Samarkand pdfdrive com

Rubaiyaat
their bedside book and I
made them learn FitzGerald’s verses by heart. The next day, a grandfather came
to see me. He was very moved by what his grandson had told him and he said:
‘We too have great respect for the American poets!’ Naturally he was
completely unable to name a single one, but that makes no difference. It was his
way of expressing his pride and gratitude. Unfortunately not all the parents
reacted in the same way. One of them came to complain to me. In the pastor’s
presence he yelled at me: ‘Khayyam was a drunkard and an impious man!’ I
replied: ‘By saying that you are not insulting Khayyam but praising drunkenness
and ungodliness!’ The reverend almost choked on the spot.’
Howard laughed like a child. He was incorrigible and disarming.
‘So you hail everything they accuse you of! Might you also be a “son of
Adam”?’
‘Did the reverend tell you that too? I have the impression that you both spoke
a great deal about me.’
‘We have no one else in common.’
‘I will not hide anything from you. My conscience is as pure as that of a new-
born babe. About two months ago a man came to see me. He was a huge man
with a moustache, but quite timid. He asked if I could give a talk at the 
anjuman
–
the club of which he was a member and you will never guess on what subject!

---

On Darwin’s theory! I found the matter amusing and touching, given the
atmosphere of political upheaval which reigns in this country, and I accepted. I
gathered together everything I could lay my hands on about Darwin. I set out the
theories of his detractors. I think that my performance must have been boring,
but the room was crowded and they listened to me religiously. After that I went
to other meetings on more diverse subjects. There is an immense thirst for
knowledge among these people. They are also the most determined
Constitutionalists. Sometimes I would pass by their meeting hall to hear the
latest news from Teheran. You ought to meet them, they dream of the same
world as you and I.’

---