New-York tribune., 1873-07-29
THE SHAH ar VERSAILLES.

DINNER AT THE GALERIE DIES GLACEs-A MAGSIEI-
CENT Observation-Disclosures IN THE EVENING.
IFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE Tribune
PARIS, July 9.-FrOm all that can be learned,
it would that the Shah is really enjoying himself
very heartily in Paris and is credby reported that
he has already given the best possible proof OF his ap
probation of the Paradise of good Americans by nti
mating his intention TO proOng his stay In the French
capital by several days beyond the date first fixed for
his departure for switzerland The French Government,
the Due de Broglie whoever 1t is that has had the
arrangement Of the F6tes and public ceremonies 10 be
held in honor of Din. certainly deserves all
possible praise for the sklful way IN which
have been adopted to allow the guest far greater
freedom the disposal OF his time than has been al
lowed hm in country he has hitherto visited, espe-
caly in England, where he hustled about that tho
unfortunate man is said 90 have lost ten pounds
weight during his stay. The authorities here have
cleverly arranged TO have public ceremonies only on
alternate days, and thus NassercdDm is free TO amuse
himself he pleases what may he called his of days
he himself would probably call them his holidays. To
day is holiday. but yesterday the Shah had a hard
afternoons work. lie left Paris at about o'clock and
straight to Versailles via ssvres and the pretty
valley which leads by the little village Of Chaye 70
Versailles. After calling Marshal MacMahon he took
the aerho his carriage and they at once drove TO the
famous Park OF Versailles. What the Shah thought, /
have yet heard but that he looked pleased enough
at the grand view from the wOrid-lamed terrace
down tho canal toward the Basin OF Apollo,
can bear personal evidence. Versailles
is, indeed, just the place one would
think calculated to strike Oriental by Its vast
ness and its singular and almost uuTiyaled unity of de-
sign. Most Europeans think its hugeness dun and
monotonous, and the French themselves will not
days commend the straight walks and hedges OF the
palace gardens of Le Grand Monarque But the very
qualities which offend the taste OF not few Of us may
well have pleased an Eastern potenate. Tie fountains
doll fbp in
and padded about in the mud like a merry schoobOy
laughing heartily with MacMahOn at the mud-plas-
ers his rich dress when he returned to his carriage
Then he drove back to the Palace escorted by squad
ron Of cuirassers. French friend SAID the cortege
swept by us, These the 9th Curassiers. one of
the regiments in the R3iohshofen charge wonder if
MacMahon is thinking of that" When he ordered the
9th and sh Cuirasers to make that most desperate Of
all charges the poor Colonel Of tde Gh said II Is TO
death you sending Marshal" know it IS, Col
onel" was the reply. The looked ready enough TO
make such charge again. and the spectators were talk
ing Of 1t not little yesterday.
But to return TO the shah he was hurried of from the
grounds to dine in tue Galerie des Glaees which
pies all the centra block OF tho Palace the garden
'front.' and is OF the finest bauqueting-Las III the
world THIS gallery, like most OF the Palace, was built
by Louis XIV Il is 80 feet long by 40 broad aud s5
feet in hight. There II arcAed windows looking
the garden, aud these are faced By as many arched
recesses each ned with huge mirrOr-irom whion the
gallery takes its Oddly enough, it was In thss
very gallery that Louis XIV received Persian Embas.
sador some 10 years ago. Marshal Maclahon is said 30
have reminded his guest last night Of this and we may
well believe that the Marshal did not add that there
GOOD reason to think that the Embassador and En-
bassy were both sham and that tho whole
affair was arranged by Madame de Mantenon to please
and hatter the pride OF the grand monarch. Marshal
MacMahon hear, Gnds 1t easy 10 keep up con-
yersation with the shah, from his long residence in
Algcrs the President OF the Republic Is enabled TO
speak Arabic with great Guency; the shah, a dOham
medan, OF course speaks the language in which the
Koran is written. 1t was also in this gallery that,
The 18TH OF January 1s7 William, King Of Prussia
made Emperor of Germany. There was no mention of
that scene last light, we may be very certain.
During the whole Of dinner time large crowd of pco
pie congrerated under the windows Of the Galere des
Glaces and watched in vain for glimpse OF the shah
This was OF the most amusing parts OF the days en-
tertainment The crowd different from all others,
and above all from the English crowds which the Shah
has seen 50 much of lately II was quiet, demure, Or
derly incapable OF roughncss or brutality easily
amused and only anxious to be pleased as French
crowd always appears when on its good behavior
After the dinner came the fireworks, when I
had an opportunity OF watching Nasser-ed-
Din very closely, and from within yard
or two The surroundings OF the Bassin de Neptune
where the display of fireworks took place. were slngu-
arly beautiful The whole of the sheet of water Is en-
yroned by thick OF trees few or them less thah
eoupe OF centuries old and these were ccvery lighted
by green Bengal lights, in way which made them
form most effective back ground. Round one-half OF
tho han that opposite the reserved for the Shah
and his suite ran an arcade Of the old fashioned
colored lamps far prettier than the more brilliant but
oarsb gas examinations TO which often exposed
trumphal arch visible In the distance at the END
of an avenue directly opposite where the shan sat
The SHAH as appears to be his habit kept us al wait
N half n of
excitement when be took MS place between NJ Bullet
and Marshal MacMahon and even an attempt at cheer
As soon he had settled himself IN his chair he made
sign OF the servants and handsome CLOAK was
at once thrown over his shoulders, although most OF us
would gladly taken of coats, 80 hot was the
weather. Having been thus made comfortable. Nasser
ed Din proceeded to have good stare at the crowd,
which he was able TO see very well, two pow
erful electric lights having been arranged almost
Immediately behind his chair. lie narrowly
| scrltinized all the faces near him, and gave
those among who within yard or two OF BIS
seat good opportunity to study ais features The shan
is singular contrast TO all the other Eastern rulers,
who have a more or less vornout, sensual expression.
The Persians must be the French OF the East bright
are their expressions and rapid the play OF Their
features. Eastern impaSbilIty" has been much
talked about Of late, but In the Of the Shah the
words certainly inapplicabe Last night when the
signal gwen and the fountains and fireworks began
together shah's whole lighted up with the keen
est pleasure More marked expessOnI have never seen
on q human face. Eassered-Dn is evidently as
fond OF spectacle any Frenchman
In the crowd Last night. But one form
| "A picture In imagination Of his face in
well IN pleasurec must be exceedingly unpleasant
man 70 deal with when In The fireworks, nre
works hardly success. But an OF afford
lng pleasure 90 the guest OF France t Is plain that
nothing could have been better chosen and IL s fOItu
Ia,c ia 10 the Municipal Council has, alter no httc die
CUSTOM decided " have fireworks al the Jes ae nut
Sunday next