The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-02
mon LIFE IN PERSIA.

The shah of Persia, whose death by
assassination occurred yesterday, was
born in 1881 and assembled the throne in
1S4s He has been on the throne con-
tinuously ever since, and during the
whole of his long reign his head has
lain as uneasy as any that ever wore
a crown. Plots to assassinate him
have been numerous. Once in 1852 he
was attacked by four men, one of
whom slightly wounded him with a
pistol. One of the four was killed on
the spot by his majesty's attendants,
two others were captured and tortured
to death and the fourth jumped down
a we'll Nor did the shah's vengeance
stop there. He believed there was an
extensive conspiracy on foot. Accord
ingly he seized ten persons In a hap
hazard sort of way. and in order that
he might not be personally accused of
any injustice in the matter. he directed
that each department of state should
take one of the "conspirators" and kill
him in such manner as best pleased its
fancy. Gilbert and Sullivan in their
richest vein of comic opera never con-
ceived more brilliant conceit. Even
the shah's admirable French physician,
the late lamented DR.. Cioquet," says
one historian, was invited to show
his loyalty by following the example
of the rest of the court He excused
himself and pleasantly said that he
killed too many men professionally to
permit him to increase their number
by any voluntary homicide on his
part"
In all ten persons. one of them a
woman. were put to death-some I'M
der exquisite torture-to satisfy the
ends Of justice. The shah had to strike
terror to the hearts of would-be assas-
sins i'm some way. He lived in con-
slant fear of poison and never drank
or tasted food that had not first been
tried on the dog or a servant. During
the Crimean war of 1S54-5 the shah
secretly sided in with Russia, and
brought about war between Persia
and England, which. after the slaugh-
ter of a few thousand people more or
less, was brought to a diplomatic end
in 1859. England as usual getting the
best of the bargain.
The shah had also several revolutions
on his hands and altogether his reign
has been as full Of incident and romance
as The Arabian Nights. on one occa-
sion his majesty narrowly escaped los
ing his throne i'm this manner: A false
prophet and throne-pretender had
arisen and was gathering a large fol-
lowing when the shah caught him and
ordered him executed. A company of
soldiers fired a volley at him. When
the smoke cleared away the pretender
had disappeared from sight. II so hap
pened that none of the balls had touch
ed him and he took to his heels Now
II he only had had presence OF mind TO
fee to the mosque and appear there. a
palpable miracle would have been per-
formed and the people would have
hailed him as the true prophet and
king and decided the contested seat in
his favor. But the poor fellow got rat
tied and fed to the guard room. where
he was soon discovered and killed. his
body being cut up and thrown To the /
dogs.
a few years ago, IL will be remem-
bercd, the shah visited London. where
he became chiefly celebrated for filthy
habits. His manner Of living. in fact.
smelled 10 high heaven.
AT last. it appears, one assassin has I.
been more successful than his prede-
cessors; and while the shah was at his
devotions, succeeded in sending him TO
kingdom come. Peace to the ashes OF
Nasru 'd-Din. He lived according to his
lights. IL is 10 be hoped that his sue
cesor wi ] know more and smell less.
The standard cheerfully acknowl- 4
edges that Il has done Mr. Richard