Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-13
FAT|MA BIDS j. s.
DISMAL FAREWELL
SuItana of Kab1l on British
Freighter Destined for
Bombay.
Special pispatch to The star.

special DlspaIcn 10 Lie STAR.
NEW YORK, May 13.-The Princess
Fatima, Sultana of Kabul, at last has
shaken the dust Of America from her
royal feet. Today she Is out upon
the high seas. bound for Bombay. and
once in India it viii rest entirely
with herself as to whether she will
remain there or proceed to her native
land of .Afghanistan.
The princess and her three princely
sons. Asim, Hashim and Ahkber
Khan, slipped quietly away from New
York Wednesday afternoon on Brit
ish freighter bound for Alexandra
and points east. About all that she
took with her. in addition to the
princes, was the famous sapphire
which adofns the right nostril OF her
rather prominent nose. How her
numerous creditors happened to over
look that precious stone Will prop
ably forever remain mystery.
Fatima, who came to New York ten
short months ago in a blaze OF
oriental splendor, left dismally as
detected deportee. There were no
ship news reporters or cheering iei
low countrymen to see her on. one
of her departure only leaked out to-
day. The British government. gently
urged by the American State Depart
ment, arranged for her SAILING, anu
saw to it this time that there was no
mistake. Six weeks ago 1t was ar
once hospitable shores, but. after she
had stepped into a taxi to go to the
steamship dock, she instructed the
driver to go in the opposite direction.
For a time she disappeared. but soon
she found it necessary to apply once
more to the British authorities Tor
support.
Diamond Brings $500.
Fatima explained at the time that
che Aid not wish to leave this Amer
lea until her famous family diamond
the Dayai-noor, about the size OF
a hickorynut, was disposed OF. The
diamond at the time was In the
custody of the sheriff. for Fatima had
borrowed $4,000 on it, several credi-
tors had filed liens against the stone,
and to make matters worse. Uncle
sam had stepped in with big claim
for duty Fatima had expected to
sell the diamond for not less than
S300 900. 1t is said that she refused
S25, 900 for it. Last Tuesday it was
sold at public auction and brought
$500. of which none TOO princely
sum the princess received the royal
residue Of $136. Uncle Sam got $1,400
This was the last straw. After this
blow had fallen, Fatima was willing
to go, vowing to the high heavens
that never did she care to look upon
the face of this fair land again. The
British bought her passage as an
act of friendship for the United States
and not through any love of the
princess. Afghanistan technically is
not a British possession, but there Is
a sort of implied protectorate ar
rangement which induced the State
Department at Washington to. suggest
to the British authorities that Fatima
had best be. on her way.
Was white House Guest.
while>her stay In America was one
dismal disappointment after another,
Fatima, now aboard the lugger, Bonn
bay bound. can look back upon one
or two moments Of supreme happi-
ness and achievement. She can pic
ture again her reception at the White
House, in Washington. where Presi-
dent, Harding accorded her all the
deference of her royal rank; she can
live over again the cordiality of her
welcome at the State Department,
and the CONSERVATION q dusky daugh-
ter of the orient brought to the col
ored messengers in the corridors of
the State, War and Navy building.
She can recall. the once vivid dream
she had that President Harding would
be delighted to give her huge grant
Of land somewhere in the west"
where she could settle down and live
life Of ease BETTING her station.
She always had heard that America
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