Connecticut western news., 1884-01-09
A STRANGE, WEIRD SIGHT.
THE PERSIAN PASSION PLAY.
CcmmemorntinH, ,the Death of Hussein, Son
 Of Ali, in Constantine pie
From the Utica Morning Heraldl

what travellers call the 1erSllIl tsSSioh Play. The Persians claim that Ali, the son-in-law of tue Prophet, was rightfully the immediate successor to the kali phate. Upon the death of Hussein (one of the two sons of Alb, the Persians found their great religious festival, which occurs in and takes its name from the month of Maharem in the Mo- hammedan year. Not only in their own country, but even here iu Constanti- nople, they celebrate the day with O grief apparently as fresh and poignant as if the tragedy had occurred but yes terday. Dr. Ledyard, an American den- tist. Haynes, and I, finding the date of the celebration was at hand, procured through our legation m introduction and recommendation to the Persian Am bassador, who invited us to witness the procession and exercises under his pro- lection. Saturday last, the 11th of Mo harem. At about half-past four in the afternoon, we set out for Valide khan, in Stamboul, the place of the meeting and ceremonies. We passed the en- trance and found the court packed. In the midst of the throng were two furled standards, behind which stood horse covered with rich Persian shawls. Two long lines of men were drawn up facing each other at distance of twelve feet apart in space which was readily kept clear for them.
 There were about 200, all with bare shaven heads, their dress mainly white garment extending from the neck before and behind down to the hips. They were barearmed and barefooted, and each held in his right hand one- edged heavy-backed sabre three feet long and slightly curved, which he brandished back ward and forward over his head. At last we reached the side opposite the entrance, where were the Persian grandees. The lower corridor was we'll and rather brilliantly lighted. divans or chairs were set in it. Persian emblems decorated the walls, and altogether the effect was pleasing. The consul welcomed and gave us chairs, and we sat down until the ceremonies should commence. Ropes were stretched in front of us to define the line of march and at the same time to keep the mob away from us, strong guard of soldiers with fixed bayonets standing in the ring. At intervals of about thirty feet all along the route of the procession stand. ards were fixed in the ground, support ing at height of five or six feet large receptacles of open iron work filled md and heaped with wood to furnish light for the occasion. Men went around lighting the fambeaux of which I have spoken. They blazed high and brightly, making it very easy to see with good deal of distinctness what was going on ill the court.
 Almost immediately after they had been lighted we heard the sound of what we knew to be the procession on its way. At first it was a chant that we heard, with a sound as of bare feet on the pave- ment, keeping time to the rythm then fine, clear and pure In tone, and as it scared up the ether voices hushed, as did the sounds and noises around it. It was the recital in Eastern song of the narrowing story they commemorate and sung by one whose sole profession it is to touch the hearts of his listeners. The voice was beautifully musical, and it trilled and quavered through the pecu- liar melody, while the dead silence around testified to its effects upon the people. When it ceased @ great shout arose, as of some name or names uttered by all, and then the chanting and march. ing were resumed. It seemed a long time for them to come to point near enough for us to see them. When they did come, we saw first the two banners, then several men, naked to the waist and each thrashing his own back with a bunch of chains, which he yielded with all his might. After them came horse richly decked and bearing little girl of some three or four years, absolutely swathed from head to foot in black. Black bands partly concealed her fair little face, and with her hands, which were free, she was throwing ashes oyer her head. She was followed by long procession of men beating their bare breasts with their palms, some violently, and all grooming 'Hassan, Hussein," to this accompaniment.
 So they moved past us very slowly, only few inches at time, and we could see that the regular beat, as of trampling feet, we had heard at dis tance, was really alone this body of men pounding their chests. Three times the procession moved before us in the same order, and with the same characteristics as at first, though more rapidly, and seemingly with greater numbers. At the fourth circuit of the khan, following the men with chains, whose backs looked black where they had been beaten, but who were working with the same energy as before, were three horses. The white trappings of the first were sprinkled with blood. Upon it's saddle stood two , white doves, whose plumage was dabbled with blood, and upon the pommel of the saddle were fastened two short, curved naked swords. The second also haG bloody trappings, which were stuck full ) of long feathers, made to represent arrows. Then came the horse bearing 5 the little girl. But after the breast beat CTS who followed we could at first see gleam of white, and now and then tht 3 glitter of steel, and when they came near 400 men with swords and clad as l noted at first, the white almost covered l with blood, which flowed freely iron