HEARING a sound of strife1, a Christian2 in the Orient asked his
Dragoman the cause of it.
"The Buddhists4 are cutting Mohammedan throats," the Dragoman
replied, with oriental composure.
"I did not know," remarked the Christian, with scientific interest,
"that that would make so much noise."
"The Mohammedans are cutting Buddhist3 throats, too," added the
Dragoman.
"It is astonishing," mused5 the Christian, "how violent and how
general are religious animosities. Everywhere in the world the
devotees of each local faith abhor6 the devotees of every other, and
abstain7 from murder only so long as they dare not commit it. And
the strangest thing about it is that all religions are erroneous
and mischievous8 excepting mine. Mine, thank God, is true and
benign9."
So saying he visibly smugged and went off to telegraph for a
brigade of cutthroats to protect Christian interests.
