Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-09
Written for The EVENING STAR.
A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN OF PERSIA.
An Afternoon Tea with q Princess I'm
Ivan.
IN THE SUMMER PALACE OF AN EASTERN PRINCE
RECEIVED BIZ BEAUTIFUL MAIDENs-rHE PAR
AEON OF PERSIAN BEAUTY Is THE WIFE OF THE
HEIR TO THE THRoNE-HER APPEARANCE.
Copyright 1891

HkIR TO THE THRoNE-HER APPEARANCE.
Copyright 1891
This world with all its pomp is a small one,
and its people with all their circumstances very
closely related.
On the other side of the globe ladies sip their
tea and gossip, clad in crinoline and frizzes, as
here; they serve 1t with the ''samovar' and the
lemon-vanitasl Vanitatum!
Somewhere between the middle and the close
| of the 18th century two American ladies strayed
as far from home as Persia, and on certain
eventful morn in early summer they received a
gilt lettered billet-doux from royalty, bidding
them Ooh, thought of home,) to flour o'clock
tea" at the palace.
The brother Of the sum- had. at this time.
with his train of attendant satellites adjourned
to the Shimran, ridge of mountains some IL
miles back from the capital
Here the Prince - entertained his royal
mother, one of the four orthodox Off you viii
pardon the expression) wives of the shah. The
invitation came in her name, although. as will
hereafter be noted, there wife who was
the most beautiful princess in Persia and the
daughter, as well as the daughter-in-law, of
shah. As the low carriage containing the
guests arrived within sight of the palace gates
a number of relocated male attendants APP
preached to act as escort and our Persian mira
(scribe) awaited US with an expression of some
| CONSERVATION in his face.
'Allahn' he exclaimed. Il have Just learned
the prince (who spoke French) has been called
suddenly to join the shah. Can madam rely
on her Persian, as there will be no interpreter"
This tods dilemma for one but two months
In Iran. As in all crises in human life, how
ever, whether one rides the topmost crest of
the wave or sinks to the deepest depths Of its
hollow, there seemed but one escape possible
to n,ore on! The palace gates shut behind
US with the clank OF doom; the sympathetic
Mira disappeared, and only two eunuchs now
escorted US down the marble stairway to the
gounds, upon which the lovely summer palace
OF Prince WIS shining in the sunlight a
smiling welcome. A group of fairy-like figures
now appeared around a distant corner of the
| palace, and came focking nearer The
eunuchs made a low obeisance and departed.
! The female attendants of the princess. for
such they proved to be, came swarming about
like bees.
| THE ATTENDANTS.
| 1t really seemed for moment as il troop
Of fower-maidens must have stepped from out
the chalice Of each blossom; but as they came
nearer they were discovered to be only Persian
women, and many of them no longer either
young or beautiful Their dresses were of
bright colored silks and gauzes. short like
ballet dancers and with the same vouminous
skirts. which swayed gracefully with the sway
ing motion Of the figure. They wore jackets
Of rich brocade and embroideries; their limbs
| they wore light sandals; over ALL and thrown
carelessly about the head and person, was q
! gauzy mantle, which they managed much as a
ballet dancer does her scarf, half con cealing,
half disclosing the figure. The hair was bound
/ up, or covered, with a white turban and Jew
eled pins or necklaces were strung about it.
They made the usual .'salaam" and led us
around the main part Of the palace. 1t was
constructed partly Of marble, principally of
adobe ornamented with lovely white stucco-
work.
LIKE THE ALEXANDRIA
Broad verandahs were upheld by q success
sion of arches, supported by slender and grace
full columns. There was much that reminded
one Of the inner courts Of the Alhambra. The
lawn back of this central building sloped down
to an artificial pool of water, and upon it were
tall chenar trees and parterres of flowers At
one side near the palace. where the ground was
quite level and much shaded, a table was spread
as il for banquet. This was of course a con-
cession to European customs, for Persian wom-
en- would never have entertained each other in
this style. The table was concealed with an
deliberately wrought cover of white silk aud
linen On IL were dishes of gold and silver:
there were fruits and sweets and crystal dishes
nlled with the crimson seeds of the pomegran-
ate; there were small jewelled plates OF pis-
tachi nuts and salted almonds. We were con-
Quoted to some cushioned divans where rugs
were spread over the grass, and there for the
hrst time paused to take breath and realize
that, beautiful as was the place. it was not the
palace alone We had come to visit, nor was il
that about which our curiosity most conferred.
Where, then, was the princess or the queen,
| our gracious hostess2
They had waited just long enough to whet
the interest to the utmost. when the curtains to
the main entrance to the palace were lifted and
two gracefully swaying female figures came
Gown that long pathway. The eastern wife
| must walk behind the mother, and attention
now centered on the figure in advance As
they came nearer her dress was seen 70 be of
the richest description, and her figure, which
Was stout even for oriental beauty, was instinct
with Q dignity and grace which was thoroughly
imposing. The short skirts, which svayed
with each motion as she walked, were of lightly
woven cloth OF gold; the jacket of purple VEL
vet, embroidered with seed pearls and small
diamonds, was buttonod with solitaire d.
monds.
THE PRINCESS.
The guests now rose and the attendants fell
back. She greeted rs most era
ciously, and a. her face lighted We saw IL had 4
look Of spirit and fine intelligence. The COM
plexion was rich in color like an Italian's. Tia
eyebrows were arched, giving an imperious
look to the large dark eyes There was q slight
touch Of henna between them, a. il to connect
and straightsn them. Her long hair was stained
with henna, a. we're her oval nails. r. vas
| bound with Q silken scarf which covered Il and
which was fastened In the center BY . large
diamond Of pure tint I was 20 interested In
| all the accessories Of this most wonderful
toilette, - quite to forget the stately phrases
had been coming over TO cay 10 her. At length.
In suficiently embarrassed manner, repeated
an elaborate expression often used ct court,
wherest the princess laughed pleasant little
laugh and said, You are well versed In the
| diplomatic language" and, - II 10 put me st
once en- rapport with the novel snrroundines.
with infinite tact she took my hand and said, in
: cordial unconstrained manner. Let ~ walk
together through the grounds; the prince has
bad everything arranged quite In European
fashion since be returned from abroad; how do
| you like IL We strolled on together toward 8
parteris Of pansiss. very beautiful snd o6 great
J varsity Of eolog.