The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-06-04
THE SHAH OF PERSIA.
tdf1 Of the Great Oriental Ruler IN the
Capital Of Teh ran

Capital Of Tsh ran
IoHdon World:
Probably the most restless man Sd
the face Of the earth is Nussir;:u-deen;
Shah of Persia, Asylum Of the Uni3aFss
and King Of Kings These two titles
as seriously given to the absolute mon
arch of Persia; as we apply the more
modest term of Majesty, are not map
propriate, for from the royal fat there
is no appeal. Almost Immediately on
his accession the Shah had the good
fortune to escape determine q attempts
St assassination made on him by a. band
of fanatics of the Baabi sect. These
men, Communists in the vilest sense
of the term, under the exciting in
duence of persecution made bold
and nearly successful attack on the LIE
of the Persian monarch. 1t was hapPl-
ly frustrated, and it is needless to add
that the unfortunate fanatics we're cru
ely put to death. The various heads
of the government department petition
ed for and obtained the privilege OF
ending their sufferings; and thus the
great noblemen of the kingdom put the
Door wretches out of theft misery. in thee
public square: by. sword dagger or pis7
toll. This near escape from death has
caused his majesty "Nussir-u -deen to
change his abode with curious fire.
quency. He still breads the knife OF
the fanatic. Another reason for the fire.
quent and sudden movements OF the
Shah is his intense devotion to the
chase. When hunting and fishing
and here be it remarked that his males
ty is frst-rate shot with the rifie--the
king of Persia is happy; and, in fact
the nomadic existence of his acest?rs il
almost necessary to him. SWaEthiettha4
most cfhis subjects of middle height, his
appearance is so we'll known, since his
visits to Europe, that it hardly needs
description. Very short-sighted, ne IS
seldom without his spectacles, and I'M
til he opens his mouth he gives rather
the idea of the mild Hindoo But when
he speaks in his loud and imperlous
way all idea of mildness disappears.
The loud tone, however, is more the et-
fort of constant habits Of command and
the custom of addressing His Majesty
in a low tone that is observed on all &c,
casions, probably tends to make it the
most noticeable by contrast. Although
the King Of Persia has larger. collec-
zion OF jewels than any other monarch,
save on state occasions, such as the pub
lie salaam of the new year, he very sell
dom displays any of them. He is strik-
ingly plain in his dress. The full-skirt-
ed frock coat of black cloth, or at
times of finest cashmere shawl, which in
winter time is lined and trimmed with
priceless fur, is his usual wear; but the
colors are generally dark.
In the capital the Shah may be fire.
quently seen on horseback, and, like
all Persian gentlemen, he rides well
his horses, with long and uncut tails,
dyed crimson for some six in ches at theft
tips (the jealousy guarded privilege OF
the King and his sons), are distinguish
ed by their value and beauty. Here,
too; the Shahs quiet taste is apparent
in the sombre materials of his saddlery;
though of course each spirited charget
has its pure gold or jewelled necklet
and trappings, and these barbaric orna::
ments certainly do not detract from its
appearance. Riding alone, his eyes
generally on the ground, his Majesty
still maintains a staff Of some dozen
royal running footman, who, clad in his
state livery of scarlet and gold, and
wearing the turreted hats of other days,
with their jingling ornaments, and each
armed with his silver staff of office,
hover around the Shah, while one re-
mains at his stirrup to indicate the royal
pleasure: Behind come one or two OF the
Ministers, and then pell- the mount
ed courtiers, secretaries, officials and
their hangers on, while the royal body
guard of irregulars, each with his gun
] slung in scarlet cloth case across his
back, mix promiscuosly among the mis-.
cellaneous crowd of one or two hundred
horsemen, without whom the Shah is
hardly ever seen. The royal carriage
most in vogue with his Majesty bears a
suspicious likeness to one of our Sheriff's
vehicles; eight horses are harnessed to
it, the pairs being ridden by four pos
| tilions in scarlet. AS a rule the king
is alone, the only exception being when
accompanied by one of his sons or the
Prime Minister, or perhaps some relig-
ious magnate. Erratic as he is in his
movements, passing from one suburban
palace to another the route may gener-
ally be ascertained by observing the
water carriers, who carefully sprinkle
the road the king will use. Nor is this
needless form, as the ordinary state
of the roads, if they may be dlgnified
with that title, around Teheran is SIM
liar to the busiest of Derbus.
The King of Persia is very careful of
his health, and his French physician,
DIR. Tholozan, is ever within call, so
that the unfortunate doctor is as great
a gadabout as his master, the Asylum
of the Universe. His Majesty enjoys
very good health, slight paralysis
having as yet been his only ailment.
His habits of life are simple, his diet
plain roasts and boiled. If he ever in
dulges in the pottledeep rotations of
his predecessors on the Persian throne,
it can only be in the recesses of his an
derun or harem. There is no outward
sign of any such indiscretion. The
King is an early riser, 4 or 5 m. being
his usual time in summer. This gives
him long day, but he breaks it by a
siesta. It is the royal habit when tired
to be shampooed by his attendants, and
it is thought no indignity for high Of
fetal to be told to assist in the knead-
i2gg process. Of the delights of sham
pooling, Europeans, as a rule, have no
idea. It is real art and is carried out
to scientific perfection by some of his
Majestv's most confidential servants.