3-053-637 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Shah in the weaving-room at Haworth's Mills, Manchester, 1873. The Shah of Persia visits the cotton-mills of Messrs. Haworth and Co. '...his Majesty...saw the cotton in all the stages, from the preparation of the raw material up to the weaving. He was led to the room where the enormous flywheel of the engine revolves; but the longest stay was made in the weaving-room, where 1100 frames were at full work. The Shah seemed more interested here than in any other portion, because it is here that the material is converted into the finished article. He stood a few minutes at one of the frames, and saw its working. He was about to pass out of the room when, on a signal from Mr. R. Haworth, the shuttles were stopped in an instant, and all the women and girls, leaving the frames and coming forward with bright paper flags to the edges of the gangway in which the Shah was standing, burst out into "God save our noble Queen." Waving the little flags over the head of the Shah, they sang the whole of the National Anthem, his Majesty seeming lost in wonder at the scene before him. At the close of the singing he bowed his approval and thanks, which so pleased the women that they clapped hands and gave him a general cheer' From "Illustrated London News", 1873.