Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-14
THE LATE SHAH OF PERSIA.
some Facts About His Career and Per
sonnlity.

Tho late Shah of Persia, who was shot
and instantly killed 10y n fanatcal assassin
on the LIST OF May, was known as one of
the most merciful of Persian rulers. Two
visits that he made to Europe helped TO
civilize him, as he was somewhat partial
to Christian esteem.
The introduction of reforms in Persia
followed each of the vis'ts. After On" lac
permitted III. Introduction of the telc-
graph into his GornuIprs. His SUBJECTS
having cut down many OF the poles AMI
shot away the wires Just to pass away the
time, the shah decrccd that the violation
of the order to let things alone should be
punished by burying the offender to the
neck beside the pole interfered with and
| leaving him there to die a traveller
| through Persia, speaking of this second or
der said that when he passed through the
kingdom following the telegraph lines. he
saw at the foot of every pole n human
head. In some cases only the skull was
left. ON some there was some flesh.
I Nasr-Ed-Decn was the fourth king of
the dynasty Of liajars. and he assembled
the throne in 1913. He was then ~ years
old. AS in the case of predecessors, at
tcmpts were made to assassnatc him. The
former United States minister to Persia,
Mr.. Benjamin, in one Of his books on Per-
STA, in a chapter entitled "Nasr- Ed-Decn
and the Royal Family" tells many inter-
csting things about the shah's reign. At
]
paid for months. The paymastcrs had
used the money for other things. one day
NaSr- Ed-Dccn was riding through Tc-
hCr9n, when the soldiers sought an audi
cnce. The wicked paymastcrs. suspcctiug
| that their Villainy would he exposed, in
| tcrfcrcd Some of them stood at dis
! lance and fired stones into the crowd.
Some of the stones struck the royal car
riage. The shah returned TO the palace,
| friends OF the paymaStcrs telling him that
there was probably n conspiracy to kill
| him. Knowing nothing of the facts, the
shah ordered that the dozen soldiers who
had been arrested should be brought into
the yard In front of the royal palace. They
We're brought in, bound hand and foot
and arranged in n line before the ruler.
He stood with folded arms surveying
| them Then, without examining them or
questioning them, he gave rhc signal, land
the eXecutionors threw cords around the
necks of the twelve men and stranglcd
them before the shah one poor young
man was so robust that the eXccutoncrs
could only cXtinguish life by stamping on
his breast"
This happened just before the second
visit Of the shah to Europe. The news Of
IL proceeded him there ana society made
him feel it. There was "A chliness that
the shah felt and disliked 1t left AN i'm
preston on his mind that probably later
saved the lives Of other subjects.
The shah had four wives of the first.
class, 10 Of the second class, and 200 concu-
hines. The ladies of the shah's harem
never are seen abroad unveiled. and no
man save the shah ever entered the harem
ana came out alive, 1t is related that an
English lady, during the shahs visit to
England, asked his secretary if his mas
ter was married. VERY much" was the
reply.
In Europe on his two visits he caused
] nil orta min L.,
happiness. The shah's servants killed the
sheep and cattle in the reception looms
of the palace they occupied. When the
Princess of Wales, In full dress, was pre-
scented to him he laid his hand on her bare
shoulder and assured her that she was
worthy of the place she held In his tray
els. when he saw n beautiful young wo-
man, the shah would request that she be
sent In to become one of his household.
| lie scandalized the German court by spit
ting out of the royal box at the opera lie
! did any number of unpleasant things
against good manners. but il was because
he didn't know any better, and they were
overlooked.
| The shah had three sons and 13 daugh-
tiers. The first son, who naturally would
be the successor to tho throne was born
| TO him of wife of humble BIRTH This
debars him from the succession, since the
| second son was born of woman of noble
birth. This second son is Muzaffor Ed
Deem Mira. 1t has been said that he IS
weak-minded Mr. Benjamin says he has
talked with him on several occasions and
he saw no trace of weakness. He says he
has been in the hands OF one OF the worst
men in Persia, who has acted as his tutor
He also says that there would be a fight
between the first and second sons for pos
session Of the throne. The third son cuts
no figure in the matter The 10 daughters
are all married. Their husbands are the
only noble men in Persia who can have
but one wife each.