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Literary
January 5, 1863
New Hampshire Journal Of Agriculture
Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Vivid description of an elderly Arab storyteller in a bustling marketplace, captivating a diverse audience with tales of bravery, revenge, and paradise. His dramatic gestures and eloquence evoke tears and shouts from listeners, transporting them from their misery.
Clipping
OCR Quality
99%
Excellent
Full Text
"Arabian Story-Teller."
In a corner, a little apart from the fierce rabble, was seated on the ground a large group of men, women, and children, listening to a story-teller from the desert. On a small space of ground allotted to him stood the reciter; and a more striking picture than he and his audience presented cannot be conceived. He was a grey-bearded ancient, with an eye of fire, clothed in a full white turban, and having his striped robe disposed in graceful folds around him. He held in his hand a small timbrel, on which he struck, at intervals, short and abrupt notes, when he wished to give additional emphasis to his story. Walking hurriedly up and down, he enunciated his tale, with peculiar clearness of diction, in the guttural accents of his Arab race. Sometimes standing on tip-toe, with up-turned face and burning eye, pointing, with uplifted finger, to the blue sky overhead, like some old seer appealing to his Great Inspirer, and elevating his voice to its utmost stretch, he vehemently poured forth some part which told of brave men and warlike daring; and anon crouching to the ground, and suppressing his accents to a whisper, which, though of the lowest, was distinctly audible above the tumultuous shouts of the market-place, he related, in tones of no less fervency, some passage of cunning or deadly revenge. Never did I see such speaking eloquence as that displayed in this man's gestures or burning accents, or more intelligent expression than that traceable in the countenances of his hearers. The men forgot their stoicism, and shed a tear; the women, unmindful of the strangers presence, let the folds of their cloaks fall from their pale but lovely faces; and all by their shouts and tears, showed their sympathy with the tale. Each, with parted lips and "dark eyes flashing fire," gazed intently on the speaker, their wild spirits chained and softened while the old man held them captive with his glittering eye and living eloquence. There they sat, unmindful of the surrounding tumult which swept around them, wholly wrapped up in the account of other scenes, which for a time rendered them oblivious of their present misery in the dream-like recollections of their people's paradise.—Good Words.
In a corner, a little apart from the fierce rabble, was seated on the ground a large group of men, women, and children, listening to a story-teller from the desert. On a small space of ground allotted to him stood the reciter; and a more striking picture than he and his audience presented cannot be conceived. He was a grey-bearded ancient, with an eye of fire, clothed in a full white turban, and having his striped robe disposed in graceful folds around him. He held in his hand a small timbrel, on which he struck, at intervals, short and abrupt notes, when he wished to give additional emphasis to his story. Walking hurriedly up and down, he enunciated his tale, with peculiar clearness of diction, in the guttural accents of his Arab race. Sometimes standing on tip-toe, with up-turned face and burning eye, pointing, with uplifted finger, to the blue sky overhead, like some old seer appealing to his Great Inspirer, and elevating his voice to its utmost stretch, he vehemently poured forth some part which told of brave men and warlike daring; and anon crouching to the ground, and suppressing his accents to a whisper, which, though of the lowest, was distinctly audible above the tumultuous shouts of the market-place, he related, in tones of no less fervency, some passage of cunning or deadly revenge. Never did I see such speaking eloquence as that displayed in this man's gestures or burning accents, or more intelligent expression than that traceable in the countenances of his hearers. The men forgot their stoicism, and shed a tear; the women, unmindful of the strangers presence, let the folds of their cloaks fall from their pale but lovely faces; and all by their shouts and tears, showed their sympathy with the tale. Each, with parted lips and "dark eyes flashing fire," gazed intently on the speaker, their wild spirits chained and softened while the old man held them captive with his glittering eye and living eloquence. There they sat, unmindful of the surrounding tumult which swept around them, wholly wrapped up in the account of other scenes, which for a time rendered them oblivious of their present misery in the dream-like recollections of their people's paradise.—Good Words.
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
War Peace
What keywords are associated?
Arabian Storyteller
Marketplace Scene
Desert Reciter
Dramatic Eloquence
Audience Captivation
Cultural Description
Arab Customs
Literary Details
Title
"Arabian Story Teller."
Form / Style
Descriptive Sketch
Key Lines
Never Did I See Such Speaking Eloquence As That Displayed In This Man's Gestures Or Burning Accents, Or More Intelligent Expression Than That Traceable In The Countenances Of His Hearers.
Each, With Parted Lips And "Dark Eyes Flashing Fire," Gazed Intently On The Speaker, Their Wild Spirits Chained And Softened While The Old Man Held Them Captive With His Glittering Eye And Living Eloquence.
There They Sat, Unmindful Of The Surrounding Tumult Which Swept Around Them, Wholly Wrapped Up In The Account Of Other Scenes, Which For A Time Rendered Them Oblivious Of Their Present Misery In The Dream Like Recollections Of Their People's Paradise.