Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-08-16
The sultan of Zanzibar at the Paris
Opera House.

Lucy Hamilton Hooper's Paris Letter to the
Philadelphia Telegraph
The Sultan of Zanzibar (the Partisan
press does not insist upon calling him
the Seyyid, asthe English did with pains
taking accuracy is at present the reignS
ing sensation Of the hour. His highness
is having a good time OF it generally, in
going about to visit all the sights under
special Government patronage. His
visit to the Jardin d'Acclimatation was
stopped by the rain the other day. He
got as far as the door, where he was met
BY a deputation Of directors under a very
roof of umbrellas, and it is to be sup
posed that they advised their dusky
guest to come another day. for he re-
turned to Paris without alighting from
his carriage. Yesterday be paid a visit
to the mandatory of the Gobelins, and
was presented with a superb chair:cover.
Of the far-famed tapestry. He also re,
ceived a pair Of magnificent vases on the
occasion of his late visit to Sevres, Last
night a grand gala performance was
given for him at the Opera, The house
was crowded, but, Of course, owing to
the season, there was a sad dearth of
fashion and of brilliant toilettes. The
Sultan himself sat in the President's box,
and was accompanied by his suit. He
had on a sort Of loose silk robe, slightly
embroidered with gold, in shape not un-
like an ordinary dressing gown, and he
wore on his head a large white urban
no Jewels nor splendsr Of any kind. He
is not full-blooded negro, notwithstand@
ing his African birth, but is of a coffee
colored complexion; his lips are very
thick and his beard is crisp and curly,
like that Of a negro. He looks as though
he might be a cross between that race
and the Arab. There are several shades
of complexion among his suit, some Of
them being as light as their master, while
Others were as black as ebony. The
audience would have done the heart of
a devotee of the fifteenth amendment
good to behold. All the darkies in Paris
-Haytians, Asiatics or Africans-were
present in full force to do honor to this
dusky p~otentate. The performance was
very poor. One act Of La Juive was
given, and the rest of the programme
was TO have comprised one act of the
ballet Of Coppelia and n of La Source,
the latter being given to display u old
favorite, Sangalli, and also to give an
opportunity of throwing open the gorge.
Gus dancers green room, which is an
apartment, all gildiog and mirrors,
situated at the back Of the stage, and
arranged so as to form part of the scene
if desired. Either Ssngali was i'll, or
the manager has grown economical, for
the act from La Source was omitted, and
the whole Of Coppelia was given instead.
Beaugrand's dancing was very fine as
the heroine, ''Swanilds." His highness
was charmed with the ballet, being
especially pleased with the pantomimic
part of it. The managers politely sent
him an invitation to visit the stage
during the ent r acte, but he declined on
the plea of fatigue, much 10 the disap-
pointment Of the corps de ballet. One
Of these damsels gave utterance TO the
following witticism. One of her COM
rades was sneezing violently, and com
planned of having caught cold Ia very
common thing in Paris just now, by the
way.) Don't you wish" asked her
friend, gazing up at the royal box, that
the Sultan would throw you his handker-
chiel2'