Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-28
EIGHTEEN SNUFF-BOXES,
How the Pasha's Order Was Faith
fully Filled.

b Some half-a-dozen years previous to
the sudden collapse of the Napoleonic
dynasty, in 1870, certain sensation was
excited in Paris by the arrival in that
city OF an Oriental potentate of am
blguous nationality, but popularity
known and spoken of as THE Pasha. 50
Whether he came from Turkey or from
| Egypt was regarded as matter of COM
paratlvely small Importance; the two
| essential points in his favor were, first,
that he was undoubtedly the possessor
OF an immense fortune, and secondly
no slight recon. nendation in the Lutte.
tan capital--tEat he spoke French with
| tolerahlo fluency. AS matter of
course, SO desirable an acquisition to
Partisan society become the lion of the
hour; and no sooner was it ascertained
that spacious hotel overlooking the
Pare de Monccaux had been engaged
and furnished for the reception of His
Excelency and suite, than a shoal of
visitors, official and non-ot1icial. has
tened to inscribe their names in = book
deposited for the purpose in the perter's
lodge. Every day brought fresh in
stallment of signatures, until before a
week had elapsed, the list threatened to
rival in length the traditional cata-
logue OF Leporello.
Hussein Pasha-an assumed title.
fancy. but the one by which he was gem
| orally known--was short and corpulent,
of sallow complexion and reserved nam
ners; he spoke little, nut what he did
say was concise and to the point. He
was extremely observant, but chary of
expressing his opinion of what he saw
or heard; only one instance being re-
corded of temporary departure from
his habltual taciturnith. Having been
persuaded ny d member of the French
Jocky club to accompany him to the
opera, he was escorted between the acts
by his cicerone to the foyer de Ia danse;
thereby occasioning great excitement
among the ladies of the rerps de ballet
many of WHOM doubtless anticipated
that III accordance with Eastern Gus
toms, the ceremony of throwing the
handkerchief would be revived for their
own especial glorifcation. Nothing OF
the sort, however, occurred. After
very cursory glance at the assembled
| sylphlaes, and a muttered ejaculation
which sounded remarkably like ''Mances
a balal' (broomsticSs), the visitor
turned abruptly on his heels and eurtly
intimated his desire 70 return to his
| box.
| a few minutes later Count - was
startled by sudden display of anlma-
ton on the part of his companion, who
was gazing with absorbed attention at
an enormously-stout lady occupying the
| entire front of one of the stage-boXcs
| ''Ah. la belle femme!'' enthusiastical-
| ly exclaimed the Pasha. Look, is she
not superb?'
| Him." replied the Jockey Club ex-
| quisite, hardly able to rapress a smile,
that is matter OF taste. Does not your
EXcelency think her perhaps on the
whole trifle too voluminous?'
"Jamais trop, MONSIEUR Indignantly
retorted Hussein; 'jamais trop!''
| After sojourn of three months in
Paris, the Hasha, who had employed
considerable portion of his time in a
practical study of the latest inventions
and improvements, scientific and mes
chanical, with the view of introducing
them in his own don,inlons, announced
his intention of breaking up his estab-
lishment, and returning to the East.
Before doing so, however, he was les1r-
Gus of expressing his acknowledgements
in the shape Of u suitable present to cer-
tain officials of high standing who had
been particularly serviceah.e ~ him in
his researches, and consulted his secre-
tary, an Intelligent young Frenchman,
on the subject.
an. Morin,' he said, after explaining
his project, sit seems to me that the
simplest way would be 10 send few
thousand francs to each of them"
| Pardon me, your Highness," object
ed the secretary, ''if venture to remind
| you that d present of money would be
considered a breach of etiquette, and
consequently resented as an ipsult.A
| "Iou French are very singular peo-
ple," observed the Pasha. with us,
no matter how rich man may be, he is
not fool enough to refuse piastres when
he can get them. What, then, would
| you advise me to do?"
MAY be allowed to suggest, replied
NORM, that an object of artistic value
would be fitting token of your High
ness good villa gold snuff box, for in,
/ stance"
1.-The very thing" said Hassein, ap.
provingly. where are such articles to
be found?'
SAT DORIS, in the Rue de la Paix."
Good. Let him know exactly what
I require, and see that he is here pre-
cisely at twelve Tomorrow"
On being admitted to the Pasha's pres
ence, at the appointed hour, NJ. Dorr
produced, among other specimens of his
handiwork, gold snuffbox, exquisitely
finished, and encircled with moderate
sized diamonds, the interior of the lid
bearing the jewelers. name engraved in
microscopic characters. Hussein exam
ined it infinitely, and Inquired the price.
-Four thousand francs, your High
ness" replied Dorr.