Sinbad And His Friends

an when I became aware that the Commander of the Faithful was not alone. On a cretonne cushion at his feet knelt the Minister-General of Posts and Pillar Boxes, and the two were evidently in earnest consultation. To put on brakes and apply the reverse crawl, or, as it is known popularly, the Diplomatic Glide, was but the work of a moment. I was already half-way through the brocade curtains when his Majesty deigned to take notice of my unworthy presence, and beckoned to me to return. " You may be the man we want, Sinbad," he said. " The Minister of Posts and Pillar Boxes has been showing me a copy of the Bagdad Monthly Mess, the latest publication to be excluded from the mails by his personal order. He has just called my attention to a peculiarly obnoxious cartoon, as he considers it. What do you think, Sinbad? " It is not always easy to read his Majesty's thoughts from his intonation or the glint in his eye. So I glanced hurriedly at the cartoon and said: " Impenetrable One, it is a question of how you look at it." " Naturally, you look at it right side up," the Caliph snapped, and there was no longer any doubt as to what the proper answer might be. " Sire," I said, " the technique of the picture is marvelous. The man is a master of line and shade." " It is more than that, it is awfully clever," declared his Majesty. " The whole paper is amusing. Vulgar, to be sure, but refreshing. I like the title. I like the motto: ' Tabasco for Grandmother! ' ...