American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-01
A Tragical Story.

About four miles from Kashan are the
villa and gardens of Feen, well known
throughout Persia, not only for their
beauty, but also as having been the scene
OF one of the saddest tragedies in its re-
cent history.
Mira Taghi, the son of a court cook:
had raised himself by his talents and
Observation-Disclosures from mental postin the
household of MOhammed Shah to that of
Persian consul at ErZerOum, and had
there entered into commercial relations
and gained much influence with the rich
est merchants of his own country. On
the death of that sovereign, in 1S4S, he
fastened to Tabreez. where the heir ap-
parent was living almost in state OF
penury, and rendered such service in pro-
curing money for the payment of his
troops and other pressing wants, that,
previous to his entry into the capital, the
new shah made him his grand vizer, with
the title of Emir-i-Nizam. The whole
kingdom was then in most disOrdered
state; the treasury was empty, the army
undisciplined, the taxes unpaid, and re-
volt imminent in several of the provinces.
Nasreddeen Shah was an inexperienced
lad of eighteen, and it required all the
sagacity and energy of a strong mind to
overcome these difficulties and seat him
firmly on his throne. The emir showed
himself equal to the occasion. and, after
fishing order, and replenishing the state
Golfers, received as his reward the hand of
the kings sister, very pretty girl OF
fourteen, who, though at first averse to
this forced marriage, afterward became
much attached to her husband. He was
now at the zenith of his power, and, with
the return of tranquility, devoted all his
attention to the regeneration of his coun.
try, which he fOresaw could only be ac-
complished by complete reform of the
administration, and by ameliorating the
condition of the agricultural population.
The measures he took for carrying out
these projects resulted in his becoming
hated by the numerous and powerful class
of courtiers, khans and governors, who
lived on the proceeds of eXtOrtiOn and
abuses, and idolixed by the still more
numerous but weaker class which found
protection under his just rule. The for
mer determined on his ruin; the queen
mother was gained over to their views, the
kings mind was poisoned with calumnics,
the emir was represented as aiming at the
throne, and his popularity was cited as
proof OF his ambitious designs. For some
time the king wavered, but finally the
palace intrigue succeeded, and, in 1915, the
emir was banished to Feen. His young
wife accompanied him in his exile; she
let him neither day nor night, herself at
tended to all his wants, and prepared all
his food, with a sad, but well-founded
presentiment that her presence alone
could shield him from further injury at
the hands OF his now-triumphant enc
mics. Not content with his ruin, they
soon after demanded his death, and in
duced the king, in a moment of weak
ness to sign the warrant. The man en-
trusted with its execution was a former
protege of the emir. On his arrival at the
villa he gave himself out as the bearer of
the wife fears, and induced her, though
reluctantly, to leave him alone with his
late benefactor. She never saw her hus-
band again. He was taken to the bath,
his veins were opened, and there he ex-
pired.-''A Journey through Persia"