THE SHAH'S LESSON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1325, 12 March 1883, Page 2

THE SHAH'S LESSON.

' • A young French' painter was showing the Shah of Persia his picture of Herodias bringing in the head of John .the ' " Baptist. The Shah askei him" how many minutes were supposed to have passed since the head was cut off. "Two minutes," said the painter. Shah then told him that 'tho lips wide open, and of- an ashy white. As the artist was unwilling to be convinced, the Shah clapped his hands, arid, a slave appearing, drew his sword, and with one tremendous sweep severed his head from his, body.- He then pulled ; out his watch, 3 arid two minutes after stooped down, picked up the bleeding head, and walking to the picture held the real head by the side of the painted' one, and said to the Frenchman "Monsieur, you can see for yourself : that the lips ought to be ashy white, and wide apart, and you will, learn tobelieve the Shah .in future'." . Then He-tossed-'awiay "the-head,--and'calmly- • .walked out, leaving the painter more deadthan alive to take himself and his. unfortunate picture, tet to his own ' Th'e'sfiock was so severe-. :: | that' 5 lie'became hysterical, and re--mained so for months, unable to do any work. ; The Shah conferred decorations . J and-titles upon him, which'cost nothing-- 1 : and,-giving him just .enough monejJto. s- ;i take him home, allowed him to leave ' I Persia, and he now occupies a studio- 11 in the Palais Eoyal in Paris. , 4 I

A telegram from Trbutenan, Bohemia,. » 1 states that fifty spiritualists residing there The local " | Interior to institute ail inquiry on* tlie II subject of spiritualism, owing to th&, )| number of cases of mental derangement.. t I arising from its practices* / J