Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-07-26
THE DEPARTING PERSIAN,
SOME AMUSING STORIES OF HIS
CHILDLIKE.LIKE INNOCENCE.

SOME AMUSING STORIES OF HIS
CHILDLIKE.LTKE INNOCENCE.
Now that the Persian Minister is
about to take his departure for his
country, or at least for London,
where he will join the Shah, who
is visiting the Queen, a number oil
amusing stories are related con.
cerning him-stories which do not
IN the least reflect upon his clever.
ness or his ability to serve bis SOW.
erelgn most creditably here, bat
which plainly evidence that he is
not altogether conversant with
some of the pleasantries incident to
Washington life. 1t may not be
amiss if tell you two which I
heard yesterday. The Minister
found when he came to Washing
ton that he had at least two ac.
quaIntsnces, If not friends. They
we're a lady and gentlemen who
had for some years lived in Persia,
where the gentleman was connected
with a large importing house. Calls
we're at once exchanged and finally
an invitation was extended to His
Excellency to dinner. The invita-.
ton was graciously accepted. Un.
fortunately the former American
residents in Persia had one draw.
back to their marital happiness
they had no children. II seems
thai IN Persia it is the cuttom to
assemble around the table all of
the children of the family when a
very special dinner IS gwen. When,
therefore, the Minister noticed
there was an entire absence OF the
little ones be inquired through his
secretary, who speaks English well,
the cause of it. The lady of the
house replied that she aid not have
any children, but laughlngly added
that il she had been so blessed she
could never have loved them as she
did that "dear creature" whose
portrait hung just over the mantle
piece. The dear creature referred
to was the likeness OF "pug dog
a pet IN the household, who died a
short time before and whose memo.
rs WAS perpetuated in oil. When
this was translated TO the Minister
an expression of horror came over
his countenance. He evidently
did not enjoy his meal, and he
brought his visit to an abrupt con-
clusion. he never could be induced
to enter the house again, protest
ing that he could not associate with
a lady "ihat loved dogs more than
abe did childranu y
Upon another OCCASION the Mn
lister called at the house of an
official who had been away from
home a little while. AS he was,
through his interpreter, conversing
with the lady Of the house the hus.
band entered, and, after shaking
hands with the Minister and his
secretary, turned to his wife and
naturally kissed her. The Minis
ter arose Immediately, and, bowlng
profoundly to the lady and gen.
tleman, PLACED his hanl over his
heart and announced, through his
secretary, that he would hold ever
invlOlate the confidence which had
been thus placed in him, and moth
ing should induce him 10 reveal to
any one the scene which he had
just witnessed. In explanation II
appears that no Persian ever kissed
his wife or wives in pubic, or Is in
any manner demonstrative with
strangers. The Minister properly
imagined that, as the gentleman
kisses his wife before him, be de-
sired to pay him some special hon
or, for which be was grateful and
must keep to himself. 1t is no
wonder, after seeing so many un'
accustomed sights and hearing so
many strange expressions that the
Minister felt that Washington was
no place for him.-W Washington
Press and Gossip.