The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-29

through the tall, tiled gate into the city
proper deserves passing mention. One of
the choicest specimens of that gentlemanly
creature, yclept "howling dervish," sat
within the gate actively engaged smoking
a ghalyan. His bare head exhibited lux
uriousness of tangled name seldom equaled
even among the brotherhood, of which he
is undoubtedly an ornament his long, ra-
ven-black beard fell down to his breast and
partially concealed its brown, callous skin,
covered with hirsute excrescences of alarm
ing length, and his bewildering rags were
in the last stage of decay on his gaunt
body, emaciated by too frequent indul-
gence in the frenzy breeding hasheesh.
This gentleman, stopping to take interme-
diary whifs from his ghalyan, lifted up his
cracked voice and intoned sombre incan-
tation to Allah and his prophet to protect
and guard the great Weir Mukhtar (Am-
bassador) from Yengi-Dunio, (the New
World) The Minister did not quite un-
derstand him, but caught the drift of his
remarks, pulled out big gold coin from
his vest pocket and bade one of the runners
near him carry this to the holy friar, who,
on receipt of the gift, lifted up his voice
thrice as strongly. This made the Ameri-
can Minister at once solid with the pious
portion of the community, and before sun
down his Majesty and all the town knew
of the occurrence, and the praises of the
Minister rang out loud and uniform from
everybody's mouth. Whoever knows the
insane veneration in which these strolling
vagabonds are held in Persia will not be
astonished at this. The procession mean
while passed, going through the street
mainly inhabited by the European colony,
and through several more gates and over
the magnificent square where the yawning
cannons remind the beholder that the
Kadjar dynasty in Persia is secure through
its military power, and lastly down the fine
street in the middle of which stands the
American Legation. There another regi-
ment and another band were stationed, the
latter striking up "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner" on our approach, and very well, in
deed, they played it. The soldiers outside
and the guard inside the court presented
arms, and the servants, bareheaded, as well
as the dragoman, bade their new master
welcome to his new home. A brief recep-
tion followed in the parlor, and then the
ceremony-about the tenth of its kind since
the landing at Enzels-was over.
On Monday, the 9Th, the first audience
with the Shah took place. I'll lskip the in
troductory portions of this festivity. The
Shah had again sent splendid horses from
his stables, and the procession, if less nu-
merous, was even more gorgeous and choice
than two days before. The master of cere-
monies, who is a son-in-law of the Shah
and handsome and pleasant gentleman,
together with the chief dignitaries of the
kingdom, received the Minister in a large
and finely furnished hall of the Shah's
palace, the most noteworthy thing of which
was the portraits of his Majesty's ancestry
on the wall. The paintings were all in the
Persian style, taking strict account Of all
the minutie of persons appearance, even
to the last button, and very exact and life
like, but utterly oblivious of all laws Of
perspective. Thus in one picture the front
lady was no larger than half dozen behind
her, who were supposed to be at quite a
distance. The founder of the dynasty, a
gentleman of extreme ferceness of mien,
with thick eyebrows joining over his aqui-
line nose, piercing black eyes, and a virgin
forest of beard that covered all his face
up to the eyes, occupied the place of honor
in this family gallery, After some time
the stranger from America was summoned
before his Majesty The throne room
where the audience took place was quite a
fine hall. Some authorities maintain that
it is the largest and most ornate throne
room in the world At any rate it is very
handsome. The Shah was standing mo-
tionless at the remote end of it when Mr..
Winston entered, attired in nothing but
his native dignity and broadcloth suit.
After the reception of the credentials on a
golden salver the Minister made the follow
ing little speech in English, which was
afterward orally translated by an interpreter
into Persian:
MAY IT PLEASE Your MAJESTY: The great
nation whose country extends from the At
lantic to the Pacific Ocean and contains sixty
millions of free people has commissioned me
to bear to you, the mighty monarch of the
Oldest kingdom on earth, words of love and
friendship. l feel most highly honored in be-
ing intrusted with such mission by Govern
ment so young and so powerful as mine to
King so exalted, so able, and so accom-
plished as your Majesty. The choice OF the
President of the United States for this most
honorable Office has fallen on me because of
D.. Il ID. ,,roff fr,v,
for the exalted qualities of heart and hand of
your Majesty. No questions are now existing,
nor are any likely to arise, between the two
nations to cause any unfriepdly feelings now
or hereafter The two countries are more
than 6, 200 miles apart and we have and can
have no interests which can ever be antago-
nistic to those OF your Majesty. 1t will be my
object therefore, during my sojnrn at your
capital, not only to cultivate and foster the
most friendly feelings which now obtain be-
tween the two countries, but if possible to
build up and increase the trade and CONNER
cial relations between Persia and the United
States, SO as to promote the mutual interests
of both. My efforts alone would, however,
not accomplish this, and therefore most re-
spectfully solicit the cooperation of your
Maiesty's Government in behalf of my aims IN
this direction. beg to offer my heartfelt
wishes for your Majesty's long life and for the
attainment of all essential to your Majesty s
happiness, and as sincerely desire to express
my hopes for the continued welfare and pros
perity of the kingdom over which your Majesty
now SO ably rules"
The Shah listened very attentively both
to the speech and to its translation, and
then began desultory conversation. His
Majesty is now in his fifty-sixth year. He
is a fne-looking, well made man, over 6
feet in height, his well knit frame incased
in a dark blue uniform of becoming make,
wearing kolah of finest lambs wool,
and his only decorations two rectangular
patches of diamonds of remarkable purit, /,
one on each breast, with seven gigantic
diamonds as buttons in his military frock
coat. His dropping glossy mustache shaded
his lips, rather too firmly compressed, and
his piercing black eyes were at first con-
cealed by smoked eyeglasses, which he,
however, after some time removed. He
expressed the hope that thc American
Minister would make long and pleasant
stay in his dominions, asked about the
dangers and fatigues of the journey, and
then began to inquire about America,
President Cleveland and how long he meant