SULTAN'S SHOWER OF GOLD

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3655, 16 October 1912, Page 8

SULTAN'S SHOWER OF GOLD

Mulai Hafid, no longer worried by the troubles of his former kingdom, is thoroughly enjoying his European holiday. The ex-Sultan, who is now living at the expense of tho French Government, is showing himself extravagantly generous (the “Daily Chronicle” says). His first outing in Marseilles was marked by a broadcast distribution of gold coins. 'The Moorish visitor had hardly left his hotel when an old woman approached liis motor car, offering postcards for sale. Mulai Hafid took a bundle of cards, and, to the old woman’s infinite joy, handed her some gold. On reaching the cathedral a beggar asked for alms, Mulai Hafid put his hand in fiis pocket and dropped the equivalent to a five pound note into the beggar’s hand. The ex-Sultan was so much delighted with his visit to tho church that he left £2O for tho poor. When coming out of tho cathedral the generous visitor was surrounded by a swarm of beggars, who had learnt with what a lavish hand he could distribute the money of the French taxpayer. A fresh shower of gold fell among tho beggars. After dining early at his hotel, Mulai Hafid spent the evening in a music hall, where he caw a revue. He went behind the scenes and congratulated the actress who played tho leading part. Tho actress presented Mulai Hafid with lier photograph as a souvenir of his first visit to a French theatre, and tho ex-Sultan promptly handed over £2O for the employees of tho establishment.