THE SHEIK

Dunstan Times, Issue 3382, 11 July 1927, Page 8

THE SHEIK

AND “ENGLISH LILIES.” The Evening Standard publishes a thrilling story of two pretty 18-year-old London variety artists, Irene Speller and Winnie Comber, who have returned from Syria. The girls declare that when they wore appearing in Damascus they were told that an Arab prince was occupying a box. They looked up and saw a gorgeously-dressed Arab, robed in a cloth of gold, lined with rose-colored silk. His adornments included a silvercased revolver and a jewelled dagger thrust in a jewelled girdle. The prince visited the theatre every night, sometimes arriving on horseback, and on other occasions by motor car.

Finally he sent repeated messages to Miss Speller and Miss Comber bv the theatre attendants, by his chauffeur, and by his own soldiers. The messages called the girls “Roses of Damascus,” “Flowers of the Desert,” “English Lilies.” Later they were introduced, but the conversations were limited, owing to the Prince’s ignorance of English. Finally, when they were appearing at Zahleh, with the manager’s consent, they agreed to dine with the Prince in the desert.

First they motored out, and met a cavalcade, at the head of which was the Prince. “On arrival at the oasis,’’ said the girls, “we dined in a tent Furnished in the most luxurious Oriental style After dinner the Prince said he wanted us to join him in the desert. He offered to load us with jewellery, give us motor cars —anything we wanted. When we refused he swore cm the hilt of bis dagger that he would follow ns over tiro world, and that eventually the English lilies would reign in his harem. “At this we were frightened, and asked the manager to take ns to the British Consul at Damascus.

“The manager did nob comply, and the Prince, swearing on his eyes not to harm us, offered to motor us to Damascus. We accepted, and the nrince handed us over there, saying he had kept his vow, and was now free to capture us if ho could. “The Consul assisted us home, and it was then our most adventurous time began. While we were motoring to Beirut, guarded by French troops, the prince’s soldiers endeavored to stop pur car. Shots were exchanged, but the motor put on speed, and dashed by. We took steamer from Beirut to Port Said, but the prince resumed the chase in his own aeroplane, arriving at Port Said a few minutes after we had left for England.

Dog licenses numbering 2,810.1.02 were issued in England during the last financial year. This represents an increase of 922,000 compared with 1921 a rise of nearly 50 per cent, in five years.