THE SHEIK STORY

Evening Star, Issue 19659, 12 September 1927, Page 3

THE SHEIK STORY

ARAB WAS AX IRISHMAN. One bright daily, in retailing the story of a u-'icik who was alleged to have attempted to add two British girls to his harem, was so circumstantial as to give the names and addresses of two London girls who have just arrived back from Damascus. They left England a year ago to tour with a circus troupe in the East. In Damascus they were seen by an Emir, which, as all crossword puzzle solvers know, is the name of an Eastern potentate, one imagines even mightier than a sheik, which the films have made as common as Gilbert’s “ dukes at throe a penny.” Anyhow, here is a tale of an Emir who, seeing these two London girls playing in Damascus, found means to be introduced to them, and bombarded them in proper Western style, for lie was no hayseed Emir, with letters and presents and invitations to dine in the desert. Being prudent girls, they declined to accept the invitation unless the manager of the circus was invited too. But this did not put a brake on the amorous Emir, so the circus party journeyed to the desert, rather uncnterprisingly by car and on horseback—no camel corps in attendance. The Emir, so they allege, made violent love to them and swore he would marry both of them. _ Moreover, he swore (here we imagine appropriate music would add to the thrill of the scene) on the hilt of his dagger that he would follow them all over the world if they tried to escape. They were, however, adamant. They returned to Damascus, but shortly afterwards the circus moved to another town, where once the amorous Emir put in his appearance. They then became frightened and appealed to the British Consul at Damascus, and he in liis wisdom advised that they should loavo at cure for England. But they were not allowed to go without a demonstration by the Emir, and on going they found a party of his soldiers drawn uri. They were challenged and some shots were fired after their car, but thev managed eventually to reach Beirut and to board there an Orient liner for Port Said. But this Emir was nothing if not up-to-date. He gave chase in his private aeroplane, and reached Suez before the Orama sailed. _ The captain.. however, getting wind of tin

story, hade tbc pursued maidens to lie hid on board, and they eventually got «uniy on the Orient liner, and are now safely in this unromantic England. , . T Curiously enough, wo. bear from Ireland that" ono little grain of origin may bo traced to the wedding of Palestine of two natives of Ulster, for the Press tells us that;—

“The people of Armagh have been amused by the story of the Palestine sheik, who carried off and married a British girl, as the truth was well known in this city. The so-called sheik is James Wilson, a native of tho city, who now occupies the position of inspector in the Palestine police. He was during tho war a lieutenant and quartermaster of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and was invited by General Tudor to accompany him to Palestine when he took over the administration of that area in the middle of last year. “A famous circus visited Jerusalem, and Wilson was attracted by one of tho company, a Miss Stone. Their engagement followed and they became man and wife in the Cathedral in Jerusalem in November last.”-