The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-03-30
A DREADED GUEST.
European Courts Again to Be In
vaded by the Shah Of Persia.
His Conduct on Former Visits So Shocked
Royal Society That It Held Its Hands
Up in Unaffected Horror and
CONSERVATION.

"The shah is coming again! Good
Lord. deliver usls Such is the fervent
litany of the courts of Europe. Fer it
Is announced that during the present
year Nasr-ed-Din, the king of kings,
will descend from the peacock throne
and make tour OF the chief capitals
of Europe as the guest OF the sover-
eigns thereof. TO say that the news
causes CONSERVATION is to put the case
too mildly. 1t is a reign of terror.
The coming of the shah will have much
political Significance. Of that, accord
ing to the Pnila deIphia Times, there is
no doubt And merely on that score it
is perhaps well that iae Is to come. AT
fairs are in Il bad way in Persia.
There is widespread discomfort with
the shah rule, based chiefly on the al
legation that he is subservient TO i.tlro-
pean influences. Of this discomfort
priests are the chief promoters. In
deed, the whole priesthood CT the en-
pire is hostile to the shah, and it's hos
tility is scarcely disguised.
Certain 1t is, at any rate, that the
Russian government is in close sym
pathy and active alliance with the
Persian priests in their Opposition to
the shah. And the chief object of Nasr-
.ed-Din's approaching visit to Europe
is, first, to see what aid and comfort
he can get from England. Germany and
Austria for the maintenance Of his
throne; and, second, failing that, to
make the best terms he can with Rus
STA. On these grounds alone there
would be no objection to his coming.
for England has set ont to build q rail
road through Palestine and Syria to
India, or To the Persian Guif ct the
least. and Il Is therefore highly desir-
able to get on tho closest possible terms
OF Ericntisl,i', Wit. the shah And that
end could lar better l>e effected by hav-
ing Him come 10 ENGLAND t,ian bycel:;
inC a;Y ;.;mbcr Of az t,..e.:: ;J,i'e: 70 hin.
at Tchcran. !;,, ti'cui;ic IS, Eowav2r.
th::t he ooni<,:' no !,va'clr : 81 inpor
TAFT political PES ''::..t,, !iE: ;iS n ;:.ost
offensive ia.ii2i,:1al Eo;.::;<,, az. {; s wei!
and it is in t;.i. l:;ct~l' cHTnc: :. tnat X
mas literally stricken, with ii,sslay ani:
horror the courts OF E@*orc, where his
last visitation is only too well remcm-
hered.
His first visit to Europe was made in
1873 and his rrcclld in 1870. he came
again in 1@.~.;. ard it was then Observed
that his laari.crs hnd bot ia The joaa,
improved. II III ;a2; ted. fer exam
pie, on t.:r,::s 60 ssHt'vF the table his
plates AMI ot;.tr dishes a3 fast as he
got tl2raatsh with their contents. Per
haps tl:a; i; TIC approved Persian
table ctiqn"tt>. Bat in Gunntcouslv
furni@il* .,,ropaan palace. wilA china
as fra. ..e G; cmcs!1olls cnd wort!, it's
weight IL cold. ii is, to say tho least.
rather tr7 o.. 1t !l;1 first dinner as
the gue:t Of Q'aeen Victoria, in 1850, it
is said, lso til'ai destroyed thousand
dollars r:',:th Of rare china at ali
subsequent meals number of WATERS
were kept s;an,ling close behind him
to sn2tca Mp his plates -t,;c moment he
seemed da::s with them, or at least to
tai,H ti'2;n from hi; hand before he
coul.! throw them under the table.
Even despite these precautions he
broke several things and hit some of
the other guests on the feet n:id Bhins
with the dishes
On one occasion the shah was seated
at the table next to one Of the most
stately and digaiiied royal prioceescs OF
Europe. He was helped to cole,a nr,,ar-
agus, coo cd IN peculiarly delicious
manner. Picking up q stalk in lis fin
gers, he suc.sed the end OF it with cvi-
dent delight. Then turning to hi; fair
nelghbor he exclaimed: ''Ba. ba! How
good it ISL and thrust the sam e stalk
into her mouth for her also to taste.
Nor was his conversation less en-
barrassit1g than his table manners.
Talking with nobleman of great dis
tlnction, he suddenly asked:
us that your wife over there?"
Yes, your majesty"
But she is old and ugly Why don't
you get rid of her and take a new one.
one OF these young and pretty women?;
AS he spoke in tone perfectly audi
BILE to the lady under discussion. and
indeed to most of the company in the
room, the sensation produced NAV best
be left to the imagination. Nor WAS
the scene less embarrassing when tho
shah one evening approached one of
the royal princesses and began to pat
ana pinch her plump shoulders, saving:
AN, you are the kind of woman
like! You are not all bones! I will gel
ria OF one OF my wives and take Won in
her placer
The shah is, however, as a matter Of
1act' particularly amiable and kind
hearted man. For this he has bean
noted since his boyhood. 1t is a mat.
ter OF authentic record that the shah
on a certain occasion was about to SET
1orth on tour through his dominions.
attended by all his court and a vast
retlnue, all of whom were actually on
the road when he found his pet eat
la3. asleep on the Identical fur mantle
which he wished to wear, vhereunon
ne sat him down to wait until mss
should OF its own accord wake m and
leave its couch: and that not co,ninr
10 pass Tor some time, the court and
ieIinoe We're ii;.'nissed for the dav and
'ne start p2stpoacl until the morrow.
"hen' be IL Observed, the shah's at.
Ienoants took good care that no cat
TX Oil Shouiu use the mantle for a bed.
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