The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-12-04
THE MOGUL'S DAUGHTER.

1t was the summer of the year 1861.
Shah Jehan, grandson of the mighty
Akbar, had been for four-and-twenty
years on the throne of the Great Mooui.
He was the most magnificent and luxu-
rious of all the Moguls. Before the ra-
dlant and amazing splendors of his
court all the pomp and glory of the
greatest monarchs of the West paled in
to insignificance. He had been known
to spend million and half sterling
upon a birthday festival His royal
progresses through his dominions sur
passed In grandeur and stupendous dis
play all that even the oriental imaoina-
ton had conceived. Travellers told
with awe of the acres of land covered
with carpets of silk and gold; of the
stately pavilions glittering with dia-
monds and pearls of the gorgeous tents
OF crimson velvet embroidered with cold.
supported by massive poles forty feet
high and stretching over long miles of
level country; of the seven resplendent
thrones studded with diamonds, rubies,
emeralds and pearls; of the world-re-
nowned Peacock Throne, Shah Jehan's
own fanelful invention, so called from a
peacock with its tail spread, the natural
colors althfullyrepresented in sapphires,
emeralds, rubies and pearls, which
formed the chief ornament and desion
OF mass of diamonds and other pre.
clous stones valued at six millions and a
half sterling. WIN -
Ihey told, too, of the elephants that
looked like shining mountains of Jewell
ry-elephants trained to kneel before
the throne and do reverence to the
Great Mogul with their trunks-whose
keep cost 500 rupees apiece per month
OF the magnificent horses, on whose
brides and saddles the gems stood
thick as dew-drops on lawn at sunrise
and OF thousand other lustrous and
dazzling marvels, the mere mention of
when made men stand agape with won
der and astonishment.
And now, after nearly 10 wears of in
cessant war, there was peace in the Mo-
gul Empire, and the Emperor had come
TO enjoy his well earned repose, and
revel in the luxury which he loved. at |
his capital, Delhi-that Delhi which he
had restored to more than its ancient
glory, whose marble halls and spacious
courts and golden domes and stately
mosques, he could proudly boast. were
anywhere for grace and beau
W and sublimity. For Shah Jehan had
a passion for noble and beautiful build
lngs-the mausoleum which he erected
70 his wife at Agra known as the Tai
Mahai, standing 10 this day as one Of
Inc MODEST monuments in the world.
put passionately rs Shah Jehan loved
luxury and magnifcence, gorgeous pa
seants, and magnificent buildings, there
was something he loved more passion
ately still, and that was his eldest
laughter. In all his vast empire there
was no lovelier, more charming. or
more accomplished lady than the Pad
nah Begun. Shan Jehan idolized .
his his favorite child. She was his
companion. She enioyed his !
to an extent which :
nen very rarely allow to women in the
last. Her lively conversation, her skin
the use of musical instruments. her :
ut of melodious song, could ALWAYS :
harm him into amiability. She was +
ne light of his life, the only being that +
nee the death of his queen he really $
we'd. His sons he mistrusted and sus :