Notes and Comments.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 294, 11 December 1902, Page 3

Notes and Comments.

The Shah of Persia has discarded 1640 of his wives, wholesale retaining 60. His divorce. subject* resent the reform.—Such is the intelligence which, scattered broadcast over the world, has caused fear and trembling to enter the hearts of married women in general and* the wives of polygamists in particular. The dread question is, what if the Shah’s action should form a precedent ? However, when we explain the circumstances, no doubt the alarm will be allayed. The Shah has, or rather had, 1700 wives. In common with all Eastern monarchs (and others neither Eastern nor' monarchs), he recognises that the presence of the fair sex is a boon and a blessing to man. Hence, since the age of 14, when he blushfully slipped the wedding ring on the finger of “ Susie Oo,” his first sweet little bride, he has been collecting choice specimens of feminine beauty to adorn his harem. He has a fair salary, consiating of all he can beg, borrow or steal, in addition to the perks belonging to his office, so that all went merry as a marriage bell. Any time a subject had a particularly goodlooking daughter or a wife with too extravagant tastes, he presented her

to the Shah, whose motto was “ Let ’em all come.” The business was a standing joke in the country, and the royal palace looked like a foundling hospital. With the simple dress of the country it didn’t matter, but when American drapery firms disturbed the minds of the fair “Jewels of Asia ” by sending over smartly-dressed lady canvassers there was trouble. When the Shah came home from work at night the whole 1700 pounced on him, kissed him, pulled offhis big boots and put on his nice warm slippers. Then they coaxingly asked if he would buy them 3000 hats, assorted sizes, J ■IOOO dresses and job lots of femininewear which a mere man cannot specify. He pointed out that his wages would not cover ‘ the outlay, , and then threatened to have a few hundred of them beheaded, but it was no use ; they still cried for hats like Mrs Jones in America wore. They taxed him with not liking to see his wives well drsssed, till finally the poor man wilted and “ sacked ” everyone of the grumblers. This leaves him with 60 young favourites, and he reckons he will be able to keep these neat. He says he does not care a twopenny bun what his subjects think ; they can have the wives if they like. So that now there ara 1640 ladies, from 70 to 17, all liearing the title of Shahess, and all looking out for someone to keep them in the style to which they have so long been accustomed.

The hardship caused by the prolonged drought in Australia’s Australia, with the drought. effect which it is

likely to have in New Zealand, was the subject of a brief conversation the other evening between a representative of The Press and Mr Seddon. The Premier stated that he believed people in this country could scarcely appreciate the loss and poverty which had been caused, or the full meaning, to the Australians, of the heavy rains reported yesterday to have fallen in several States. He referred to the free carriage of seeds by the State Governments, and the discussion in connection with the tariff'on fodder and food stuffs which had to be imported on account of the drought. He thought that if the farmers and producers of New Zealand, acting with all tact, would take steps to send fodder and seeds to their impoverished fellows on the other side, carefully avoiding any appearance of conferring an obligation, but merely expressing sympathy and a-desire to help in their trouble, the farmers of Australia would understand such an action as it was intended. The New Zealand Government would be willing to pay the freight and attend to details in consigning the fodder and seeds to the different State Governments. The matter required to be treated carefully, but if the proposal were generally favovred he was ready to communicate with the Commonwealth Premier and the State Premiers, asking them to accept the offer. Dealing with the financial effects of the drought, as reflected upon this country, Mr Seddon said that without doubt it would slightly tighten money here. There was not the same elasticity with the large number of Australian banks doing business with this colony, as was the case some time previously.