Evening star., 1902-09-02
in GORGEOUS ARRAY
Shah Of Persia a Joyous
Spectacle.
FLASHING WITHJEWELS
HE ALMOST PARALYzED YoKELs
OF LONDON.
When He Left Marlborough House a
Long Cleaning Up Was
Premeditated.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LONDON, August 20, 1902.
London would be rather dull as It usually
is at this time Of year, If 1t were not for
the presence Of the shah and the Boer gen.
erals. The latter have left us for visit to
Holland, but will shortly return, but the
shah Is daily joy to Londoners, who
dearly love sight Of the great, and, bet
ter still, the great and picturesque, as the
shah is
When he arrived on Monday he rather
cast his hosts into the shade. He was
dressed with truly oriental magnifcence
His person blazed with Jewels, his breast
being covered with orders, emblems and or
| naments. Enormous emeralds shone from
his epaulettes, and in his Astrachan fez he
wore the famous diamond aigrette. "The
Sea Of Light" He shook hands with the
Prince Of Wales, and seemed pleased when
Earl Roberts was presented to him. What
seemed to impress him as much as any
thing, however, were the scarlet uniforms
Of the soldiers who were to compose his
guard of honor and the array Of royal car
riages In waiting, with their outriders
heavily cloaked In red.
His majesty certainly has no lack OF
titles. He lays modest claim to sover-
eighty over all monarchs in the title OF
King of Kings, and he Is known also as the
Shadow Of God, the Center of the Universe.
the Well Of Science, the Footpath of
Heaven, Monarch Of Armies Numerous as
the Stars, Sublime Sovereign whose Stand
ard Is the Sun and whose Splendor is that
of the Firmament. The last, however, Is,
one would think, trif1e too long for fire.
quent use.
Personality Of His Majesty.
A good deal of interest naturally at
taches to the person Of the shah, and really
he has more individual claim to notice than
many of the oriental potentates who at
tract a. passing attention when visiting
Europe. He is, as becomes Persian ruler,
a man of considerable education and, be-
sides his literary and scientific studies, he
is well versed in military tactics, which he
studied under an Austrian general. The
museum in the shah's favorite residence
has a marvellous collection Of works Of art
and curios. One OF these Is the map Of
the world with the names formed by inlaid
precious stones. The shah takes pleasure
in these things. and also in his gardens and
conservatories, watering the plants with his
own hands Like some OF his European
compeers, the shah is a skillful photog-
rapher. These are his lighter pursuits. He
gives much time to politics, ruling his
the satisfaction Of his subjects. who call
him "the best Of the best" He finds time,
too, to inspect the military maneuvers and
to take command of the troops.
shah brought with him, but It is pretty
certain that greater still will be the pile
he will take back. His majesty is an en-
thusiastic shopper" and his pockets are
small gold mines for the fortunate trades
men whose wares please him. AS the re-
suit of his visit to France steamer had
to be chartered to take his purchases home.
So our West End tradesmen, who have done
slackness Of things. may take heart and
hope. His majesty Is not here for long,
but he will have plenty Of time in which to
buy up half West London, If he be so
minded
An Official Blunder.
A deal of annoyance is felt here at what
Is regarded as an unfortunate official blum
der Through want Of tact, which, to
say the least, is regrettable, the continental
press have been given an opportunity Of
saying that in declining the invitation to
witness the naval review the Boer generals
snubbed the king and the British people.
1t is felt that the authorities should have
ascertained before sending the Invitation
whether it was likely to be accepted. In
auiry could have been made by cabling to
Madeira. Instead of that the invitation
was thrust unexpectedly upon the Beers
when they reached Southampton. They
had to decline 1t, and thus. for the second
time, the anti-British press on the conti
nent Is able to boast that the generals have
sighted King Edward. The first time was
when General Lucas Meyer refused an in
vitation to the coronation. In his case
likewise the obvious precaution Of sound
ing him to know whether he would accept
the invitation was neglected.
The generals have left London for Hol
land where they will probably be more
accessible to the Dutchmen than they have
been to the Londoners. All day crowds
waited outside Horroxs Hotel for sight
Of the famous visitors. but the generals
kept themselves to their rooms, and de-
nIineI a shoVv Themselves at the win
dows. They refused to see callers, and
newspaper men anxious for news as to
their movements were told that they would
say nothing whatever. Their luggage was
removed early in the morning In private
vans, which gave people no idea to the
railway station from which the generals
were to depart from London. The time,
too, Of their departure was kept secret at
their own wish. as they said they did not
wish to face such ordeal as that Of
Saturday when they arrived at Waterloo.
Not until two Great Eastern railway ON
nibuses pulled up at the hotel did any one
know the generals route and at that time
admirers Off The famous trio win be
again in London early next week.
Marlborough House Renovated.
Marlborough House having been given
over to the shah and his suite, 1t will be a
considerable time before the residence is in
fit state to receive the Prince and Prin-
cess Of Wales, who had originally intended
an early occupation of the kings old home
Most desirable Of all the royal residences in
London, Marlborough House was built early
lin the seventeenth century by Sir John
Vanbrough for the Duke Of MARLBOROUGH,
or rather for Sarah, his famous duchess.
, It was she who, on account Of their cheap
ness, imported from Holland the tiny bricks
with which Marlborough House is built
The victor Of Blenheim died there in 1772.
and in 1917 the house was purchased by the
for ri vie orI
Leopold. Queen Adelaide lived In 1t many
years. and afterward it was used for the
exhibition of the Vernon collection of pic
the School Of Design to South Kensington
Marlborough House has been the home Of
the king and queen during the whole Of
their married life until this year.
There is however, another MARLBOROUGH
house rearing Its proud head in the West
End. This Is the new town mansion which
the duke and duchess are building in Cur