Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-07-24
Some Reports Abont the Shah Of
Persia.

In spite of the glitter of those wonder
full diamonds, and the glOries Of that biaz-
ing surtout. we suspect that the visit OF
the Shah 10 Europe hes dispelled the last
| lingering belief in the fabulous megnifi-
ctnce Of Eastern monarchies The Shah
Of Persia was one OF the most interesting
of the two or three Oriental rulers Of
whom the rest OF mankind knew little or
nothing. The Mikado is no longer
mystery. The Sultan excites neither curl
osify nor awe. The splendors OF India
are stories of the past. China Is getting
common. and The Son Of Heaven Is only
bow. But the Shah has been shrouded
| for ages in a golden veil of romance.
Travellers have learned little about him :
his subjects have rarely been seen in Eu
rope; secluded from the outer world, he
has reigned In unapproachable majesty
| over a country whose very name IS elo-
auent to Western ears with tales of won
der and enchantment and the luxuriant
faneies Of the Eastern poets.
The glamour is all dispelled. Nasser
ed Din has journeyed across the territory
Of the Feringees with his enormous reti-
nue., scattering largesses worthy Of the
Commander Of the Faithful in the
Arabian Nights" and spending the
revenues of an empire in the diversions Of
pleasure trip; and what taw-
dry sort of Shah he turns out to
be-, Wherever he goes, his hosts are
1lad to got rid OF him. He is vulgar; he
Is coarse; he is dirty; he Is rude. If he is
lodged in a palace, one trembles for the
pictures, and resigns the carpets forever.
His high-born courticrs amuse themselves
cutting the flowers out Of the tapestry,
and the heads out Of the royal family por-
traits. If he proposes TO prolong his visit
the honor is declined, and Gar and Kais-
CT and Queen show like alacrity in pass
ing him over the border. He is hidden TO
banquet, and, after he has once sent re-
fusal, he changes his royal mind, rises
from his bed and presents himself at the
door of his distracted host, when the
meats are cold and broken, and the guests
have gone home. He keeps an Emperor
waiting for hours, and insults every lady
of the court who is not handsome-fr
! even court ladies are sometimes ugly. He
advises Kaiser Wilhelm TO hang ''that old
woman Augusta" He bedaubs the gowns
of the royal ladies who sit beside him at
dinner. He throws his food on the floor
if he does not like it, and he splits on the
audience when he goes to the opera. OF
some OtlleT lUClueDlS Dl MS JOUR perhaps
it Is as well. not TO speak; maybe the
stories are not true.
We do not wonder when we are told
that Queen Victoria was cross the other
day at the review. But il was very un-
reasonable TO expect the Shah to be gen
tleman. He has never been taught to
think of the rights and feelings Of other
people. He has never been taught that
le has an equal in the whole world. The
essence Of courtesy is consideration for
| Others and how should he have learned
that? He has been bred to selfshness and
brutality; and il was not TO be expected
that he should know enough To change
his manners altogether when he came in
contact with higher kind Of civilization.
Perhaps it is just as well that we have
seen him as he is. A fascinating illusion
has been dispelled; but the world is none
the worse for learning the truth, even
when error Is so much more agreeable
New York Iritune.