Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-27

more peculiar about IL than there 10 about the
uniform Of an American general, unless, per-
haps, 1t Is less gaudy.
APLKAsAxr CALL.
A stan reporter called to-day ct the legation
residence, 1925 NJ street, and had an interesting
conversation with the minister concerning his
country and the purpose Of the Persian gov
eminent in establishing Q mission here. Al
though the minister could readily make him.
self understood his vocabulary II necessarily
somewhat limited, and for the sake Of con-
venience he was aided by his secretary who
speaks English fuently. The minister has
leased the house he resides in and the purpose
is to establish permanent mission here. He
smiled when speaking of the curious notion
some people here appeared to have about
Persia. "Why," he said, civilization does
not end with the English language. Germans,
French, Russians and Persians are civilized
The earliest civilization was in Persia. Its
antiquities are priced by the whole world. Part
OF your language comes from US. Father,
mother, brother, sister'-they are the same in
Persian. Some one asked me If liked music.
oh, do You like musicY the question was asked
We have all those things that are common to
civilization the world over. You have the
organ here. That instrument was invented by
Persian many years ago. You get It from Us.
We call it 'organon,' from that you get organ.
OuI ullta[y DdnOs Will greet every foreign
guest with his national air.
A REVIVAL OF YOUTH.
"persia had its youth in antiquity, passed
into old age, and has now the revival of youth
again, the modern, a. the ancient Persians
are famed for their skiIlful and artistic work.
manship. For many years Persia lay indolent
IN old age. The spring time of youth came
back and the nation il now at progressive De-
riod. 1t is in the blossom that promises . fine
harvest. 1t il in that state which offers the
most inducement to enterprise and commercial
activity. We have railroads, telegraph. tele-
phone, gas, and electric light. Our capital is
larger than Washington. In the summer II has
population of 200, 900 and in winter 500 OOO
The gas for lighting the city and the water are
paid for by the government Great attention
Is paid to educational matters, and our king,
who Is a man Of noble mind, has marked his
reign Of more than forty years by great strides
in progress. The government has encouraged
education and constantly broadened and ex-
tended the personal liberty Of the citi-
extending railroad building. The railroads we
have now may be termed merely specimens to
illustrate their advantages and to induce ma
tive capital to 60 into such enterprises It is
the desire Of our living that railroad lines shall
traverse the country clear across in both direc-
tons, so as to shorten distances and bring the
commercial points closer together. Foreign
capitalists are anxious to enter into these en-
terprises, but it is scarcely what We want that
our neighbors just over the border should &C.
We would prefer Americans to have interests in
Persia. You in America do not know what it is
to have to guard against your neighbors. You
are guarded by the Atlantic on one side and the
Pacific on the other. You are free from the
jealousies and dangers arising from close prox-
unity, like in Europe and Asia. You are indie
pendent, having not that dangerous rivalry.
Persia has q standing army Of 500, 900 men Un-
civilized nations do not support such armies.
WHY THE MISSION WAS EsrABLIsHxD.
We have diplomatic relations with nearly all
nations. We had ministers plenipotentiary at
all the great courts before We established these
relations with America. It was not the desire
of Russia, Germany, Austria or England that
we should establish q mission in America. The
interest that We should have Independent COM
mercial relations with the United States. Our
trade is valuable, and under the present pro-
gressive regime it opens up great possibilities
The purpose OF the king in sending minister
here was to promote friendship between the
pacts to the interest Of both countries.
Your people have many things we
need, and We have things you want
that can be had only from Us, directly or indi-
rectly. Your minister to Persia had encouraged
Us to take this step, and we hope to open up Q
mutually valuable interchange Of commerce
between the two countries. We rather Amer
lean enterprise should find profit in the de-
velopment of our railroads and telegraph than
that they should fall into the hands Of nations
at rivalry with US.
MUTUAL ADvAsrAars.
There are many things that ought to tend TO
the development Of commerce between Persia
and the United States. In the first place there
are no antagonisms between us. You must
have our products. and you buy them from
other people at four or five prices. We want
your products and have to get them indirectly
at greater expense. You use what you call
Russia leather. There is no such leather.
original makers, they make and sell
it to Russian merchants, and sell It
to you for five times what 1t would
cost bought from Persians. It is the Persian
process the Russians get the credit for invent
ing. You might as well buy directly from ~
and sell directly to Us. Our merchants are
ready to bring their goods and wares here.
They are waiting to hear from me. And our
people are ready TO buy the products offered by
your merchants and inventors. Wemake shawls,
cannot be had except from Persia. We have
q largo mineral wealth, gold, silver, and pre-
cious stones. Our diamonds are fine, and all
the turquois used In the world comes from Per-
| sia. We have valuable commerce with India
We send opium to China and tobacco to Tur-
our commerce extends Our shswls and carpets
are sold In every market In the world Every
body knows the same Of the Persian coloring
and the Persian workmanship. have here
with me piece Of Persian carpet two hundred
and twenty five years old, and the colors in II
are a. fresh a. II but day old These dives
never fade. The fine hand-workmanship of
our people IL not to be got elsewhere. It 10 the
skill acquired through generations-from an
| tiquity. What our people make are things you
do not make, but want and pay big prices for.
Your people offer things we do not make. The
conditions are such a. TO conduce 10 the CONNER
cial advantage Of both, and the distance not too
l great-25 days journey. Why should not large
| trade be carried ON between the two countries
| In American vessels? did not come here "
he added, ito look ct your fine buildings and
streets They are fine, beautiful, but 8 min
ister 10 not sent from far-o6 Persia for that.
| II u to encourage friendship and to build mp Q
commerce that We come. Iwant TO soe Ameri-
can merchants and capitalists and give them
| all the information about my country they may
| want to encourage them to buy and 10 sell
| with N. I have brought with me some Of the
| samples Of the products Of our skin and art, %
that those who desire may zee them"
BEAUTIFUL vonxxANsun.
He then showed the GrAn reporter some OK
quisite workmanship Of his county-hand-
worked curtains, piano covers, fancy covers Soz
chairs and other ornaments. Some strikinRiy
hne work was displayed in tracing, inlayine
and painting In Persian colors on book-ccvsrl
/ and . little ornamental caaket for some pur-
pose. Speaking further Of his COUNTRY be
called attention to the valuable Persian anti