What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Second

Name: What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Second Gift of the Emir
Author: Wardon Allan Curtis

Mr. Middleton is persuaded by the tribal emir to exchange his own, shabby attire for a lavish Oriental costume. The emir, believing that good clothes can transform a man’s fortune, bestows upon him a silken habit of baggy trousers, a vividly colored short jacket ornamented with pearls, a white vest, leggings, bronze shoes, and a turban. When Mr. Middleton attempts to change back into his familiar garments, he finds them inextricably bound by heavy knots, leaving him in the brilliant, yet unsuitably extravagant, raiment. Forced to appear in public in these exotic clothes, he becomes the subject of mistaken identity; by his unusual dress he is assumed to be an official of a fraternal order. In a bizarre twist, a saloonkeeper propositions him to keep away from a masquerade for money. In the ensuing transactions—which include a contract to avoid the affair and the misadventures involving a mocked-up wager, a damaged suit, and a ticket to a raffle—Mr. Middleton’s new identity continues to embroil him in a series of outrageous, farcical dealings. Over the following days, having retained the Oriental costume without any real opportunity to wear it properly and having accumulated another suit purchased with some of the proceeds from his wager, Mr. Middleton finds himself further entangled in matters of attire and reputation. Eventually, the costume is disposed of in an unexpected manner when he presents it to a young lady, who transforms parts of it into garments of her own design, thereby severing his association with its unexpected influence on his identity. Thus, the gift—a seemingly benevolent act from the emir—sets off a chain of events that upend Mr. Middleton’s life: it forces him into a new, unwanted persona, ruins his attempts to revert to his usual self, and draws him into a maze of ironic and absurd complications stemming from the transformative (and ultimately burdensome) power of fine clothes.

By Wardon Allan Curtis · First published 1896 · Genre: Satire, Humorous Fiction, Farce · 1,608 words

First lines

"The individual whose sad taking-off I have just narrated," said the emir of the tribe of Al-Yam, "affords an excellent example of the power of good clothes. Suppose he had secreted himself under Miss Almira's bed wearing a jumper, overalls, and a mask. He would have been arrested and lodged in the penitentiary."

"But he is now dead," said Mr. Middleton.

What this Textopian page supports

What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Second Gift of the Emir is listed on Textopian as a short story by Wardon Allan Curtis, dated 1896 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Wardon Allan Curtis
Date: 1896 CE
Language: English
Genres: Satire, Humorous Fiction, Farce, Picaresque, Absurdist Fiction
Length: 1,608 words
Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Work identity for What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Second Gift of the Emir by Wardon Allan Curtis
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Discussion starters

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Genres

Satire — The narrative uses irony and exaggerated social situations to critique fashion, class, and societal norms.
Humorous Fiction — The text is filled with witty dialogue, absurd scenarios, and comical misadventures that drive the narrative.
Farce — The improbable events, mistaken identities, and ludicrous plot twists provide a farcical quality to the work.
Picaresque — The episodic series of misadventures involving a roguish protagonist reflects elements typical of picaresque fiction.