Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-14
The.Shah of Persia at Home.


Not many years ago the shah never
allowed his wives to show even the tips Of
their fingers to any of the male sex over
the age of twelve. Formerly when the
members of the harem, (the princesses and
the female attendants of the shah's house
hold,) enveloped in a black sheet, with
veil on their face, and sitting in covered
carriage, made their passage through the
streets of Teheran, the eunuchs and the
feraches who accompanied them used their
sticks to drive people away. The Europeans
were allowed to stay where they happened
to be at the time, but were compelled
to turn their faces to the
wall. During the last few years.
however, and especially since his return
from the second journey to Europe,
Nasser-ed-Din Shah has become more
obliging. Since that time the Persians are
ordered only to keep out Of the harem's
path, and the Europeans are allowed to
continue their way on the tacit condition
that they shall not gaze too aVldiousiy at
the passing carriage. On the eve proceed
ing the late anniversary of the prophets
birthday there was,as usual, fire works and
Examinations in the alley called Khiaban
Dowleh. Over the palace door ''Dari Al
QdSSl6u,
cause its facade is ornamented with pieces
Of looking glass;, opening into the Khia-
ban, there is a balakhaneh in which on
such occasions the shah sits to enjoy the
sight. At other times he and the harem
used to peep out through the openings of
curtain drawn before the windows; but
on this occasion the curtain was done away
with, and the king with some of the
IL
works.
AS far as can be judged from distance
of ten or twelve yards these ladies have in
general round faces, very large and fine
eyes, and thick and arched eyebrows, which
| are made to appear still thicker by the ap-
plication of a certain dye of very dark
blue color, called in Persian "rang," and
more arch-like by plucking the hair which
| may stand out of the archy line,a cheeks
of vermilion. Their skin, however, as
| that of all Persians, with few exceptions,
! lacks the delicacy and Wilderness so often
commonly met with in English women.
| Their features, too, are not generally ex-
pressive. His majesty certainly does not
! share now in the prejudice of his country
men regarding the treatment of the fair
sex, and he has always been far above them
| as regards religious liberation. The
same evening the foreign ministers were
entertained at dinner by the zil-us-sul-
tan, his majesty's eldest son. When the
invitation was sent out there arose some
difficulty about precedence at the table,
| but at last it was arranged that the
zil-us-sultan should have on his right his
excelIency Fauri Bey, the Turkish
| Ambassador, next the latter NJ. Argiro-
| poulo, the Russian charge d'affairs, and
then NJ. Sonhart, the French charge DAT
fairs on his (prince's) left. Mr.. r. Thomp-
son, the British minister; then Mr.. Schofer,
the Austrian charge d'affairs; vis-a-vis the
| zil-us-sultan, the Prince Hessam- es-S alta-
neh; on his right, the Prince Nosrat Dow
leh, both uncles of the shah; on the left of
the hessam- es-saltoneh, the azudul molk,
and so on, according to rank. During the
dinner zil-us-sultan proposed the health
of the sovereigps and their ministers pres
ent. At this proposal the music began to
play "God Save the Queen" The Turkish
ambassador responded by proposing the
health of the shah, of the zil-us-sultan,
and of the royal family. The toast was
accompanied by the Persian national
| anthem. Then Mr.. Thompson proposed a
! personal toast for the zil-us-sultan, when
ageiu the band played Sod Save the
Queen" The last toast proposed by the I'll
! us-sultan. was in honor of all who were
present al the dinner. The evening passed
| agreeably, and the foreigners we're highly
| pleased with The reception.