The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-26
PRINCESS AND BEAUTY.
AN AFTERNOON WITH THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PERSIA.
Tea mt the Summer Palace OF an Eastern
Prince-Tbe Mother Entertaibs, While
the wife IL silent-The Prince Wears
White Cotton Gloves.

Tea Mt the summer Palace OF an Eastern
Prince-Tbe Mother Entertains, While
the wife IL siIent-The Prince wears
White Cotton Gloves.
Somewhere between the middle and close
OF the Nineteenth century. two American Ia
dies sirayei A. FAR FROM home rs Persia. and
on n certain eventful morn IN early summer
they received silt lettered billet doux from
ROYALTY. bidding them ioh. thought OF homel
To - o'clock tea" nj tho palace
The shah, with bis court and train Of at
tendant satellites. had adjourned to the Shin
ran. n ridge Of mountains some twelve miles
back from the capital
Here the Prince entertained his royal
mother one OF the four orthodox III YOU win
pardon the expression wives al the shah
The invitation came in her name although,
as will hereafter 10 noted, there was a wife
who was the most beautiful princes in Per
sia, the dapghtcr-in-aw Of a -.ah
As the low carriage containing the guests
arrived within sight OF the palace gates
number Of red coated male attendants aP
preached 10 act a. escorts
The palace gates shut behind MS with the
ciank OF doom. and twoeunuchs now escorted
Us down the marble stairway 20 the grounds
upon which tho lovely summer palace OF
Prince was shining in the sunlight OF
smiling welcome.
4 group Of fairylike figures now appeared
around a distant corner Of tho palace, and
came focking nearer The cunuchs made a
low otcisauce and departed The female ut
tendants Of the princess, fors.Ich they proved
10 he. came swarming about like bees.
We were conducted 10 some cushioned
divans, where rugs wero spread over the
grass, and there TOR the first time paused TO
take breath. and realize that beautiful as was
the place il was not the place alone we had
come 10 visit, nor was it that atOut which
: our curiosity most conferred Where, then
was the princes or the queen, our gracious
LOsfess
They had waited Just long enough to whei
the Interest to the utmost. when the curtains
20 the main entrance o, the palace were lifted
and two gracefully swaying female figures
camo down the long pathway The eastern
wife must walk behind the mother, and at
tention now cenierel on tho figure Ia al
vance As they came nearer her dress WAS
seen to DO of the richest description AMI hei
/ figure. which was stout even tor Oriental
beauty. was instinct with a dignity and
/ grace which was thoroughly imposing. The
i short skirts. which snayed with each motion
as she walkod, were of lightly woven cloth Of
/ gold tho jacket, Of purple velvet embroid
cred with seed pearls and small diamonds.
was buttoued with solitaire diamonds.
The guests now rose and the attendants fell
back She greeted "a most era
( ciously. and as her faco lighted we saw i,
/ had a look Of spirit and fine intelligence The
corpulexion was rich in color like an Italian
/ Tho eyebrows were archcd, giving an i'm
p,srioas look 90 the large dark eyes. There
was o slight touch Of hcnua between them. a.
/ II 70 connect and straighten them Her long
hair was stained with henna a. We're her Oval
nails The hair was bound with a siihcl
scarf which covered il ana which vas fast
enel In tho center by large diamond OF
pufe tint. ! wGs so interested la all the &C
cessorles Of this most wonderful toilet. as
quito 10 forget the stately phrases hud beer
f coming over TO say 10 her AZ length, so
sufficiently embarrassed manner ! repeated
an elaborate expression often used at court
whefeat tho princess laughed pleasant iittle
laugh and sail you are well gorsed n the
Alb4Di4lAAN AA-Nf HAi'' "a. - 9" fft+N tti t
once cn rapport with the novel surroundings
+ with infinite tact sho took my hand and said
IN a cordial uuconsraiued manner Lot "a.
Talk together through the grounds, the
prince has had everything arranged quite a.
European fashion since no returned ffom
abroad, how do you like itf We stroled on
together toward paterie OF pansies, very
beautiful and Of great variety Of color
She gave us each "A flower. and soon after
all returned 10 tho divans where refresh
mcnis waro almost Immediately served b
this time the charming sayoir fare OK the
/ hostess had made us feel quite at home and
we were soon gesticulating gayly and famii
+ iarly together Tie hostess had the tart -
use the most simple Persian expressions such
Is We would be- likely 10 hear daily among
servants or Persian attendants She had the
naive simplicity OF a child In everything
/ even to our dresses and expressed herself a.
I frankly The soft gray OF my daughters
gown she objected 10 as too duh, and sue
/ wondered did not dye her golden hair with
henna.
"Onr lives are like pleasant stream that
runs in a narrow valley. Iran IS an old and
great country Its shahs are wise; from
D lUtiI utiftrs VIC tNHtl0b Nfii4ui anu "a t'A
all we are perhaps as happy as any"
/ All the while the wife Of the prince-one Of
the most superbly beautiful creatures we hal
ever seen in any country-a purely physical
type Of beauty, stood silently near.
She rarely spoke; her rich red lips had the
naughty curve of the Khajar, she had fine
features richly tinted complexion, quite
natural, and magnificent dark eyes with long
curling lashes Her finely formed brow was
shaded by a bang Of slightly curled dark hair.
and tho general effect. spite of the imposed
difference OF her manner, gave the impress
sion OF a woman or strong character and IN
domitable pride.
The prince had now proyidentially returned
and escorted the ladies to the music room OF
the palace tie desired his guests to play
upon the piano for hun. / chose well
Known imitation OF the banjo, which pleased
him greatly. afterwarl a more elaborate 81
lection seemed only 10 amuse.
We now expressed wish 10 hear some
Persian airs, which tue prince played very
willingly and effectively, though in the sim
plest manner, drumming them Oh the piano
with two or three gioyed fingers the prince
wore white cotton gloves during tho visib
VI 'Dt- - p4Al ~ o~.NtJ ~ N~%As 80 Nt'' -
sayed, not lady, Que OF two Russian airs.
The proud princess, his wife, could not Fit
in his presence, nor could sho ever sit II the
mother or tho guests were standing therefor
from time to time sire disappeared IN tho al
Joining room
d. the whole, tho impression given BY Iii,
and other visits among Persian women OF
rank was very favorable
Wholly uDeducsted in the western sense o.
the word, they are yet spirited. intelligent
and observing.
Tho most interesting and charming woman
we saw In Persia was undoubtedly tho Auisa
Doweh, the shahs tavosite wife, but because
Of the secusion with which be surrounds her
Il would seem indicate, after experiencing
IN Il special was her generous and gfaceii,.
hospitality to aIlude to ner more particularly
herc.--S g. W. Benjamin In New York NAL
and Express