Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-01-30

! This old Asiatic kingdom which has
Eout- lasted SO many empires in the easl
and in the west. and which formed one Of
the four great monarchies Of prophecy
and whose shah still retains the proud Il.
tie of king Of kings. which he: bore in the
day of Cyrus and Ohosroes, is likely to be
an object of considerable interest for some
time to come as the battle ground OF the
Russians and English in the east. The
modern Persians are an exceedingly in.
teresting people. They are said to be the
handsomestrace of men living. with fine
olive compilations, and black lustrous
eyes. The Italian himself is no match
for them in subtlety. cunning and dissim-
ulation. They excel in poetry all the na.
tons of the east In the early part OF the
18th century. in the reign Of Shah Abbas,
Persia was one of the first powers in Asia.
An Italian traveller by the name of Pier
to della Vale, resided in Persia for a
long period during the reign of this shah,
and the account he gives of the Persians
Of that day in his voluminous travels is
entertaining. The court of the king OF
Persia is surrounded with all the pomp
and splendor of the Arabian Nights
Capt. John Malcolm, in his sketches of
Persia thus describes the situation of Te.
heran, the modern capital. He says "the
first view we had of Teheran, the modern
capital Of Persia, was very imposing. 1.
is situated near the foot of Elboorz, a
mountain of the great range which stretch
es from Europe TO the utmost part OF
Asia. This range would appear high
were it not for Demavend, whose lofty
peak rising above the clouds, aud covered
with eternal snow. gives diminutive ap-
pearance to everything in its vicinity
We had seen Demavend at the distance
Of 100 miles from its base, but it increas-
ed in magnifcence as we advanced, and
those amongst US who delighted in the
pages OF Firdousse a Persian poet plan
ned an early visit to this remarkable
mountain, whose summit that poet de-
scribes as far from the abode Of men
and near to Heaven" At short
distance from our camp we observed Sc
yeral mounds of earth and ruined walls,
which we were told Was all that remain.
ed of that famous Reyes Of Tobit-the
Reyes Of the Greeks, and the Rhe Of the
Persians. While all who had imagina-
ton and love Of antiquity dwelt with
delight on the prospect of ascending De.
mavend. and visiting the ruins of Rhe,
the men of business looked ouly to Te-
hcran, which appeared to me to offer lit
tie TO the view which was either grand oil
pleasing. One palace alone attracted
any portion of my admiration. It stood
near the base of the mountain Elboorz,
on commanding site, and was every
way suited for royal residence" Capt.
Malcolm gives the following graphic &C
count of his interview with Feth AL
Shah. the king of kings:
Everything being arranged we pro.
ceeded towards "Lhe threshold Of the
worlds glory" on the morning of the
10Th OF November, in the year of our
Lord 1900. We were all dressed in our
best attire. A crowd had assembled
near the house of Agee Ibrahim, and the
streets were filed with gazers at the
strangers. The infantry part of the es-
cors, with their ffes and drums. and all
the Hindoostanee public servants in scar
let and gold, preceded the Elchee, who
rode beautiful Arabian horse richly ca
parisoned, but entirely in the En- glsb
style; he was followed by the gentlemen
OF his suite and his escort Of cavalry
When we came within half mile oil
the palace all was silent and order it was
the state Of Asia with the discipline ol
Europe. We passed through the rows oi
peared as it afraid to shake their heads
Many persons whom we saw in the first
square OF the citadel. before we entered
the palace, were richly dressed. and some
OF the horses were decked out with bri
dies. saddles and trappings of great val.
ue ; but it was not unsil we passed the
last gate OF the palace. and came into the
garden in front of the Kings hall of au.
dience, high ornamented and spacious
building. that we could form any idea Of
the splendor Of the Persian court.
A canal flowed in the centre ol
the garden, which supplied a num-
Der of fountains to the right and
left of which were broad paved walks.
and beyond these were rows of trees
Between the trees and the high wall en-.
circling the palace were files OF match
lock men drawn up, and within the ave-
nues from the gate to the hall of audi
ence, all the princes, mobiles, courtiers
and officers of state, were marshalled in
separate lines. according to their rank.
from the lowest officer of the kings
guard. who occupied the place nearest
the entrance. to the heir apparant, Abbas
Meerza, who stood on the right of his
brothers and within few PAGES of the
throne.
There was not one person in all this
array who had not a gold-hilted sword, a
cashmere shawl round his cap, another
round his waist. Many of the mobiles and
princes were magniacently dressed, but
all was forgotten as soon as the eye res.
ted on the KING.