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Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1925, 5 March 1875, Page 3

The late Shah of Persia, was more anxious than able to acquire the fame of a poet. He had just completed a new " performance in very "peculiar metre," and summoned the Court Poet into the royal presence to bear Ihe poem read. The Laureate was~ either an unusually conscientious courtier or he was afraid of losing hii berth if his master .took to rhyming on tis own: account; * and when his opinion was asked he -to use theatrical * language—" damned" tho composition. The Shah, enraged at the uncourtly criticism; gave order's that the Court Poet should be taken to the stable, and tied np in the same stall wi:h a donkey. Herej^poor sinner remained until hii royaTnvaT' had perpetrated another poem/ when ho was again commanded to appear before the throne, and ..submit to a second infliction of sovereign diilness. He listened in silence wkilst - the poem wasread; and at the conclusion, his opinion being requested, he fell upon his knees, and significantly exclaimed to the royal author, " Send me back to the donkey!" A Misee Ikdeed.—Theßaron deX. was *■, a miser to the extremity of lneanness. He was at " daggers drawn" with his nephew, who was his. heir,' and, moreover, a spendthrift.' % Finding his end approaching, the baron called his valet. " Here/ said he, 11 are ten sons; go and buy me a sheet of stamped paper. I wish to make a will disinheriting my nephew." " But, monsieur, stamped paper is now twelve sous a sheet." " Twelve sous ! Heavens, it is too dear! I would ~ rather let my scoundrel of a nephew ( inherit."