Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-11-16
The Persian Crown Jewels.
Philadelphia Presbyterian.

Philadelphia Presbyterian.
We have been interested in an ac-
count Of the jewels and talismans of
the Shah of Persia. In the Royal
Palace at Teheran are rare and costly
gems, but in the estimation of his
superstitions subjects his two hundred
talismans possess an Incompatible
value. They are ofsacred Importance.
Part of them belong to the Crown
Treasury, and are not to be parted
with upon any consideration. Others
are regarded as divinely conferred,
and of unearthly significance.
Among them is "an amber cube"
which the Persians maintain fell
from heaven and was given by Allah
to his prophet Mahomet as peculiar
portion, and that in it inheres such
virtue that he who wears it is invul-
nerable. Such confidence has the
Shah in it as a talismanic charm that
he wears it constantly around his
neck. ga jewelled star" is said to
have divining power, and that be-
fore it cOnspiratOrs have no comfort
or security, but are Immediately
compelled to "cOntess their crimes"
But there is something still more
wonderful in the shape of "the catchet
studded in emeralds, which confers
invisibility on its possessor so long as
he remains a celibate and resists the
temptation of feminine wiles." The
Shah keeps his treasures in ga small
room twenty feet by fourteen feet"
entrance to which is by means Of
"steep STAIR" Here are gems of all
kinds in heaps. Upon the top of the
royal crown is "an uncut ruby large
as "a hens egg" There is pearl
estimated at 100000. Almost as
costly is "a peerless emerald, Of the
size of a walnut" Then there are
turquoises of the finest grades and
"varied shades of blue" in large
quantities; "necklaces and rings Of
diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sap
phires lie piled on trays; aigrettes,
belts, and gauntlets are spread upon
the carpet of the treasure room. The
Kainainian belt, about foot deep, is
a radiant mass of pearls, diamonds,
emeralds and rubies. One or two
jewelled scabbards are reported to be
worth quarter of a million each"
How much splendOr in so small a
compass! The Queen, to which We
are indebted for the above infOrma-
ton, tells us how upon certain
festival day at "the spring equinox,
the crown jewels are brought out and
placed in the Audience Chamber,
where stands the celebrated peacock
throne, brought by Nadir Shah from
Delhi, worth at the lowest computa-
ton three millions sterling. The
silk carpet placed at the foot Of the
throne isembrOidered with diamonds
and pearls. The ceremonies of the
No-RoOs eliminate in the day when
the sun passes the line. The Shah,
respondent with jewels, the great
officials of the realm covered with
gems, gathered around him according
to rank, assemble in the Audience
Chamber as the hour for the suns
passage draws near. The chiefof the
Khagars, followed by slaves carry
ing trays loaded with coins, presents
each courtier with some money, a
form of wishing good luck to him in
his transactions during the coming
year. Salvers of fruit and of the gold
and silver coins Of Persia are laid be-
fore the Shah. The King of Kings
burns incense in braZier until the
sound of cannon and blare OF
trumpets announce that the sun has
crossed the equator. The Shah then
presses to his forehead, his lips and
) bosom a copy of the Koran, and
wishes happiness to all present
After an invocation, pronounced by
one Of the Mollahs, each person
present kneels before the Shah, who
presents to each a gift of COIN" An
interesting and brilliant occasion &c
the Persians but to those who look
upon it with "A Christian vision il
savOrs of ignorance and superstition
4 Happy Man.