River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-07-01
THE SHAH AND SCOTCH GIRLS.
A Highland Fling by 500 Maids Thai
TnnI. fh.. Ex.. nf persin,s Mnrarch

A Highland Fling by 500 Maids That
Took the Eye of Persia's Monarch.
"When was at the Paris exposition"
said Malcolm Duncan, of Glasgow, the
shah of Persia was one of the honored
guests. He was good soul. Western
civilization had made an impression on
him, and no ruler in the orient had
a profounder respect for the wonders
that British and American genius have
accomplished. Western trade and COM
merce had no more liberal or intelh-
gent patron than this same shah. Per-
STA lost liberal ruler when the assas-
sins bullet laid him low. But this
has naught to do with my story.
Zone night the shah visited one of
the French theaters Of the lower grade.
When he arrived the house was full.
The oriental monarch received the best
the house afforded, but that was not
even one exclusive box. The shah and
his friends were ushered into one of
the front boxes. In it sat a typical
Scotchman, staid and solemn as his
race. j. the course of the evening a
pretty and lithe-limbed danseuse ca
pered nimbly upon the stage. Instant
" the shah was all attention. He
toasted his eyes on the gyrating form,
and even forgot his kingly dignity in
his admiration for the actress. Per
sias proud ruler sat in front Of the
Scot, who was the only occupant of
the box when his party arrived. When
his enthusiasm carried him to his feet
the Scots vision was obscured. Shah
or no shah. the Scot had paid to see
the show, and see the show he proposed
to do.
Laying heavy hand on the Shout
der OF the oriental despot, the Scot said:
IF you ever come to Scotland ask for
Mackenzie, the laird of Kintoul. He'll
show you better things than Paris ever
saw
1.-The earnestness of the Scot i'm
pressed the shah even more than his
heavy hand. Mackenzie, the laird of
Kintoul, was name that lodged in
his memory, the more because with it
was associated the promise of sights
TO the Persian yet unknown. a few
months thereafter ii befell that the
shah, in the course Of his trip through
the British Isles, visited Scotland. The
laird of Kintoul's invitation still rung
I'm his ears. Inquiry revealed that Mac
Kenzie was the head of a numerous
and powerful clan, and the shah went
out of his course to meet him and re-
mind him of lis promise.
THE highland chief is the soul of
honor. lie felt complimented by the
visit and in duty bound TO make good
his promise. Tie fair lassies for all
the country round were assembled in
the laird's ancestral castle. Five hum
dred young women tossed their slip
rers skyward at the first note of the
Scotch bagpipe. The 500 plaid-elad
forms gyrated through the movements
of an old-fashioned highland fling.
Those thousand feet that stole boldly
out and then modestly retired beneath
the shelter of Scotia's national cclors,
made a sight which the harems of the
sultan and the feasts of the east could
not equal. lie glided into the midst Of
the feminine throng and pretty lassie
who is now married to Glasgow ship
builder has the honor of being the
only woman with whom Persia's ruler
danced during his visit in Queen Vic
toria's domain In my part of Scotland
the shah and his visit to the laird of
kintoul is still one of the subjects of
neighborly gossip."-St Louis Globe
Democrat.