San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-19
PRINCESS AND BEAUTY.
AN AFTERNOON WITH THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PERSIA.
Tea at the Summer Palace of an Eastern
Prince-The Mother Entertains, While
the Wife Is Silene-The Prince Wears
White Cotton Gloves.

Somewhere between the middle and close
of.the Nineteenth century, two American la
dies strayed as far from home as Persia, and
on certain eventful morn in- early summer
they received gilt lettered billet doux from
royalty, bidding them toh, thought Of homsD
TO II o'clock tea" at the palace.
The shah, with his court and train of at
tendant satellites, had adjourned to the Shin
ran, ridge of mountains some twelve mikes
back from the capital.
Here the Prince - entertained hisrOyal
mother one of the four orthodox If you will
pardon the expression wives of the shah.
The invitation came in her name, although,
as will hereafter be noted, there was a wife
who was the most beautiful princess in Per-
sa the daughter-in-law of a shah
As the low carriage containing the guests
arrived within sight of the palace gates a
number of red coated male attendants ap-
preached to act as escorts.
The palace gates shut behind us with the
Clank of doom, and twoeunuchs now escorted
Us down the marble stairway to the grounds
upon which the lovely summer palace of
Prince - was shining in the sunlight of
smiling welcome.
group of farylike figures now appeared
around distant corner of the palace, and
came 6ocking nearer The eunuchs made a
low obeisance and departed. The female at
PENDANTS of the princess, for such they proved
to be, came swarming about like bees.
We were conducted to some cushioned
divans, where rugs were spread over the
grass, and there for the first time paused to
take breath, and realize that beautiful as was
the place it was not the place alone we had
come to VISIT nor was it that about which
our curiosity most conferred Where, then,
was the princess or the queen, our gracious
hostess9
They had waited just long enough to whet
the interest to the utmost, when the curtains
to the main entrance of the palace were lifted
and two gracefully swaying female figures
came down the long pathway. The eastern
wife must walk behind the mother, and at
tention now conferred on the figure in ad-
vance. As they came nearer her dress was
seen to be of the richest description and her
figure, which was stout even for Oriental
beauty, was instinct with a dignity and
grace which was thoroughly imposing The
short skirts, which swayed with each motion
as she walked, were of lightly woven cloth of
gold, the jacket, of purple velvet embroid-
cred with seed pearls and small diamonds,
was buttoned with solitaire diamonds.
The guests now rose and the attendants fell
back. She greeted us most gra-
ciously, and as her face lighted, we saw it
had look of spirit and fine intelligence. The
complexion was rich in color like an Italians
The eyebrows were arched, giving an i'm
perious look to the large dark eyes. There
was a slight touch of henna between them, as
if to connect and straighten them Her long
hair was stained with henna as were her oval
nails. The hair was bound with q silken
scarf which covered it and which was fast
ened in the center by a large diamond Of
pure tint. | was so interested in all the ac-
cessories Of this most wonderful toilet, as
quite to forget the stately phrases | had been
coming over to say to her. At length, in a
sufficiently embarrassed manner, repeated
an elaborate expression often used at court,
whereat the princess laughed a pleasant little
laugh and said: You are well versed in the
diplomatic language" and as if to put me at
once en- rapport with the novel surroundings,
with infinite tact she took my hand and said
in o cordial unconstrained manner; LET us
walk together through the grounds; the
prince has had everything arranged quite in
European fashion since he returned from
abroad; how do you like itP' We strolled on
together toward a paterie of pansies very
beautiful and Of great variety Of color.
She gave US each flower, and soon after
all EGt'2nedso-uSsSs &asSsS?.- where. refresh