Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-10-14
A PERSIAN HORSE RACE.
Tho Reason Why tho Shah's
Horse Always Wins
Ills MsJesty's Appearance and Ills Little
Jokc-scenes Upon the Trnck->psc-
tacular March OF the Army
A Noblo Gift.

Az an early hour ON amorning in April
last crowds of people might have been
seen pouring through the western gate
of the City oi Tehcran on their way 10
the annual horse races. The sight
was one which could scarcely be seen
anywhere else in the world 4 hun
drcd bright colorS were 10 be observed
in the dresses of the men. the women
being dressed all alike in wide blue
trousers. bluc overall and white lace
coverings, some on foot, Others a>trdc
on horses or donkcyS but all bent on
the ,amc crrand-a few hours inno-
cent amusement
At nine a IN. the firing Of gun at
the palace gates announced that the
Shah had risen; this caused sudden
stampede of the crowd, many Of whom
mistook the gun aS y signal for the
commencement of the racing. In y
few minutes, however. they were
sauntcring gaily along again. Another
gun. announcing that the Shah was
ready To start. caused me 10 wcnd my
way to the palace. where couple Of
horse, were awaiting his Majesty, the
state carriage Standing ready close by
in case he should prefer il. The Shah.
who appeared one blaze of diamonds.
mounted fine gray Arab, and, with
some fifty runner, in front, and mass
OF horScmon riding behind. started for
the cour,c. The gray proving rc',ivc
another horse was brought, and. in a
few minutes q third gun announced
that the Shah had arrived at tn" grand
stand. and ;he racing might begin.
Imagine an oyal-shapcd garden en-
circled by high mud wall, with n
hard gravel road thirty yards in width
and thickly covered with loose stones.
OH the outer side of the wall. two miles
in circumference. and you have the
Tcheran racing track. Sitting or
standing in the sun, on horseback. or
comfortably cnSconccd in tents around
the outer edge OF the course, arc some
thirty thousand citizens and soldiers.
eagerly waiting for the casual glimpse
which is all that can Dc obtained of the
horses rs they pass; whilst the grand
stand. large. substantial brick build
ing. opposite tho starting and finishing
post, Is flled-with the exception OF
two rooms reserved FOR the European
Iegations-by the Shah. his harem and
retainers. On the open plain behind
the grand stand some hundreds of
richly comparisoned horses are being
led about by grooms. whilst their own
crs are comfortably seated in their
tents watching the races. In the CEN
tral saloon of the grand stand is seated
the Shah. surrounded by his ministers
and personal attendants, the front al
the saloon being entirely open. The
rooms to the east are filled with the
better class OF Persians and n few
Europeans. while the whole of the
western wing Is devoted to the harem
and attendant cunuchs. Opposite
the grand stand, in crescent
cut out of the garden. two elephants
with gold saddle-cloths, their trunks
painted all the colors Of the rainbow.
stand. solemnly ignoring the hustle
around them. In the center OF the
crescent is tank. around which are
seated some twenty native musicians
playing tom-toms and tars-the latter
n species Of fiddle, probably the Origi-
nal OF the fiddle itself; whilst in front
OF the crescent, and directly opposite
the Shah's saloon. dozen Luti boys,
from eight to twelve years of age. 60
through their disgusting performance.
Two brass bands occupy the remainder
of the crescent. Here and there
amongst the crowd outside, horsemen
armed with huge silver batons-en-
beIns of anthoriy-push their way or
daring the crowd to sit down. stand