New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-06
IONDON'S LATEST LION

The DISPATCHES cablcd 10 this country about
the soiourn Of the Shah Za1a Nasrulla Khan, Of
Afshanlstan In London, are somewhat contra
dictory: but on the whole, they indicate that the
Young fellow IS giving his hosts the worth OF
their money In sensations. He Is, Of course,
entirely unconventional from the English point
Of view: but that Is what the English like in
foreigner For II proves the foreigner TO be an
Inf.rInr bcng. willie at the same time 1t const-
tuics him a perennial source of amusement ami
wonder There is nothing that a wellborn and
highly cultured Ensshman enjoys much AZ
10 have some uncouh or savage parsonage from
the ends Of the earth transplantcd 10 Il London
drawing room once in a while such importa'
lions turn out to DO Unexpectedly commonplace.
In some cases they even try 10 behave like CON
ventonal Englishmen. From that moment all
interest in them ceases. They are no longer
asked To dlsport themselves In the drawing
rooms Of Mayfair, and not even AIRY or 'Ar1et
would notice them should they show themselves
al Margate II Is true our English cousins arc
gradually becoming reconcllci ~ the fact mat
there nra wcllhred, conventional Americans, hut
we all know with what regret they gave up the
tradition ~ the espectorntns plA'ol-wenrlns
hrnggnri who wna brought ~ thrlr attention ~
Charles nicscna II wna not that they were
norry ~ SOC tho Improvement IN American mnh
nrra that hnH been ~ marked during tho last
thirty or forty ,unra. but they hated 10 loac The
FUN of contemplating IA M airnngc foreign
rrcnka There are few Americans who attn
belong Ia that category: hut every year Il ~ he
coming moro difficult to palm them of In London
drawing rooms ns typical Americans
n,t a., IA, fhn Shah yutu. n xvnull
pear, according to some reports thnt hc, and
more especially his retInuc. are n little too I'M
conventional even for tho jadcd Londoncr While
the retnuc are guarding the Shah Xada from the
supposed dangers Of the British metropolis. II IL
said that n number Of policemen and soldiers
have orders TO shoot the rctlnue In case they
attempt to commit any violent acts. Indeed, so
great Is the tcrrpr Of these outlandish visitors
that It Is said alP1.ondon will breathe a sigh Of
relief when they depart. There Is, however. an
other side to the question. II the Shah Xnda has
shocked London, he has In turn been shocked
by London. At recent reception he was so
much shocked and scandazel ut the dresses
of the ladies' that he was with difficulty per
sraded 10 go into the drawlng-room. And when
he finally entered he refused 10 take Lady Ians-
downe In 10 supper because she was IN evening
dress In his own country women would not
have veniured to appear thus. and he could not
reconcile himself to what he regarded as an i'm
proper custom Doubtless his English hosts will
be vastly amused ut having the tables thus
turned on them by man whom they have been
patronizing as n wild and lawess barbarian Ger
tnnly the incident will not suggest to them the
possibility that the Shah Zada may have Just
ground for his scruples While on the other
hand, the Oriental will go home more convinced
than ever that all countries outside Of Afghan
stan arc sunk deep down In the depths Of bnr-
barism.