River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-10-29
EX-MINISTER S. G.. BENJAMIN
Gives "a Reporter an Account of HIS j.,
perience while In Persia

Gives Reporter an Account of HIS Ex-
perience While In Persia.
How do Persians treat Christians
and EuropeansP'
Not lady, if their fanaticlsm is not
aroused Then they become danger
Gus. A few years ago if a European
consofted with Persian woman he
was killed at once, or obliged to turn
Mohammedan and marry her Even
now it would create the greatest trouble,
so that Europeans contine their atten-
tons to the Armenian women of the
native population. When the shah 5
wife drive through the streets men
90 ahead 10 clear the streets and warn
all persons to conceal themselves. If
a man has no chance of getting away
he turns his face around and does not
look, on pain of being roughly handled
or perhaps killed on the spot. Euro
peans are compelled to do the same
thing.
In June of last year, owing to the in
tense heat, | was compelled to move
my family out of the city. On my way
to the country met large force of
soldiers escoring the shah wives. If a
Persian had CHANGED to glance at the
royal ladies in such circumstances he
would have Jared hard, but the foleign
legations have rights and privileges of
their own, so stood my ground. Some
twenty of the mounted guards violent
" attacked us and beat my servants
~ nd thar bOrgng -, bn "a, -,
them back. | directed them to stand
their ground, and things were looking
serious, when one of the queens who
recognized the servants Of my legation
by their badges, sent her chief eunuch to
call the soldiers away. We were then
allowed to pass through without fur
Their mOlestation.
This attack was an Insult to the dig
nifty of the legation too great to be
overlooked, and | wrote note to the
minister of foreign affairs demanding
satisfaction Immediately. The reply
to my note being tardy and cvasive,
felt it my duty to inform the minister
of foreign affairs that unless my terms
were granted in thirty-six hours |
should haul down the flag and demand
my passport. The result justified my
action. Without going into details,
may say that not only was the most
ample satisfaction rendered us within
thirty-six hours, but my course received
the approval of the entire diplomatic
corps and added to the high prestige
awarded to foreign legations at the
court of Persia.
ION another occasion servant of
one of my attaches nearly killed a
Persian. This Immediately created
the greatest excitement, and a mob
formed with the intention of attacking
the legation. The minister of foreign
affairs notified US to be prepared.
ordered our military guard to load
their arms, and stationed them at the
weak points where the mob might en-
ter, making preparations also to send
my family to a place of safety. Hap
PLY the earnest efforts of the author
tiles were successful in quelling the
riot.
Last spring the official paper, She
reef, published an article that was
disrespectful to President Cleveland.
Immediately demanded that full
correction should be made and a new
article printed, in which he should be
treated with the greatest honor. After
much persistency this was done. Wis
its were very ceremonious, and it was
necessary to send notice beforehand,
and servants would come out to meet
us as a mark of honor