Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-14

where IL Is popularity beieved, DoinhB
water Is a cooling summer drink.
mo. no. we never have weather IKE
this I'm Persia" said Alexander NC
Donald. the United states minister 10
thai country. THE climate there IL de-
iIghtful. the temperature Is even and
dTv Life Is worth living there" he
gasned. as blasts OF hot air shot through
the sun-baked blinds.
r, is Minister McDonald's second visit
IN this country during his mission. He
arrived Friday night on the 81. Louis,
and will remain two months. lie VIII
go to washington and deliver messages
from the Persian Government, ana
thence TO his home. at Lynchburg. va.
.sThe one absorbing subject In Persia
this wear was the assassination OF the
shah II occurred at a time when the.
neonIe were preparing TO show their
Iove and respect by celebrating the
nftieth anniversary OF his reign. The
assassin. a fanatic, or crank, as he
would be called here. hid In the shrine
where the Shah had gone to worship at
the beginning OF his jubilee. The shan
had been warned to have the shrine
cleared of all visitors before his en-
trance, but he replied; NO. l VIII go
in and worship with the people
perhaps that remark was the best
index Of his character. At heart he
was thoroughly democratic. though he
thoroughly believed in the dignity of his
office The government is. OF course,
ahsolute but IL is administered with great
fairness so far as | can observe.
"The new Shah. Museffer-ed-Din. has
been officially installed. though when
left he had not arrived from the
province of which he was Governor. He
has successfully governed a province
most difficult OF all. and the impression
Is general that his reign will be salts
factory Like his father, he is tremen-
dously Interested in the prosperity OF
persia. He has been carefully educated
and trained By Official discipline. and is
said "a have shown considerable execu-
tive ability. He Is reported to have said
that he will begin his reign by stopping
oftice-briberv which is found in Persia,
as well as In other countries.
"The Armenian trouble? oh. I have TO
Get all nv news of that through the
New York World" said Mr.. Mcdonald.
with a laugh. There have been no Ar
menlan outrages in Persia. and / am in
clined TO think that reports from other
places have been exaggerated"
Life at Teheran, Minister Mcdonald
saws. Is charming. There Is a colony
of about five hundred Europeans. They
are engaged in enterprises which have
progressed under the encouragement Of
the late Shah. During the summer the
wealthy. high caste Persians and the
Europeans move to the mountains, re-
turning I'm the fall Of the season"
which begins in November. Dinners,
State functions, receptions follow In
rapid whirl.
"The hospitality OF the high-cass Per-
slams is delightful" Minister Mcdonald
said. "They show the simple. dignified
courtesy OF good breeding. Their enter
tainments are always in good taste.
The food Is very much like that fourd
I'm this country; the cooks Of those who
can stand the cost are from Paris and
London. The best native cooks are those
sent abroad to learn the art. The best
living Is rather expensive. and the Per-
slams have often complained that this
was brought about by the freedom OF
Europeans I'm spending money. The
shah never attends banquets, nut ms
ministers and relatives are frequently
guests at the legations. and the am
bassadors and Ministers are entertained
I'm turn. After-dinner speeches are un-
known there. The true-born Persian Is
slow of speech. and in this respect might
well be emulated by certain Americans"
How is Hadj Hassan Ghooly KhanY
asked tho reporter. referring TO the Per-
sian Minister. who left Washington be-
cause the newspapers made fun Of him
"In fine health" said Minister Nc
Donald. HE is the Minister OF Indus
tries at Teheran. We are very good
friends. Before I left he told me that
ne had long ago forgiven the Americans
for their indienities, and he hoped 10
make another visit to this country