The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-19
IN THE LAND OF THE SHAH.
TWO HUNTERS ARE CAUGHT IN THE
ROYAL PRESERVES.
And Sentenced 10 Have Their Ears
Cut ora Night Ride With a
Corpse.
Tlom D. PhIladeIphIa -.

They had some plain tales from the
/ hills the other evening ia the parlors
Of one Of the associations in New YORK
/ where goOdfellowship and the sympathy
Of artistic and literary impulse prevails.
I As the gathering was i'm the nature Of a
/ family meeting. and those who enter
tained il were looked upon as guests, IL
/ Is not deemed wholly courteous to men
/ tion the name of the association, or to
say who the tellers Of these plain tales
4 from the hills were. But we may report
I two OF the stories that they told. although
/ IL is scarcely possible 10 give fun sugges-
ton Of the thrilling interest which was
I created by the narration of these tales
one Of the narrators is an Englishman
now visiting in New York. man of learn
/ ing-in fact. teacher in a Christian col
( lege in the far east-and he -has in ad-
dition to his love for books the enthus-
iasm for the hunt which characterizes
the true Englishman. When ne began his
tale he saw gathered about him many
VINO have won distinction in the world
OF Dirt and letters, and their presence, in
sttdu OF embarrassing him, seemed to in
Spife MN TO more dramatic narrative
In the vacation time he proposed TO A
companion that they 90 out upon the up
lands IN Northern Persia and spend "a
week or so In the hunt. Game is very
plenty there, and the true sportsman finds
a surfeit of excitement The air. too. Is
a tonic, Tor, although ian the midday there
Is a dangerous breeze which compels per-
rect rest, yet in the crisp morning breeze
that comes down laden with the brea ia
OF mountain tops there is health and en-
The two sportsmen were tempted on and
on day after day, although game was pIen-
" ana their success most gratifying. At
last they reached district where they
were surprised by the number of quail
Paruldges and even greater game which
they there discovered. The air was fra
grant with the perfumes of the spice trees
ana semi-tropical plants. 1t seemed al
most ike an undiscovered country where
the sound OF the fowling piece or the crack
OF the rifle had never been heard: and.
Delng true sportsmen. they We're compell-
ed to refrain from the sport for "A greater
part OF the day. since they could not kill
merely for the pleasure of shooting One
day while they were in the midst OF these
enJoyments, perfectly happy they were
aStOnlShed to see a man in the garh of a
Persian official of some kind. He was ef-
tusively courteous, he bowed with great
dignity, and he professed to be much in
terested in their spOrtsmanlike exploits
cOmplimenting them with eNtraVaeanf
praise upon their skill and then inviting
them to accompany him to a place where
they might meet those who would enter
tain them.
So they went with this unknown man
OF courtesy, not even suspecting that his
politeness was a mask which concealed
more serious purpose. At last he brought
sented them to an official, who was the
personi1caton of Oriental politeness and
dignity This officer invited them to take
co1ee with them and then passed to them
cigarettes, and they were pleased with
their entertainment so that when he
urged him they told him the story of their
hunting trip, and were enthusiastic in
their descriptions of the success which
they had met with that day and the day
before.
After the courtesies were over. the
friend ra1 10
return to their camping place. The officer
smiled and bowed. but shook his head
permit that TO be done. Then they in
sisted, thinking that his restraint was
only the mHnner of effusiVe pOliteness
But in a moment they saw that there had
gathered about them others dressed like
the stranger whom they first met re-
spectful, dignihed, but plainly waiting.
Ihen the sportsmen perceived that
they We're under restraint, and they
asked the officer If there was some other
ceremony Of courtesy, declaring that it
was far more than their due. They said
that should the officer visit the town in
which the institution of learning with
which they were connected was situated
that they would esteem il a high favor
If he would let them know so that they
might make recompense for his courtesy
He smiled again, assured them that he
was unworthy of the honor, but that he
would be glad to see them once more If
after what must happen they We're ready
to receive him.
What is it then that must happen?"
the professor asked.
"Ah, it gives me greVious agony to be
compelled to say to you that l have a
duty to perform"
They saw that behind his courteous
manner there was sternness, and that
beyond there seemed to be preparations
as though for an official action that would
be severe They urged him to explain
1t grieVes me-" said he, Ito inform
you that you may depart, but that be
fore you go 1t is my duty to administer
punishment"
Punishment for what? Have we done
any wrOng?'
''Ah. 1 am saddened to inform you that
you have hunted where only one is per
But we did not know there were no
warnings
'Ah, every one should know where the
preserves of the shah abound"
Have we been hunting in the shahs
preserves?''
There you were discovered by my po-
But if we did not know it and apolo-
gize, then surely you viii forgive us"
The officer turned to a manuscript and
looked up and down its pages for some
moments. and then he said Il see nothing
here that permits me to forgive, even if
there be ignorance and apology"
Well then, we will pay any fine. or If
paid when we return
Again the officer looked through 7he
manuscript book. and again looking Up
with a smile that was then not pleasant.
for it was that of forced courtesy, he said;
Il see nothing here that permits me to
take a fine"
What. then, is the punishment to which
we must submit?''
There is but one; none other is men,
toned here. The edict is that whoever is
discovered hunting upon the preserves of
the shah must be punished by the loss of
his ears
They saw that the officer was in earnest
and they perceived that preparations were
already made to carry out the sentence.
/ The executioner was near at hand, who,
with swift strokes of the instrument would
cut off their ears. Then they appealed to
the officers consideration, and he assured
them that If he could save them by so do
ing he would command two of his officers
to lose their ears as substitutes.
At last, claiming the rights OF citizens of
Great Britain and warning the officers
that mayhem would be regarded by Great
Britain as a most serious indignity they
finally persuaded him to suspend sentence
until they could be taken to a country pal
ace some miles away where relative of
the shah was spending a few weeks, and
they told him that if this relative COM
manded it. then they would submit; so an
/ hour or two later they were in the pres
ence of this member of the royal family,