Monday, Jun. 02, 1924

A Laugh

Ras Taffari, Prince Regent of Ethiopia, who concluded his visit to France (TIME, May 26), rarely smiled, the French noticed. Everywhere he was as solemn as Solomon, his ancestor. Once the rotund ex-Shah* of Persia was pointed out to him, but still he did not laugh, he actually cut him dead. French officials showed him everything that would make an ordinary mortal laugh, but black Ras laughed not--not until he was taken to Fontainebleau, when he should have been both impressed and serious. The subject of Ras' amusement was carp--carp swimming peaceably in a pond, and Ras laughed and laughed.

* Ahmad, ex-Shah of Persia, was ousted by the Persian Parliament (TIME, April 7), because he had "spent too much of his time debauching along the Riviera." Upon hearing the news, Ahmad wept great tears, "walked around in circles, lamenting his fate in Oriental fashion."