The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-30

the Old harem is the more agreeable task
Of re-establishing it. 1t is deemed the
highest mark of honor among the ladies
who compose the Persian swell set to be
given place in the Shah's harem and the
intri cues carried on by their fathers and
brothers to secure the honor are many and
intricate. a family with a daughter in the
harem is of much more Importance than
family without that distinction and So
quite naturally, in the Persian order OF
things, it is a mark Of prominence. strfFen
for with considerable persistence. The
daughters of noblemen chosen are installed
as wives of the first class or the second
class All the others, usually two or three
hundred in number, are concubines- The
late Shah had four wives of the first class
fifteen Of the second class. and between
two and three hundred concubines
TIE nev Shah. Muzaffer Ed Deem Mira
has not yet developed sufficiently to give
an indication as to what kind Of a ruler
he will make. Until recently he was In the
hands of his tutor and, according to some
accounts, this tutor was the most wicked
man an Persia. which is saying a good
deal It is also said that the young Shah
is weak-minded. but this is denied By men
who have conversed with him. The young
man was practically raised in the haren.
and this Of itself was enough to make him
efeninaJe
HIS BROTHER A BRUTE.
MS elder brother who was denied the
privilege Of succeeding his late father be-
cause IF his mother being q woman of pla-
beian birth, is a hrst-class brute. and It IS
quite probable that riot and revolution
would have followed had he been selected
for the throne. One Of his favorite means
OF dealing with people who vex him Is to
say 10 his menials; This man has a brave
heart- Let me see It" Without further
ado the heart OF the poor wretch is torn
out on the spot and presented to the Prince
on q silver dish. 1t is quite needless to say
mat very few people vex him.
me pathway Of the Shahs Of Persia
Tor the last five hundred years has not
pseh slreWn with roses. Persia was con-
quered by the Turcomans ia 1853. They
were expelled by the Shiites. who estab-
Lsned the Sophi dynasty under Ismail l. la
47VAs When the Shahs began to reign. As
sassinations were frequent in those days
NadiT shah. that great soldier who con
quered India in 1879, was murdered By
PERSIAN officer on the plains Of Sultan Mai
Dan in 1f4f- In 1894 Aga Malommed
monster Of cruelty and ingratitude OBJ
tanned the power and founded the present
Iurcoman dynasty. He too. was assas-
sinated, almost exactly a century ago. 10
1897.
a PROSPEROUS ERA.
Persia, perhaps, was never SO prosperous
as during the long reign of Abbas the
Great-that is. from 1855 to 1928. After his
death the royal Princes. by the ahortsighted
and suspicious policy Of their fathers. were
confined in the harem instead OF being
brought up as soldiers, with the natural
result Of throwing Persia into the hands of
a succession Of effeminate and cruel tyr
ants.
Abbas the Great was succeeded by his
grandson. Shah SOphi, cruel drunkard.
who died in l641. Shah SoDhfs son and
successor. Abbas II was an enlightened
potentate. When only sixteen he retook
Kandar from the Great M0gul conducting
the campaign in person. He gave every en-
I enlargement to Christian merchants and
artiheers to settle in Persia When urged
! to prosecute the unbelieveTs, he said cit
is for God. not for me, to judge Of mems
cOnsciences, and I will never Interfere with
what belongs to the tribunal of the Great
d .rT ~ Nra T=7f a-a.ar
died in 1866, and IS buried with his father
in beautiful mosque at Kun. near the
shrine Of the holy Fatima.
Persia did not prosper under the immedi-
ate successors Of Abbas II. The Afrhans
under Mahmcud invaded Persia and took
Isfahan. which he entered in triumph,
bringing Shah Husain as a captive IN his
train After perpetrating inconceivable
cruelties, Mahmoud the Usurper died in
1925, and his successor. Ashraf was defeat
ed by Eadir, a robber chief. who fought on
Tamasp II.
A ROBBER AS SHAH
Nadir finally routed the Afgbans in Janu-
airy, 1870, but lis ambition was greater
than his loyalty, and he dethroned his mas
ter in 1882 setting up Tamasps infant son
as nominal Shah. In 1876. however. Nadir
threw of his last pretense, and was himself
/ proclaimed shah. thus ended the Sophi
dynasty.
Kureem Khan. who reigned from 1853 to
lfly, was q CHIEF of the Zand tribe. He
I----llttE-T u6ANaLE4 AINlQ EA4an. the al
/ CHAN Governor of Azerbiian, but it was not
till 1850 that he found himself in possession
Of the whole Of Persia. with the exceptions
Of Georgia and Khorassan. He was an
! excellent monarch. and during his reign
the people passed their leisure hours fin the
society Of moon-faced dameels. the spark
/ ling goblet circulated. and love and pleasure
/ reigned IN every breast" The memory Of
TSureem Khan is still revered By the Per
slams.
In A. D. 20 the greater part Of Jerusalem.
lncludns the temple. was burned whom the