THE KHEDIVE AND HIS BAKER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6817, 22 September 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE KHEDIVE AND HIS BAKER.

M. D ui; an i>, whose suit is now awaiting judgment in the civil tribunal as Paris, has accomplished in his purson a transformation scene as worthy of a place in the Arabiau Nights as any other romance of Oriental adventure. He was a master baker of much repute iu Paris, 1843, when tho then Khedive of Egypt found is necess.iry to his comfort or spteudour to introduce into the h.ir.Tin a reformed method of making c-ikes for the fair inhabitants. The confiscur was summoned to Cairo, and for some time affor.ied, by his exquisite art in sweet thing>, much gratification to Mehemet Ali and his numerous wives. But before many months had elapsed, either the artistic influences of the surrounding scene, or the promptings of undiscovered genius impelled the illustriousstranger to try his hands at a different occupation. He found that he was skilful in tho management of pencil anil paintbrush as in the rolling out of paste or the mixing of jam and sugar. In brief, Pharaoh's chief baker became m\ artist, and among other things took a sketch of the Khedival features, whieh was reputed the more successful as all previous attempts had been doomed to dismal failure. Oα the death of the Great Pasha, M. Durand returned to P.jris, bringing with him the famous sketch ; but ou the visit of Ismail to the French capital in 1802, the ex-baker was advised by M. de Lesseps to offer the portrait to that potentate, who eventually agreed to buy it, with some other trifle*, for 15,000 francs. The parsimonious Khtdive, however omitted to pay for these articles, and no exertions on the part of the tradesman availed to extort the sum until good luck brought the august debtor as an exile to Paris. The opportunity has lately beea seized by the creditor to institute an action against Irs Highness, which was duly heard in court a few (Jays ago, judgment being reserved. The defence ia characteristic—it consists in an allegation on the pirt of Ismail Pasha that he " has no recollection" of the fact stated by che once patient but at length peremptory master of two arts.