Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09

She gave ~ each q flower, and soon after Ill
returned TO the divans, where Refreshments
were almost immediately served. By this time
the charming sapoir fdire Of the hostess had
made rs feel quite ct home, and We we're soon
gesticulating gAily and Familiarity together
The hostess had the tact to use the most SIM
pie Persian expressions, such ~ We would be
likely 10 hear daily among our servants or Per-
OF child in everything, even to our dresses,
and expressed herself as frankly. The soft
grey Of my daughters gown she objected to
as too dull; and she wondered / did not dye
her golden hair with henna. That, and par
ticularly the eyebrows, would be so charming, -
she said, IF only darkened little" Then she
asked about .Frdnkeston." '.Is it 60 far away
that you live?" Tell me how long in nv Toci-
trordn would it take to travel therei" Fancy
the slow moving mules travelling from Persia
to America.) We replied "Oh. there are great
seas between! You could not 60 in your toch-
travan, and if you did you might travel from
Norcoz till Noruoz comes again and not arrive
there.
was as though one we're talking to an intel
llgent child about the distance to the fixed
stars, she looked as puzzled in trying to COM
pute so vast space. When We tried to make
her understand that FRANCISCAN was made up
OF different countries and was not composed
wholly or chiefly of England and Russia, she
lost interest. but whenever of our customs, po-
litical or social she listened attentively. Il
have often thought" she said, as if in reverie,
Il would like to travel in many countries. as
my son and the shah have done, and see differ
ent civilizations. How it must enlarge the
mind! We women of rank are shut up in ander-
vons and hear little from without would like
to be able to study and learn many things, but
Allah Is good! Our lives are like pleasant
stream which runs in narrow valley. Iran is
an Old and great country; its shahs are wise;
from their decree we cannot demur. And after
all zoe are perhaps as happy as any," All the
while the wife OF the prince--one of the most
superbly beautiful creatures we had ever seen
IN any country-i. e., purely physical type of
beauty, stood silently near.
sUPERBLY BEAUTIFUL.
She rarely spoke; her rich red lips had the
naughty curve of the khajar, she had fine fea-
lures, richly tinted complexion, quite natural,
and magnificent dark eyes. with long. curling
lashes. Her finely formed brow was shaded by
bang of slightly cured dark hair, and the
general effect, spite of the imposed Difference
OF her manner, gave the impression of woman
OF strong character and indomitable pride. The
prince had now providentially returned and es-
corted the ladies to the music room of the pal
piano for him. l chose a well-known imitation
of the banjo. which pleased him greatly; after
ward. more elaborate selection seemed only
to amuse.
PERSIAN MUSIC.
We now expressed wish to hear some Per-
sian airs, which the prince played very will
ingly and effectively, though in the simplest
manner, drumming them on the piano with
two or three gloved fingers 0he prince wore
white cotton gloves during the visit of course
playing solely by the ear. He also essayed,
not badly, one or two Russian airs.
The proud princess, his wife, could not sit in
his presence, nor could she ever sit if the
mother or guests were standing; therefore from
time to time she disappeared IN the adjoining
room. Being the daughter of shah the prince
could marry no other wives "a restriction, so
the gossips say, that wears heavily upon
HIND On the whole the impression given
by this and other visits among Persian
women of rank, was very favorable.
Wholly uneducated in the western sense of the
word, they are yet spirited, intelligent and OBJ
serving. The most interesting and charming
woman We saw in Persia was undoubtedly the
Anisa Dowleh. the shah's favorite wife, but be-
cause of the seclusion with which he surrounds
her, it would seem indicate after experience
ing in special way her generous and graceful
hospitality to allude to her more particularly
here. The portraits given are OF a queen much
more often seen by foreigners. and a princess
of the highest rank, whose beauty is most re-
markable. This queen is possessed of consider
able executive ability and is much given to
pleasant entertaining, often inviting European
ladies OF rank to the palace; therefore it is per-
haps to be inferred she is not averse to being
presented In favorable way to the public.
Mrs. S. G.. w. BENJAMIN,