The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-09
rJyIsTER ALEXANDER MDONALD.
vivid Accounts of Happenings In tho DO
,,infon. of the shah.


Tho year Of grace 1896 has Witnessed
some momentous events In history but
49,, doubt whether any OF our readers
have seen so much Of what includes Doth
,ro.e5,, and reioicings as the American
Minister to Teheran. Mr. Alex. McDoh-
aid our representative in Persia n'o
flsr arrived in London, ana mas - -
ms some vivid accounts or the aSa''''''"
ZION of the Shah, the SUBSEQUENT P'0
nation of his successor. ana the COZ on"
lion festivities in Moscow. All 'hv9S
rornentous events have beeh ~" -
into one brief month, and MT McDoi"'N
has i'm that short time seen eho"Hn ~
l.-t an ordinary individual Hle-'ii
The entrance OF the car ana N%"'ii''
Moscow was. he states. the most
fu spectacle he ever "l'"vS'o"'
horses alone being sight worth crosslns
the continent 10 see. As -hl',iS'oi
tbo ora,t republic. MIR. Mcdonald came
i'm for the best of every thl"s' an" W"
fots6 and shown about from the COM
,,..r.e,oont of the festivities until the
termination i'm the coronation Hsei'
,-bore was something always going On,
but perhaps the most impressive scene
80 mo proclaiming OF the car by hex
aids who. escorted 10y sqnadrons OF cav
airy announced the imperial coronation
al various points in the city MT Nc
Donald attended the grand state banquet
and was presented 10 the car. lie
.neal,s hfchlv 81 the dignity OF the I'm
neror and is load in his praises OF the
Empress' appearance and her charming
and gracious manner to every one.
Grand hall sas given al the palace OF tne
T<remlln. which Mr.. Mcdonald thinks
is beyond description. The uniforms OF
the men and the t0ilettes OF the ladies'
were bewildering. The magnihcence OF
the nalace itself was enhanced by the
gorgeous decorations II possessed, ana
the car and Czarlna marched ABOUT III
q procession which contained the most
ilnstrious persons in the empire, and
the representatives OF every country
in the world. over fifty millions Of dol
lars were expended IN the festlviues-a
sum which even TO our New YORK ana
Chicago millionaires must appear big.
Naturally. Mr.. Mcdonald feels satisfied
with his treatment. and ne speaks IN
the highest terms OF the tact and good
amusement OF Mr.. Breckenridge our
Ambassador In Russia. After a delight
full dinner given by the Ambassador to
Americans IN MortDNs vi -A~INAt"A-
met many old friends, among whom he
mentions Mrs. General Logan, General
McCook. and Mr.. and Mrs. Potter
Palmer. Asked about the massacre, Mr.
Mcdonald said that he could give no par
tlculars beyond what had appeared in the
papers. but he saw enough OF IT from the
outside 70 deter him from looking fur
Their. Before his visit TO Moscow, he
had been at Teheran, where he has repre-
scented our Government for the past three
years. lie states that the American re-
public. although the most distant country,
was the first 10 send a message OF con-
dolence 20 the Persian Government. He
teiegraphed the sad news of the Shah's
assassination. and within twenty-four
hours received the reply. saying: The
President directs that proper expression
OF sympathy and coincidence and abhor-
renee OF the assassination be given on
behalf of the American people" Mr..
Mcdonald had an immediate audience
with the Prime Minister and Royal Prince.
who were all greatly touched with the
expression OF sympathy he had delivered
10 them. Mr.. Mcdonald is now enjoy
ing hard-earned rest. and is leaving for
home next week. His many friends Oh
the other side will. we know. be glad TO
welcome him. Nor will that welcome be
less because he returns TO them the. bearer
OF so much news from distant lands. In
the short interval that will elapse before
he returns once more TO Teheran, we
hope that Mr.. Mcdonald will find time
TO give as vivid account of the sights no
saw TO some American audience as
he has given TO us on behalf OF the
readers OF the London Americana