The Shah of Persia.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 201, 16 September 1873, Page 7

The Shah of Persia.

Speaking of the Shah of Persia, the Times of Germany says : —He has no idea whatever of European court etiquette, nor even of ordinary politeness. One day at Berlin he kept the special train which was to take him to Potsdam—where a review was to be held in his honour - -waiting for three-quarters of an hour. The Empress was at the station at the appointed time—twelve j but his Oriental Highness only arrived at a quarter to one, and seated himself in the saloon carriage without a word of apology. It is said that at the Victoria Theatre, Berlin, he spat on I the pit from the private box ; and that instead of taking the tea which was brought him out of a cup, he held the teapot in both hands and drank out of the spout. His Majesty, it seems, was highly pleased with the haVet, and on being taken behind the scenes he pinched the arms of the balletgirls and patted their cheeks. One day some of his attendants were discovered forcing a sheep into the private apartments of the palace. Upon an interpreter being fetched it was ascertained that the Shah never ate I any meat unless it was slaughtered in his j presence. So the sheep was carried upstairs into the elegantly-furnished saloon which bis Majesty occupied, and there killed. To watch his Oriental Majesty eat is most amusing. One day he absorbed a half-pound pat of butter on the table, in a very short time, by sticking his royal fingers into it, and then 1 sucking them. At the end of last week the Shah arrived at Wiesbaden, accompanied by his suite, and, contrary to all expectation—for it was stated that all the women were sent back to Persia from Moscow— by three wives, who were closely veiled. His Majesty had no trunks with him, but a number of bundles, all his clothes being tied up in large silk handkerchiefs. He travels with live horses, whose tails and manes are dyed green and red. The Shah of Persia is like a man who is bored to death, and there is no doubt but what he is. It must be confessed that the Court has never harboured a more pecu--1 liar guest, nor one who left behind him more r disagreeable recollections. It is true, in- ■ deed, that he showed a little regard for the personages who had distinguished themselves by some brilliant action. Thus he conde--1 scended to shake hands with the Crown Prince, Prince Bismarck, and Count Moltke, whereas he passed haughtily and without i saying a word by the other princes who were . presented to him, because in his eyes they 1 were too much beneath him.