The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-09

Sir Edward Arnold in London Telegraph N LL Asia Is talking about the great PDV durbar to be held at Delhl The . peoples of her myriad states and kingdoms, in thousands of her bazars, her markets and her khans, discuss over hookah and nargileh the glories that will attend the imperial occasion. Townsmen and countrymen chat about the mighty business when they meet, and the women folk shopping in the streets, reclining at the baths or trihing the time away be- hind the curtain repeat to each other, with wonder and admiration glittering in their dark eyes, the superb prepara- tions being made in and around the an- cient Mogul capital. Moreover, when a prodigious topic like this passes through the cities and countries of Asia, fancies are let loose and wild ideas put abroad, which show that the east Is now, as al- ways, the natural home of romance. An instance of this Is given in the report sent from Calcutta about the Ciceroy, who, as even the Hindoos know, Is deep- ly interested in ancient history. The bazars declare that Lord Curzon has dis
  famed throne of Solomon, that he will make employment of it as the seat of state during the durbar, ana that all kinds of miraculous events. bringing ad- miration peace and prosperity to India, will accrue from the fortunate hour when the representative of King Edward VII, sitting in the chair of Suleiman, receives the homage of the native princes and potentates.
 The throne of Solomon-the Takht-i- Suleiman-has been talked about in the east for hundreds. nay. for thousands of years. Many and many a square-topped hill or mountain besides the remarkable eminence which overhangs Indus. near the Khyber Pass, is styled the Takht-i-Sulei- man, the localities thus distinguished be- ing almost as numerous as the footprints of Buddha. That mountain, over the northwest border, which perhaps has the best right to bear such title, Is linked with a beautiful story telling how the great King of Israel collected round his throne all the birds. beasts and creeping things of earth and made them praise Allah and reverence him with prayer, while submitting themselves humbly to himself as their sovereign lord on the earth. The Mahometans to a man believe that this really happened, and was by vir- tue of the magic name of the Almighty carved upon the great sapphire which King Suleiman wore upon his forefinger.
 As has been written:
 Not oF cio aaf uod of
 sapphire in gold,
 Graved with the great name of God.
 writ on the blue of the stone?
 Wisdom and riches and power had he
 who that treasure did hold;
 Safe in the strength of the signet he
 sate on his ivory throne.
 Only King Solomon knew how the dread
 letters did flow,
 What was the breathing of Aleph,
 where came the whispering Zod, When he spake the ineffable word the sea winds at bidding would. blow,
 And the hills yield their iron and jewels
 and gold at the naming of God.
 Many Hindoos agree with Moslems in believing in the preternatural wisdom of Suleiman and in the marvels which he could perform. As for the throne itself, the best information with which my limited knowledge can gratify the curios- ity of fair readers will be to cite from twenty-seventh Sura of the Koran. It Is there set down in the prophets straight forward style how the Queen of Saba which, of course, is Sheba-visited King Solomon. The lapwing Hud-Hud. one of the kings feathered messengers, had 1 brought tidings of that wise and power