THE GRAND SECRET OF HUMAN HAPPINESS. 289 
land, and fined from five dollars up to fifty ! Think of that! 
I have known naval officers to he tried by Court Martial for 
cruel and unusual punishments, and even reprimanded, in 
certain extreme cases where death resulted ; yes, Yusef, some¬ 
times actually informed in writing that they were to consider 
themselves severely censured !” 
Yusef.— “ To me, 0 General, that seems to he a most un¬ 
wise and oppressive state of things. When I pay a man for 
his services haven’t I a right to do what I please with him, 
body and soul ? If I hire him to work and he won’t do it, 
haven’t I a right to take satisfaction out of his hide ? If I 
take a dislike to him, haven’t I a right to beat him upon any 
pretext whatever?” 
General (excited).—“ Great heavens ! Is it possible that 
even a brutish Arab can maintain such monstrous doctrines 
as these ? Do you know, miserable barbarian, that the very 
walls of our Capitol would cry out in execration of doctrines 
so absurd and inhuman ? Senators would rise in their places, 
and call for the opinions of naval and military commanders; 
Secretaries would hold official councils, and proclaim to Con¬ 
gress and the world their devotion to the interests of the 
service; Lieutenants, Captains, and Generals would avow 
their abhorrence of cruelty in every form, and indignantly 
contend against sapping the foundation of our national de¬ 
fenses, by depriving them of an established privilege. Never 
let me hear you utter such abominable sentiments again, or, 
by all the rights of humanity, I’ll put you in a book ! I’ll do 
it, Yusef, as sure as fate ! Your name shall figure on the 
title-page !” 
Yusef (turning pale).—“ In the name of Allah, beloved 
General, Light of my eyes and Friend of my heart, where¬ 
fore this extreme displeasure ? Surely, thou hast mistaken 
my meaning. I didn’t intend to say that I’d make whipping 
a general thing; that I’d whip any respectable person of my 
own class. My observations were designed to apply exclu¬ 
sively to low brutes of muleteers, without friends or influ¬ 
ence; mere dregs of society, destitute of brains and feeling. 
Your Excellency does me gross injustice, if you think that, 
1ST 
