Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-07-14


and were in the hight Of good breeding,
since among 0rientals IL is the custom
N hestow on guest the choicest NOR
sels from the hosts portion, aud a king
slwavs stands in the relation OF host 10
everybody else.
II would, at any rate, be mistake TO
sunnose that the Shah is wanting IN po'
likeness 10 women, as he understands ~
or even that he has not learned a great
deal aud adopted great deal from Eu'
ropean manners. There could not be
more striking proof Of this than his IN
stituting an order for women and con-
ferrine decorations on them--a perform
ance which offers not merely violent
hut A ludicrous contrast 10 ordinary
Oriental notions. SO OF his compliments
10 the Queen and the Princess OF wales,
aud the marked courtesy shown 10 dhe
latter wherever he has met her' hu,
You know all about that already ana
they we're official personages, II may De
said, He has, however, been not less
civil 10 other ladies TO whom he was I'M
der no political obligation. He was sur
prised, as well he might be, by the num-
her and spiendor Of the diamonds worn
bv the Marchioness OF Westminster, and
he surprised her not less by telling her
that they were much finer than his own.
His reception at Stafford House was
marvel Of profuse elegance, and was
followed BY somewhat marvellous
incident Stafford House, / should
say, enjoys an easy pre'eminenee
among ali London houses for the
magni6cence of its entertainments
Its size and position, to begin
with, are unequaled. 1t is half as big
as Buckingham Palace itself, from whlch
il is not far removed, the two having
each a double front on st. James and
The Green Parks. II was in the days OF
the former Duchess of Sutherland,
mother Of the present Duke, and well
known by Lame in America for her anti
slavery sympathies, that Stafford House
acouired its peculiar celebrity. She
was a woman to whom high birth ana
great wealth seemed suitable and nat
nral. for her tastes were liberal, and she
loved splendor. She kept an army OF
and an army Of servants Is
rather more costly luxury than an army
of soldiers. Their liveries would have
nut 10 shame the most snowy uniforms.
Before she died q great many OF her re.
tanners were dismissed and pensioned
off. But the pensions were gwen on
condition that the holders Of them should
return to their old posts on great oeca-
sions. and this they do. Without them
the household would be counted numer'
GUS; with them it presents such an ar
ray as few private mansions In the world
or none. can equal; and as they are per-
fectly drilled aud know the ways OF the
house, there is no confusion, nor any IN
dication that this double retinue is not
the ordinary equipment OF the house;
The effect is princely, and Stafford
House is princely residence, with its
broad halls, its great staircase, its noble
rooms, its priceless treasures OF art ana
all the rest.
All this so much impressed the Shah
that, on the morning after his receptions
by the Duke, he sought an interview
with the Prince OF Wales, for whom he
is said to have taken a liking. As he
was not a man Of many words, and
French is the only language in common
between him and the Prince, and he
speaks it with difficulty he lost time in
explaining what seemed to him so plain
as to need no explanation. He simply
advised the Prince to put the Duke OF
Sutherland to death. As the Prince was
naturally little surprised at the abrupt
ness of this suggestiSn-and he and the
Duke are, moreover, great friends-the
Shah urged with much eageruess that 1t
was impossible so powerful a subject
could be permitted to exist without en-
dangering the throne. When the Prince
explained to him that, however just his
view might be, the laws of England did
not allow a king TO put subject to
death, the Shah became much depressed.
Presently he rallied, and exclaimed;
&" But at least you can put out his eyesg'