Personalities

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 365, 7 May 1903, Page 7

Personalities

THE POET AND THE SHAH,

* SCANDALISING A SULTAN. SfnlKß. HUGH OLIFPOBD, in an arfc * c * e in ' Blaekwood's Magazine ' on Malayan Royalties, relates an amusing tale about the Sultan of Perak's literary teste. ' When hiß nephew related to him the plot of Mr ,'■ Stephen Phillip's ' Paolo and Francesca,' a performance which he had witnessed, the Sultan shook his head. 'That is an evil tale of a very degrading character,' he said. 'lt is not fitting that such a story should he told, far less acted—'more especially in the presence of ladies.' And when he was informed that the incident was historically accurate, that only served to increase the gravity of his disapproval. ' Taat such a thing should have happened is very shameful,' he said,, * and' surely it ware batter t« sutler it to be forgotton. Why revive these ancient scandals ? Aad why should our pity te asked for folks, so utterly depraved?'

Kinga can make new kingdoms, new nobles, and all sorts of useless things, but they cannot always make new verses. The grandfather of the present Shah one day wooed the Muses, and, showing the result to his Laureate, demanded, in all sincerity, an opinion on their literary value The poet—when were true -pcetß ever courtiers ?—damned them right and left. The King of Kings grew wroth. 7 ■ ' Take this ass to the stables,' he cried* •and tie him up beside his brother of the loner ears ' Toe order was executed at once, and for sbveial weeks the truthful genius lived, moved, and had his being beside his—brother.

Again seized by the divine aflUtus.th© S.iah perpetrated new verses. He had the poet brought bafore him and gave him the manuscript. After reading the verses the poet turned his back and began to leave the chamber. * Where are you going ?' said the Saah. « Back to the Btable, sire.' GREAT PEOPLE. H History records no more heroic jest than Sir Thomas More's' request to be ' assisted up the scaffold; coming down he would shift for himself.' Pathetic is the touching story of Marie Antoinette, who, accidentally stepping on the foot of the executioner as she ascended the steps of the guillotine, turned to him with the instinctive * Paidbnnez' Numberless instances mig'<t be recalled of similar cases where the habits of life continue to the latest breath. 'Give General Dj-j----rolles a chair,' was the last coherent utterance of Lord Chesterfield, polite to the last. Pope has described how Sir Godfrey Kneller, one of the vainest of men, occupied himself up to the time of his death designing his own monument, Haller, the physician, expired in the act of feel; ing his own pulse; .'Tete de l'arniee/ was the last utterance of Napoleon; and Charles the Second remembered 'poor N ally' on his deathbed,, ~ VJ J CLERGYMEN'S MOUSTACHES'? A popular topic of discussion in ecclesiastical circles (writes the Rev. S Whittel Key) run 3 on the advisability for or aeainst clergymen wearing moustaches. It does not look clerical enough,' is the view one section of the objectors takes; another disapproves on the grounds that it gives a military appearance, undesirable in one who is a messenger of peace; whereas a third and far more practical form of obj ction is that a moustache affords an impediment to the clear articulation so necessary in a clergyman.

The Kißg is reported to have asked a Bishop to try and persuade those of his clergy who wore moustaches to remove them

MES. KRUQEKS LOVE OF BIEDS. A quaint and kindly touch in the late Mfs, Kruger's character jj was, shown.when her husband's statue was about to be erected in the square at Pretoria. She approved of the likeness, and considered that Oom Paul' was done justice to, but. she insisted on the crown of the famous top-hat being indented, so as to form a cup, into which the rain might fall, for the thirsty birds. It was a thoughtful suggestion, and one that shows that Mrs. Eruger was not only a sentimantal friend to the feathered creation, but an eminently practical one as well,