The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-27

King Solomon. The Lapwing Hud-
Hud. one of the Kings feathered mes
sengers, had brought tidings of that
wise and powerful Empress of Eth
opia, and the Jewish monarch sum
moned her to his court. wherein he
had arranged many devices in order
to test her sagacity. Among these one
of them belongs to my present topic.
The Lapwing has spoken of the
Queens wonderful throne, made OF w
DRY and gold, and curlously incrusted
with sapphires, emeralds, opals, and
mysterious inscriptions. King Sulei-
man commanded the strongest Of the
Jinns serving him to fetch this superb
throne from the palace Of Sheba as
soon as it's mistress had started. | will
give translation of the Arabic verses
which follow: "And Solomon said I'M
to his servants Alter her throne that
she may not know it. to the end we
may see whether she be rightly di-
rected, or whether she be one of those
who are not rightlS directed" And
when she was come Nato Solomon IL
was said unto her, us thy throne like
this?" She answered, "As though It
were the same" Such perspcacity
struck the King more than he had been
disappointed by her when she took the
polished floor of his palace for water.
and drew her golden robe above her
kHGGb III OIutI not 10 HlulSltU IL. NOT
truly, was IL less than marvellous that
the chair, which had no equal in the
world, and which she had left behind
In her African court, should be await
ing her in such incredible swiftness
of manner i'm the palace at Jerusalem.
AS for the Queen herself. she became
on the spot the vassal of the King,
and believer in his God, and India
nay, indeed. the greater part of Asia
--LNNnnld fhfnk a nnlU "a natural finish
to the ancient legend If Lord Curzon
had indeed in some way or other ac-
quired the Incompatible seat of state
and were to occupy ID on the great
morning of the Grand Durbar.
But no one knows, and probably mo-
body will ever know, what became OF
that throne of Solomon" whereof the
Koran treats as a thing which did once
exist. The only item of imperial up
holstery which at all comedies with the
splendor and Unique design of that ar
ticle of the Queen of Sheba's household
furniture was the throne carried away
from Delhi and its Hindu sovereign by
Nadir Shah, the Persian. But we know
where that is to-day; 1t is visible.
at the palace at Teheran, and is the
property of his Majesty the Shah. who
has lately visited our shores. 1t is
nothing more or less than the Pea
cock Throne"-Takht-i-T and
surely If skill in workmanship and
wealth of material could settle the
question, rich and fine enough for the
dignity of any legend. The Peacock
Throne" has been valued by competent
European jewelers. at $4,000, 900; and
there are said to be on the gold the
ivory, and the ebony of which 1T is con-
structed jewels of absolutely enequaled
value and importance. How 1t has sur
vived the financial exigencies or sue
cessive Shahs 1t is difficult to realize.
or what will prove the ultimate destiny
of an object which could build half a
dozen first class battleships or pay the
expenses of a small war. The history
of races and religions would indeed be
Economically rounded If the famous
throne had been found which was a
seat of state for the Queen of Sheba, a
chair of dignity for the renowned son
Of David, and disappeared. perhaps, as
the King OF Israel himself disappeared,
when the great Temple at Jerusalem
was finished. Who knows what curious
and precious objects may not lie hid
den in the Tosha- X hanas-the treasure
chambers-of India and Central Asia?
And what, / wonder, would be the mar
ket value of such a throne IL Mr.. Pier
pont Morgan or Mr.. Andrew Carnegie
should desire to purchase 1t to make,
perhaps, a rocking chair for the Presi-
dent of the United States?