Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-07-24
THE SHAH OF PERSIA.

GS
title of Caliph, meaning successor of Mo-
hamed, and consequently one vested with
supreme dignity and power in all matters re-
lating to religion and civil polity, is now on
visit to England. The personal appearance
of the Shah, as given by the editor of the
Louisville Courier Journal, (now on visit to
Europe) is anything but prepossessng. He
is described as closely resembling the more
cruel of his forefathers contained in the early
editions of the "Arabian Nights"-a fierce
eyed, talow-visaged, ugly beast, ugly and
vicious. But notwithstanding these slight
defects, the honors said to have been paid to
him on his entrance into London we're more
magnificent than was the grand pageant to
the allied sovereigns after the collapse of Ma
poleon. All this gorgeous show is not intend
ed as compliment to wise and virtuous
King, nor as merely tender of the evidences
of good will to the East 1t means some
thing more, and that more is suspected to be
England's rivalry with Russia in the East,
and her desire to fortify herself by an alliance
with a power known to be hostile to Russia's
further aggressons.
The Tribune correspondent in London gives
the following interesting letter regarding the
movements of the Shah in that city:
Nothing seems to have struck the Shah
more than the soft and brilliant verdure Of
England, in which, indeed, this country is
without rival anywhere. He found the turf
beneath his windows at Buckingham Palace
so much to his liking that he forthwith caused
a message to be sent to the Queen, requesting
that it should be reserved exclusively for his
own use, and that nobody else should be al
lowed to walk On it. Thereafter he was OBJ
served pacing up and down on it, delighting
in its color and its velvet surface beneath his
foot; "caressing as he walked" was the phrase
of one who saw him. He declared there was
nothing like it in Persia, which is doubtless
true.
THE SHAH AND THE FAIR SEX.
Next to the grass and trees, or perhaps be-
fore, the women of England have had the
honor to interest the Shah. Regarding them
naturally from the Oriental point of view, his
Majesty has made number of remarks which
will scarcely bear repetition in print. The
prevailing fashion of dress has given him abun-
dant opportunity to compare the attractions
with those of his own harem. For three he is
reported to have offered thirty thousand
pounds, with the option of cancelling the bar
gain and returning to England if after fair
trial they dislike Persia. One of the three
told me she was inclined to accept if the mon
ey could be settled on herself, and ifshe could
feel sure about getting back. But 1 think no
bargain has been closed. AtLady Granville's
party at the Foreign Office on Tuesday night,
it was an American lady-or, as some say,
two or three fair Americans-who had the
honor to attract this noble savage's regard.
At one or two dinners he has found himself
with lady on each side of him, and this is a
practice which he declares himself unable to
understand. They, on the other hand, have
been enlightened by experience as to some
customs which prevail in Persia, but have
hitherto been unknown in England. One
lady on rising from the table found her lap
filled with morsels from the royal plate, which,
as she supposed, he had found upalatable and
quietly disposed of in this way. Another be-
held sundry viands from time to time during
dinner transferred from the Shah's plate to her
own. There is even story that he took such
violent dislike to spinach when it was served
to him for the first time that he elected it from
his mouth on to the plate of his neighbor.
PLEASANT SUGGESTION.
His reception at Stafford House was a mar
vel of profuse elegance, and was followed by
a somewhat marvellous incident. Stafford
House, I should say, enjoys an easy preemi
nence among all London houses for the mag
nifcence of its entertainments. Its size and
position, to begin with, are unequalled It is
half as big as Buckingham Palace itself, from
which it is not far removed, the two having
each double front on St. James and the
Green Parks. 1t was in the days of the for
mer Duchess of Sutherland, mother Of the
present Duke, and well known by name in
America for her anti-slavery sympathies, that
Stafford House acquired its peculiar celebrity.
She was a woman to whom high birth and
great wealth seemed suitable and natural, for
her tastes were liberal, and she loved splendor.
She kept an army of servants, and an army
of servants is rather more costly luxury
than an army of soldiers. Their liveries
would have put to shame the most snowy uni
forms. Before she died a great part of her
retainers were dismissed and pensioned of.
But the pensions were given on condition that
the holders of them should return to their old
posts on great occasions, and this they do.
Without them the household would be counted
numerous with them it presents such an ar
ray as few private mansions in the world, or
none, can equal, and as they are perfectly
drilled and know the ways of the house, there
is no confusion, nor any Indication that this
double retinue is not the ordinary equipment
of the house. The effect is princely, and Stat
ford House is princely residence, with its
noble rooms, its priceless treasures Of art, and
all the rest. All this so much impressed the
Shah, that on the morning after his reception
by the Duke he sought an interview with the
Prince of Wales, for whom he is said to have
taken liking. AS he is not 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 no time in ex-
planning 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 naturally was a little surprised
by the abruptness of this suggestion-and he
and the Duke are, moreover, great friends--
the Shah urged with much eagerness that it
was impossible so powerful subject could be
permitted to exist without endangering the
throne When the Prince explained to him
that, however just his view might be, the laws
of England did not allow king to put sub
lect to death, the Shah became much depressed.
Presently he rallied, and exclaimed, "But at
least you can put out his eyes! 1t was diff
cult to make him understand that even this