The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-07
ELIZA PUTNAM HEATor
PERSIA'S MINISTER.
Hadji Hassein Kouli Khan Prostrates
himself Before the President.
From the Ne,c York Herald.

From the Net0 York Herald.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3-The clock above
the Presidents desk was striking the hour
of twelve to-day when one of the messen-
gers informed Mr.. Cleveland that Hadji
Hassein Kouh Khan, the new Persian
minister, was waiting below to present
his credentials He did not exactly say all
this, but the President understood what he
meant.
The President laid aside his work and de-
scended to the blue room, where the minis
ter and his suite, accompanied by Secretary
Bayard, had gathered.
The little minister is even more diminu-
tive than Mr.. Cox, and he will enjoy the
reputation of being the shortest in stature
of any of the members of the diplomatic
corps, not excepting Mr.. Mutsu the Japan
ese representative. He gazed about him
curiously. Surely" said he to his inter
prefer "this cannot be the palace where the
ruler of 60. 900 600 Americans livess"
The interpreter, however, assured him
that it was, wEereupon the puzzled look on
his face deepened into one Of grave disap-
pointment. The minister's disappointment
was not unnatural. The historic blue room,
which, during the social season, is fairly
creditabie to the presidential mansion,
never presented more cherries or uninvit-
ing appearance. 1t is true that this is the
usual housekeeping period at the executive
mansion, and all the apartments down
stairs present a scene of wild Confusion.
| But the minister appeared not to under
| stand this In his own country the repre-
sentative of foreign government would
| have been received with all the pomp and
grandeur with which the Oriental potentate
| delights to surround his state ceremonials.
He looked about him, therefore, with i'll
concealed surprise, aud was SO obviously
uncomfortable that Mr.. Bayard actually
| grew nervous watching him.
AN ORIENTAL SALVATION.
Fortunately for the secretary's peace of
mimi the door soon after swung open and
| President Cleveland entered the room. In
stantly the Persian FRUSTRATED himself be-
fore him. Then followed a performance
| common enough in the Orient, but never
before witnessed here. Before a hand
could be raised to prevent him the minister
bumped his head gravely once, twice, three
times against the floor, and then, as if salts
fed that he had done the proper thing, he
Strengthened himself up and awaited the
Presidents pleasure.
Had the floor been carpeted with its heavy
Administer it Is doubtful If Secretary Bay
ard would have known what happened, but
the humping on the floor caused the secre-
tary of state to turn his gaze from the
ceiling to the minister, who by this time
|
was now mysterious, for how it was pos
sible for one encased in such tight fitting
| garments to fall and arise SO gracefully will
probably be forever Persian secret.
The President for a moment wondered
whether this unexpected salutation had to
be reciprocated He looked appealingly to
his Secretary of State, as much as to say
"Do you really expect me to do thatP
The Secretary shook his head negatively,
and a sigh of relief not unlike the moan of
the sad sea waves escaped from President
Cleveland's heaving chest For moment
the two men-the chief magistrate of the
freest people on earth and the representa-
tive Of the ancient eastern espotism-gazed
| at each other
A CONTRAST
No contrast could have been greater
| I e President, tall, broad-shouldered, al
most herculean in bis massive proportions,
looked down upon his diminutive visitor.
| As they gazed upon each other Secretary
Bayard proudly noticed that their physical
proportions most perfectly illustrated the
| relative size of the countries each repre-
scented. The President wore his conventional
suit of black-a Prince Albert coat, with
| trousers and waistcoat to match. The INK
stains upon his fingers showed that he had
been busilv engaged at his desk up TO the
| very moment of the minister's arrival.
The latter's costume was hidden by n heavy
cashmere robe, which glittered with jewels
| and the various insignia of his rank. His
address was delivered in the Persian tongue.
| At the conclusion of the minister's address
the President bowed low and responded.
When the President had finished, the min-
lister bowed his acknowledgements and the
party separated, the President to his desk
upstairs and the diplomat, accompanied
! by Mr.. Bayard, going for drive about the
| city.