, ind then a heavy fall ensued, but luckily we were both on the upper dde. —— ’• This unusual disturbance brought jut the inmates of the adjoining inderoom. In a moment there was i din of feminine screams, and a flutter of garments, and then — l crashing of our pith helmets beneath the blows of pokers and and irons. The villagers, thus aroused,: jame at last to our rescue, and at jnce proceeded to patch up a com promise. This, in view of the Amasonian reinforcements, who were standing by in readiness for a seejnd onset, we were more than pleased to accept. From this inglorious combat w.e came off withjut serious injury; but with those gentle poker taps were knocked out forever all the s weet delusions of the “Light of the Harem.”