QUEER FADS OF DISTINGUISHED INVALIDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10599, 20 February 1896, Page 7

QUEER FADS OF DISTINGUISHED INVALIDS.

According to our informant —a very wellknown tradesman in the West End of London, who has designed invalid furniture for quite an amazing array of distinguished personages—the Saltan of Morocco must have been a troublesome patient. Quite apart from the fact that his medical attendants were constantly losing their heads—in a literal and non-professional way—the Saltan would bave nothing to do with carryingchaira for conveying him up and down stairs. Not he. Nothing less than

A RAILWAY TO HIS BEDBOOM from the groand floor of tho palace would suit this luxurious monarch; and the railway was accordingly constructed by our informant. The rails were of 18in gauge, and were made in 3ft lengths. ■

This unique line ran up two easy flights of stairs containing one gradual curve. Plans of the Saltan's palace were, of course, placed at the designer's disposal by native architects. The carriages on this extraordinary railway were beautiful easy chairs with flanged wheels, convertible when required into reclining couches; and they were pushed up the track to his Majesty's bedroom in such a way as to leave a passage for ordinary folks who ascended and descended in the usual way. This railway took three weeks to make, and cost about £120, complete with rolling stock. For some inexplicable reason A MOST LUXUEIOUS COUCH

was ordered .for the late Czar from the gentleman who supplied this information. It was ordered by telegram from Livadia, which read as follows: — "Send to Anitcbkofi Palace, St. Petersburg, a fall-sized invalid sofa, with every modern appliance, for H.I.M. the Emperor of Russia.—FliANCKLl." This message was received on a Monday morning. The workmen worked all night, and a specially-made couch was despatched by the 8 o'clook train from Liverpool atrvGt on Tuesday evening, the transport throughout being specially snpsrvlsed, in order to prevent the slightest delay. The Czar's couch was covered witi^terra-cotta and gold brocade, the cost price of which was 30s a yard, and THE WHOLE COST FIFTY GUINEAS. " Some little timo ago." said onr informant, " I was called upon by a high official from tho Turkish Embassy. Tbisgentleman was instructed by his illustrious master, the Sultan, to inquire whether I had anything in hand in the way of an invalid-chair which would somehow provide tbe august patient with a certain amount of physical exercise. Perhaps I should explain that at this time the Saltan of Turkey was, or fancied he was, in a delicate state of health, and, therefore, confined to his room. " The official who approached me scouted the idea of a chair wherein the patient propels himself simply by turning a wheel. Nor was a wheeled chair on the lever-propelling principle in perfect accord with THE DIGNITY OF HIS MAJESTY. _ Clearly something would have to be specially devised. In loss than a week I turned out what I may call a wholly extraordinary piece of invalid furniture. I called it a horse any rowing-action chair. You just sat iiiib and comtnqncßd to row with two side levers, whlcb, as they were pulled, caused the seat to rise and jolt in a highly realistic manner. This chair was sent to the Yildiz in due course, and was subsequently returned to me for certain repairs, after which it disappeared altogether."

The late King of Portugal, we learn, was the Grat to introduce a compromise between tha carriage and the bath-chair. Daring this monarch's illness he designed a singNs and a double bath-chair which conld be drawn by one or a pair of ponies. These vehicles were fitted with lamps, shafts, and boflils. Xba «a<ne .mooucb also .dwisued

himwlf a propelling chair with Bflv«rfitttag»i which, was bnilt to his order in London.

For tbe reigning Prince of Montenegro was: designed; a wicker bath-chair, which could be converted into a sleigh. simply by removing the wheels and substituting long curling steel runners. An expert professional skater propelled the apparatus in this form over the frozen waters of the beautiful Bngodine district.