The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-01-14
STREETS OF TEHERAN
Scenes to be Witnessed in a
Persian Thorouehfare.

Scenes to be Witnessed in a
Persian Thorouehfare.
How the Tradesmen Ply Their Various
Occupations in the Open Air
S. G. w. Benjamin, recently United
States minister at the court of Persia, de. |
scribes his impressions of that country in
the Century. He says: 'In such climate
as that of Teheran life is naturally passed
chiefly in the open air. The chill of win
ter, rarely severe, seems to make little
difference in the habits of the people.
The shops are all open to the streets; the
customers stand outside, and even the
shop-keeper attends to most of his busi-
mess from the exterior of the shop. If
he is baker, grocer, or costermongcr, in
all probability he and the customer both
stand in the street, retreating into the
shop only when string of camels or
dashing cortegc forces them to move out
of the way. A carpenter may frequently
be seen arranging piece of joinery on
the pavement in front of his shop. The
schools often in no-wise differ from the
shops; in the midst Il crowded thor
oughfarc one may SEQ twenty or thirty
lads seated on their heels repeating the
lesson together in monotonous tone.
"Another common sight in the streets
of Teheran is the itinerant barber. The
Koran enioins the masculine Mohamme-
dan to shave his crown. The Sunnees
shave the entire head excepting long
lock in the center whereby, it Is said, the
archangel may pluck them out of the
grave. But the Sheahs or Persian Mus
sulmans shave from the forehead to the
nape of the neck, leaving a highly priced
lock on each side. 1t is, therefore, COM
seated on the pavement, going through
the operation of having his head shaved.
The remaining hair and the beard are
dyed, and it is rare that one sees gray
hairs in Teheran. The first tint applied
is henna, an orange yellow vegetable dye.
Many consider this so handsome as to
prefer it without the further
application of indigo which most select.
The last tint, combined with the henna,
imparts durable and rather agreeable
dark brown color to the hair. The wom-
en- also have their hair dyed and join the
eyebrows with the pencil All classes
make use of the bath at least once week.
the wealthy having s.cam-baths attached
to thcm dwellings. No Christian is ever
permitted admittance to the baths of the
Persians. The public baths answer the
purpose of clubs and sewing circles; the
women go in the morning, take their
sewing with them, and, after being thor
ougly steamed and scrubbed, devote sew
eral hours to smoking the "kalian," en-
broidering, and discussing the scandal OF
the neighborhood, which they assiduously
circulate on their return home.
"Another street sight of Teheran is the
tea-housc, equivalent to the coffee-house
of Constantinople or the er-garden of
Munich. These establishments are gen
orally thronged towards the close of the
day.
"Both wine drinking and card playing
are forbidden to true believers; and there
FORE neither is seen in these places of pub,
lie resort But both are freely indulgcd in
at home The card-players of Persia use q
set of twenty cards in five suits of four
EACH
SIT is an interesting fact that Americs
must relinquish the claim of having in
vented the gamblers favorite game Of
poker, for it was known in Persia centur.
l les ago. The game played by the Per
slams is in principle poker or brag pure
and simple, and betting often runs higt
with them.
"Another characteristic sight in thu
streets of Teheran is the bread Persian
bread is made in sheets the thickness o.
, sole leather; the best quality is somewhat
thinner 1t is formed in the shape an6
size of a side of leather The baker with
bare arms dexterously raises sheet o.
this dough from the counter where it i;
rolled out, tosses and rolls it over his left
arm until reduced to the proper tenuity
With rapid fling of both arms he then
spreads it over the hot floor of the oven
, In few moments it is baked and spread
out to cool. If there is convenient
ledge in the street near the shop, ont
may see it covered with layers Of bread
, This bread is cheap, one cent sheet, and
what is more it is sweet and nourishing
| and, with curds, cheese, and fruit, forms
, staple article of diet with large par
' of the population. Consequently, ont
constantly meets with people carrying
sheets of bread home with them, thu
women holding them in front like leather
I aprons
t Destroying the Effect.
: / remember hearing Curfew Shal
9 Not Right To night recited by young