The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-18

HIS Present Tour Has Political as Wen %
Pleasure Seeking Objects.

4oeA inns ~ w i'll ~
demonstrating Objects.
Youth's Companion.
For the third time Nasr-ed-din, the Shah
of Persia, known in the East by the grand
Eloquent title of the King of Kings, is
making a tour of Europe. His first visit
was In 1873, his second was in 1878. when
he attended the Paris exposition in great
state.
On his present tour, the Shah. at the
time this is written, has been in st. Peters
burg. Berlin and Holland. and be will ex-
tend his trip to Paris and to England.
This Oriental monarch, who rules with
absolute sway one of the most ancient and
historic of realms, and sits on n throne
crusted with dazzling gems. is no ordinary
man. His reign has extended over the long
period of forty-one years, and has been in
many respects a wise and able one. Yet he
has always maintained and exercised all
the despotic powers which AVE descended
to him from a long line of naughty sover-
eigns.
L this day the Shah can order the imme-
date execution of any one of his subjects.
lie can take from any rich man all his pos
sessions, and can at any time make q
wealthy noble of a beggar.
Aside from his political authority, exper-
fence and talents. Nasr-ed-din, considering
that he is of a semi-barbaric race, is a man
OF many and refined accomplishments. His
visits. TO Europe reveal his fondness for
travel, and travel has lone much to en-
tighten his intellect and his tastes. He Isl
devoted student of geography. Mythology
and the arts; and during his travels he has
always kept copious diaries descriptive of
the marvels, ornamental and useful. which
he has observed In the countries through
which he has passed.
1t is confidently stated that the Shah is
the most polished and vigorous prose writer
in his dominiOns. His style in Persian ia
described as simple. chaste and CLASSICAL
one of his diaries is used in the University
OF st. Petersburg as a class-book in the
Persian language. Essays of the Shah have
also been published by the Royal Geograph-
ical Society.
There is no doubt that the present tour of
Nasr-ed-din in Europe has political as we'll
as pleasure-seeking objects. The position
of his kingdom in western Asia is a pc
by two mighty rival powers; that of Russia
on the north, and that of Great Britain,
stationed in India, on the east.
Each OF these powers Graves, If not the
f1uence at the Shah's court. In the event of
a war between England and Russia in Asia,
the attitude of Persia would be of the
greatest importance. Without Persian aid
or friendship, Russia, in such a war, would
be at a great disadvantage. On the other
hand, the control of Persia would make a
Russian triumph more likely.
The Shah desires to be on good terms
with both of these formidable neighbors;
so he visits ST. Petersburg in order to
SoAoiN 1tO thC SOOo Al III IlO aNLdl. ANU
then England. that he may keep on good
terms with Queen Victoria, who is also
Empress of India.
The general impression, both in England
and in Russia, is that the Shah is drawn
much more strongly toward the alliance
with the greatnorthern empire than toward
political friendship with Great Britain. lie
is this supposed tendency, perhaps, which,
has led the Queen and the government of
England to make a special point of enter
tanning the royal visitor. Like less impor-
tant persons, he is feted quite as much be-
cause he has power to injure as because he
deserves honor.
Whether this is or is not a true e~xplana-
ton of the reason. the Shah's vanity is
fattered. as he is received with much pomp
and show at one court after another, and
is made a lion of by the greatest monarchs
and most brilliant missionaries of Europe;
n the literature of Persia will doubtless
be enriched by another diary. r%ecounting
the experiences of Nasr-ed-din's latest tour
of the European continent.