UNKNOWN

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1712, 16 June 1884, Page 2

UNKNOWN

The celebrated firm of Howell and James, the well-known jewellers of Regent-street, is stated by the Pall Mall Gazette to be about to be turned into a limited liability company.. One of the most remarkable crowned ouatomers of the firm was the Shah. He made extensive purchases, The way in which that monarch did his shopping was in this wise: When, after much vexatious waiting, the interview was .at last arrangod between the Shah and Mr Morrish, the ante-room adjoining tue Shah's, private apartment on the ground floor of Buckingham Palace was literally tilled with many tl» sands of pounds' worth of jewels, pla'!Sk trinkets, and the most costly brocades, laces, etc. The Grand Yizier, several princes of the Imperial family, and other high dignitaries were in waiting, when a small panelled d.QOf opened, and with a quick, eliding sort of move inent, a fierce-looking persqnage suddenly appeared, whereupon the /aforesaid Princes and Ministers msde a most humble obeisance, bowing almost to the ground, and muttering with a stifled cry of fear, "Shah." The Shah was : dressed in n sort of loose robo, with many tails of fur hanging In front, a sort of half hat, half cap, in which was. a jewelled aigrette. He had a' wild look, with long moustache, and spoke in sudden, jerky sentences. He seized hold.of a diamond bracelet, asked the price, whioh was pointed out to his Grand Vizier as being plainly marked ,£3OOO, to which his Majesty replied that he would give JSQQ. It was explained that tho prices were those at which the articles were ,to be sold without abatement. After a further inspection he retired, amid the same profoundly humble, marks of respect or fear on the part of his suite. Subsequently the entire collection was taken piecemeal into his own apartment, there to be more leisurely inspected into.' Jn the end he bought very largely. ■ . „