The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1880-11-17

European public, the gaudiest fraud in this
century OF gaudy frauds, was the Shah of
Persia, He was sent as All advertisement to
assist in raising money. I met him at
Brussels. He was well treated in 81. Peters
burg, and given q cold welcome in Berlin,
because he spat upon Empress Augustus
dress, and raved about in England. He had
diamond, pearl, ruby, amethyst and en-
erald coats, and the gems were all shams
quietly made in Paris q year before his arri-
val. He offered rewards for mystical gems
lost from his horses tails. He and his suite
betouled Buckingham Palace so that 1t is
hardly wholesome yet. He patronized the
Princess Of Wales and Czarina Of Russia,
keeping them waiting in Covent Garden.
Visiting a Manchester cotton mill, five humid
red girls sang a hymn Of welcome, and he
wanted to buy of the proprietor all his female
live stock. His saloon carriage Travelled free
on most of the railroads, but when payment
was demanded on one, the Shah was found
short of money, and he paid in jewels, after
wards found bogus. He defrauded London
and Paris jewellers, and $500, 900 were ex-
pended in welcoming him in England.
Il was presented to the Emperor Nicholas
on q boat in the Danube. He is tall, of the
Jewish type of face, soldier]y in bearing,
bluff even to rudeness. When the fercest
fighting was going on at the Shipka Pass, |
waited until at s o'clock it was evident thai
the Russians had gained The victory, then
rode to Eucharist, 40 miles, neither eating
nor sleeping, having relays of horses along
the way"
Outstripping the Russian orderliea, Mr..
Forbes, at General lgnatieH's request, had
an interview with the Gar, traveled-stained
and dirty though he was, and demonstrated
to the haggard, care-worn Emperor, who
seemed nervous at being left alone with him,
the success Of the Russians.
In the winter Of rs and 10 Mr. Forbes
called upon King Theebah, of Burmah, the
Lord Of the White Elephant and the Mon
arch Of the Golden Umbrella, who was then
manly and pleasant looking and had not
been driven to drinking and numbering his
subjects by q double-barreled mother-in-law.
Mr.. Forbes description of his presentation
to the monarch, and the bogus presents
which the latter palmed off upon him, Great
ed much amusement.
The lecturer spoke of the Prince Imperial,
whom he had known in England and after
wards in Zululand, as So keen, bright, stu
dious boy, easily subjected to military disci-
pline." He had a weakness for theatrical
display, being brave to rashness.
Mr.. Forbes did not see Cetywayo person
ally in Africa, only watching his flight to
UIandi through a glass, but he had an anus
ing interview with his brother, whom be
found asleep in a low hut, but who raised
his nnHieldy bulk, using his wives as cush-
ions, and solaced himself with stsquare face
old Holland.
Mr.. Forbes saw the Emperor Of Austria at
the Vienna Exhibition of 1873, the Empress
leading o fox hunt, and has known Prince
Milan of servia, the German princes, a Rou-
mania prince, and the son Of the Viceroy
of Egypt. He spoke last Of the royal fam
lily Of England, expressing bis respect and
admiration for Queen Victoria, and saying
that scant justice had been done the Prince
of Wales, to whom he attributed the '1inest
tact, sincerest consideration, and truest gen
tlemanhood, and, while possessing faults like
others, they serve only as q fringe to a noble
character"
mR +a@gDbh la-
Paris Unhealthy and Unsafe.