The Spendthrift Sultan of Morocco.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7827, 20 May 1905, Page 2

The Spendthrift Sultan of Morocco.

Mr Walter B. Harris contributes to Blackwood's Magazine un uniiisiug 'article on the Sultan of Morocco as .he knew him in private life. The | monarch is now bankrupt, and of lit.Up account in his own country, and, [according to Mr Harris, it is all the result of following bad udvlce. Mimicry of European fashions and tusles |has ruined him. It has at the same jtiine enriched the commercial agents of many Euroixsnn firms, which the Sultan falsely supposed was tho best way to conciliate European Governments. Many thousands of iiounds the Sultan was cajoled into spending upon motor cars and other things of no use to him*

Here is a story of the purchase of ii gorgeous State coach, modelled after tltat used by King Kdward at the Coronation :—'The SultaH. ns usual, said little, but he was evidently satisfied with his latest purchase. He called to one of his officers to harness horses to it, but unfortunately there were no horses in i| u . palace that had ever been in harness before —in fact there were none in all .Morocco, for- thi'|<o arc. neither loads nor vehicles. Hut lli.s .Majesty was not. to uu done out of th v pleasure of swing his new vouch move. Men were sinunioiu'd. und told to drug ii alonii. 'We must ride in ii,' .said the Sultan, and forthwith lie suiuinonc.l uvo of his guests, the Consul at Fez and myself, to share tlio honour of accompanying him in his lirst experience of a State carringo. u„ t 1(ls jUujcsly had vague ideas about the yuning of Ills companions, lie invited the Consul to get up behind,and lie himself agilely climlu-d on to Ihe box.calling to n e to gel inside. After we were seated the equipage wan ' started on its lirst and only journey, j I have had many experience* In many | lands, but I doubt if e\«i- 1 shall ride again inside an Ini|K-rial State coach, with the rilling Sovereign on the box ■ and the Consul of n great Power i doing lacquey behind,"