San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-12
NUSR ED DEEM, SHAH OF
PERSIA.

The Shah of Persia, who, by the
way, is reported to be the richest
prince in the world, is about to make
tour of Europe, and there has been
talk that seeing the United States is
one of the things he may accomplish
in a long absence from home.
He is an old-fashiOned Oriental bar
barian and a tyrant with a bloody re-
cord, but is not an uncultivated man,
and is more or less in touch with the
civilization of the most advanced ma
tons. His father was Mehmed Shah,
and his mother the daughter ola kad-
jar chief. Until his accession to the
throne the Prince spoke Turkish, and
does not speak Persian correctly even
yet. His education was neglected
and his early life was one of hardship
and humiliation, his father disliking
him. When he was seventeen years
old he was made Governor of Aver
beidjn, northwestern province of
Persia. There the lot of himself and
his mother was scarcely better than
it had been in his early boyhood.
When he was eighteen years old his
father died, October Is. 1S4S. The
Russian Consul-General at Teheran
Immediately sent out to the remote
province where Nusr-ed-Deen was
living, hailed him as the Shah, and
returned with him to the capital,
where he was proclaimed sovereign.
Rebellions in the south of Persia were
sternly put down, and the young ruler
toon a firm seat on the throne of his
ancestors.
Early years of the Shah's reign
were characterized by important re-
forms carried on under the admins
tration of Ameer Mira Taghi, the
Grandfather, who also superintendent
the Shah's studies. This distinguished
minister, who married his sOvereign's
sister, became the victim of jealousy.
He was unjustly suspected of aiming
at the supreme power. and after three
years of wise and valuable services,
was driven into exile and murdered
by the young ruler whom he had in
calculably benefited.
The reign of Nusr-ed-Deen has been
bloody one. 1t began with the
cruel suppression of rebellion. Since
then wars against Afgnanistan,
against the Imaum of Mascot and
against England, though, on the
whole, not discreditable to Persian
valor, have not added to the wealth
or territory Of the country, but left it
worse or than before. The Shah and
his people have suffered from injudi-
ciOus and INSCRIPTIONS advisers, but
be is himself a vicious and unprinci-
pied ruler, capable by his own wilful-
ness of bringing great misfortunes on
his country.
His character presents marked Pc
culiarities. The murder of his faith
full friend and minister shows how
Jealous and cruel is his d disposition.
He is governed largely by an inflated
sense of his Importance, takes narrow
views on public questions, is head
strong, avaricious and superstitious
Sickening stories are told of his
cruelty. Pleasanter to relate, he is
perhaps less sensual than the average
Oriental despot, is activeminded and
commands a good variety of infOrma-
ton, gained chiefly from French pub
LEGATIONS. He possesses a fund OF
broad humor, is successful carlca-
turist and dearly loves practical
joke. His collection of precious stones
is of priceless value. Ii his reign had
been continued as it was in its first
three years, Persia would have been
again distinguished among the Orien-
| tai nations.
The Shah has five sons, three OF
whom are grown up, and whole hos
of daughters. MOuzaffer-ed-Deen, the
second son, is heir-apparent. He is
now governor of Azerbeijn, and re-
sides at Tabriz, which is the largest
and richest city in Persia.
Looking at the excellent portrait o.
Nusr-ed- Deem, the reader cannot fail
to notice that the eyes of its subject
are too near the nose for beauty, and
that the countenance is wanting il
animation. The Shah is tall for 6
Persian, but is bow-legged. His ad
dress is broken and awkward, but M
carries himself after long rule with &
dignity to which his early years were
strangers.
REPUBLICANS in Texas cannot de
much to help the party, but they d.
enjoy the supreme satisfaction of sit
| 1.