THE TIPPERARY TURK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1647, 29 March 1884, Page 4

THE TIPPERARY TURK.

AN AWKW ARD MISTAKE, During the operations of the Allies iu the Crimea, it was resolved to carry ilie water in from a beautiful spring. ■ Leather lioso or pipe was employed, which was laid on the ground. One morning, while the water was being supplied, the minaret sounded for prayers, and one of the Turkish soldiers immediately went on his knees to praise Allah. Unfortunately he went down upon fho hose, and his weight suddenly stopped the current of that " first of elements," as Pindar calls water, "Get up," cried an English soldier. "Voulez vous avez la bonte, mon clier Monsieur le Turque," cried a Frenchman, with liis native politeness, " get up." " Tat ain't the way to make a Turk move," cried another ; this is the dodge," So saying lie knocked the turban off. Still the pious Mussulman went on with his devotions, "I'll make him stir his stumps," said the other Englishman, giving him a hard kick. To the wonder of all, still the untnrbaned, well-kicked follower of the Prophet went on praying. "Hoot away, mon—l'll show you how we serve obstinate folks at Auld Reekie," quietly observed a Scotchman, He was, however, prevented, for the Turk, having finished his "Allah vin en Allah," rose and began to take off his coat, then to roll up his sleeves, and then put himself in the most approved boxing attitude. He then advanced in true Tom Savers style to the Englishman who had kicked him. "A ring! a ring! shouted the soldiers and sailors, perfectly astonished to see a Turk such an adept in the fistic art. The Englishman, nothing loth to have a bit of fun with the Turk of such a Jo-hn Bull turn of mind, set to work but found he had met his master. In live minutes he had received enough, As the Turk coolly replaced his coat and turban he turned round and said to the admiring bystanders in tho pure brogue i " Bad luck to ye, ye spalpeens 1 whin yeVe after kickin' a Turk, I'd advise ye, tho next time, to he shuro he's not an Irishman I" The mystery was solved—the Turk was a Tipperary man.