Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-23
THE PERSIAN.
sketcEiof the Eccentric rIaholn-
med.

From the New York Tribune

L sl7
From the New York TribunsI
By the death of -Ishmsel Khan Aga
Mshommed, which occurred on the 28sh
Of August last, the thesteFs Of Paris lose
one of their Oldest snd most devoted pa
irons, and the public are bereft Of a fa-
vorite subject OF curious speculation.
For more4haF forty years this eccentric
Persian gentleman had been q familiar
object in the French capital, which he
was never known to leave, even for
| day; but although every species of in
duiFy concerning bis origin and antece-
dents Was exhausted, little could be dis
covered beyond the facts that be lived In
| the Rue RivOli, opposite the Tuileries
that he possessed an abundant income,
and that he was animated by an uncon-
trOllAble passion for the drama. He
could be seen every evening at the opera
house or theater, conBpienOasly seated In
one of the fauteuils Of the first gallery
(dress circle, calmly intent on the per-
fOrmRncey and totally indifferent to the
constant scrutiny Of his neighbors, for
which, indeed, his sumptuous Oriental
costume and majestic personal appear
snce were sufficient excuses. He was
always alone, and was never known to
converse with any person, excepting IN
der pressure Of necessity. The mystery
which surrounded him naturally attract
ed the attention Of Journalists, and for
many years " The Persian" Was q cher
ished topic for fanciful feuilletonistes.
He was introduced into more than one
dramatic "revus," and, it is said, always
witnessed the mimic representations OF
himself with grave imperturbability, be-
trayiDg no sign either OF amusement or
displeasure. Merry, the romsnce-writer,
in fantastic sketch, assumed that 1.-The
Persian" was one OF the ancient race of
fire-wOrshippers, and that the cause of
his persistent attendance at the theaters
was religious determination to submit
himself each night to the purifying in
ffusnces Of chandeliers and fOotIights. |
His true history, however, remained I'M
discovered. His domestic life was one Of
strict seclusion, and of late years he even
refused to receive letters from any source.
The only visitors sdn1itted to him were
members of the English and Persian |
Legations, and with these he was not
upon terms of familiarity. In q simple |
and unpretending way he assisted the |
public charities OF his neighborhood, but |
never permitted himself TO be recognized |
as 8 benefsctor of the poor. His chief |
desire in lite seemed to be to shroud HIM |
self in impenetrsble secrecy.
Since his death little light has been |
thrown upon his history. According to |
the Secretary of the Persian Legation, |
hs was the son Of distinguished Orien- |
tai diplomatist, who, having been sent,
about three-guarters Of century ago, by !
the Shah Of Persia, on S mission to the |
English authorities at Bombay, was &C.
cideDtally killed there in a riot caused by |
the wanton carelessness Of some English |
officials. The influence of the Shah was |
sufficient to obtain for the con pension |
of s5O00 sterling, which was regularly |
transmitted to Ishmael Khan at Paris, |
during the last forty years Of his life. OF |
his previous career nothing has been re- |
vesled, and the causes of his long exile
from home and Of his peculiar habits of |
life in Paris remain unknown,