The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-08-15 00:00:00

AN ODD CHARACTER.

One of the few surviving attaches of Lady Hester Fitanhope
has died at Constantinople—M Michael Naotun, proprietor
and impressario of the Italian Theatre of the saute name
en
Pen says the Athenomn):—
Naoum was of Aleppine descent, and the son of a
tobacco dealer. When a boy of fourteen or fifteen he
attracted the notice of Lady Hester, and was by her
taken to Syria. He remained with her for some years,
being at length dismissed for too great assiduity in
feathering his nest. Of late years he claimed to act as
dragoman to Lady Hester, but, according to his state-
ment to the writer of this, his duties were miscel-
laneous. He had shaved Lady Hester's head more
than once. On one occasion my lady took it into her
head she would have sieves made in the English style
for stable use, and Naoum and his colleagues were
ordered to get up sieves on pain of dismissal. Every
day after dinner did he set to work with his bundle of
split reeds, but they were too brittle. At last, one
day he found by accident that, on being wetted, the
weaving could be effected, and he accomplished his
task, receiving the laudation of his mistress. He main-
tained his faith in her to the last day of his life. Her
passport, he attested, was acknowledged by the Greek
privateers during the times of the war of independence,
and he having been sent down to Rhodes in a coasting
vessel to cash a draft was, on his return, captured;
but on the production of my lady's passport, the
money was returned, and he was dismissed in safety.
On his return to Constantinople Nauum engaged in
various speculations, and was employed under the
patronage of the Sultan Mahmond in the fez manu-
factory. His contact with the great Sultan in the
olden times was never effaced from his memory. He
never appear-d in the presence of a Pailishah even in
these days of reform without a doubt as to the safety
of his head, or without the alternative hope of a largess
of a hundred pieces of gold. In 1831 Naouni's fine
mansion in Vera was bunit in the general conflagration
of that suburb : and while awaiting its reconstruction
he let the ground to a troupe of Italian mountebanks.
They got on so well that they turned their attention
to farce and music, for which they set up a small
theatre. This answered, and Naoum determined to
go into the matter on his own account. Mr. Smith, of
the Woods and Forests, was then there rebuilding the
palace of the English Embassy, and he engaged with
IcAOUIII in his design, furnishing the plan of, and
superintending the construction of, the theatre. From
the time of the Crimean War, the success of the opera
increased, and Naoum had some good years, and
occasionally respectable prime donne. On the occasion
of the State visit of the ',present Sultan, Naoum was
sent for into the retiring-room. "As I kissed the hem
of the Sultan's garment," said Naoum, "I took care
that my kisses should be loud and sounding, that my
sovereign should know my loyalty." "Thou had
dune well," said the Sultan; "I am content with
thee." As I stood there, said Naoum, I began to
assume a melancholy aspect, so that the Sultan asked
me what ailed me. "I am ill, Sire, in promoting the
amusement of my sovereign, and wish to ask a favour."
"What is it, NEW= ?" "It is permission to go to
Malta to restore my health, so that 1 may be better
aisle to devote myself to the service of my sovereign."
"Be it so, Naoum ;it is accorded to thee." Now, said
Naoum, if the present Sultan had been like his late
brather, he would have said, Naoum is ill, he is a poor
man, give him 400 pieces of gold for the expenses of his
voyage. 'But, sorrowfully lamented Namur', the
Sultan does not so spend his money now.

THE HOT WEATHER.
COOL CORRESPON DENA E.
(From Punch.)
Dear Ed.—Can't do anything for you this week. Too hot.
See lots of jokes in embryo. —Yours, warmly, ii. T.
Shad ynook Cottage, Riverside.
From JOHN SLACK to P. TIOHTFIT .
sir,—Your account is probably correct. Can't find cheque-
book, too hot to look for it. Wait for the rain —V. B.
Replies from people to whom Orders for Theatre have been
sent.
Dear Boy,—Thanks very much. I return the orders. Glad
of 'em later on. Congratulate you on the success of the
piece, which I see from the papers Ls drawing crammed
houses. We leave town to-day.—Yours, BANAL

Dear Sir—Mamma is much obliged for your kind present,
but thinks it is too hot for the theatre. At another time, In
the winter, we shall all be delighted—ANNlE SPINK.

Dear Fob,—You never send me a stall when there is some-
thing worth seeing, but now when I am total your piece
doesn't draw a half-penny, and when the very idea of sitting
in a stuffy ill-ventilated theatre is enough to choke one, you
send me a packet of six tickets. No, thank you. When I
want to see your trash, I can choose my own time and pay.—
Your affectionate Uncle, BARNABT GERUFFIN.
P.s.—You needn't call, as I leave town for Summer Vale
to-day. I didn't pay in that sum you asked for two weeks
ago, because you say you are doing no well, and the advertise-
ments announce your piece as a genuine success, drawing
crowded houses. You must be making a fortune, ill which
case you won't want any assistance from your uncle—B. 0.
To JoSIAII CRUMP, EN., of Little Snigg Court, Lombard
Sired, from LEONARD SLIGHT ENN.I.
Dear Mr. ('rump—Von asked me to dine with you in the
City at five o'clock yesterday, and I accepted, I regret to
say that I am called away on most serious and important
business, and am therefore utterly unable to fulfil my en-
gagement. I will see you the first time I come to the bank.
—Yours, truly, LEONARD S.

From LEONARD S. to GEO. SAUNTER, some day, earlier.
Pear Geo.—All right. Thermometer nearly 1009 in the
shade. Dine up the Thames Can't stand old Crump and
the Governor's fogies in the City. Throw him over.—Yours,
ever, LENNY.
From 3100. CAPPERD; to her Husband.
Dear Arthur,—Am I to take the children away or not?
London is so hot. IN hen do you return? Shall I meet yon
at Brighton? Or send the children to Brighton, and come
to you at the Isle of Wight? You have been so long away, and
you said you'd only he a week—Your affectionate wile,
LETTS.
P.S.—Why haren.t you written?