Two Eastern Potentates.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 5, 31 January 1912, Page 3

Two Eastern Potentates.

Two visitors whom AT. Paoli encountered. caused him a good deal of anxiety from various reasons —the 'Shah of Persia and the, King of Cambodia. Their habits and ideas were somewhat extreme. On one occasion the Shah was permitted to witness an execution. and. *Oll arriving on the scene, took compassion on the condemned man: — “Not that one . . .the other!’’ he ordered, pointing to the public prosecutor, who was presiding over the ceremony. And the potentate thought it discourteous of them not at once to yield to •his wishes. There is quite a Chocolate Cream Soldier touch about the Shah’s retort to M. Paoli, when the latter showed him the'three camels in the Jardin d’Acclimatat ion : “1 own nine thousand!” he -replied with a scornful smile. As for the King of C ambodia, he was a handful to send a man distraught. He would be. up to all manner of tricks, took a troupe of dancing girls with him wherever he went, nearly caused a riot by scattering gold and silver from the windows of hotel*, kissed the daughters of hall portevs, and finished up by showing his gratitude for Al. Paoli’s protection and assistance bv presenting him with his (The King’s* State breeches done up in a pink silk handkerchief. Each country to its taste!