The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-23
LIFE IN A HAREM.
story of an English Shop Girl Who
Became First Lady.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
Here is an Arabian Nights tale 1t is
not one of the famous thousand and one
told by the first lady of the harem. the
beautiful Scheherezade, to beguile her
royal spouse from his announced inten-
ton of chopping her head from her lovely
shoulders, but is quite new, quite modern
and altogether fascinating. Like Schehe-
rezade's, it is told by first lady OF the
harem and 1t deals with her life in Per-
STA. 1t is a romance that mixes up prosy
England and the sensuous east in the
most delightful fashion. for the heroine
of it was a London shop girl before she
became one of the four wives, and later
one of the four widows, of a Persian no
bleman.
Seven years ago Miss Frances Blackman
was a stall girl at the Crystal Palace, and
sold ivory bric-a-brac to whatsoever would
buy. She was rather pretty girl, and at
the time of the shah's visit to England
captivated the fancy Of a dark skinned
nobleman In the potentate's party.
This man proved to be Abdullah Hus-
sein Khan, a cousin of the shah, and a
man of great wealth and influence in his
own country. Stopping one day at the
stalls he was greatly attracted by Miss
Blackman and bought some tribes from
her. He returned the next day and
bought some more.
When he appeared the third day Miss
Blackman perceived that 1t was she, and
not her wares, that attracted the dark
skinned stranger, and thereupon the ro-
nance began. History is silent upon the
details of the courtship but it is known
that he gave her many costly gifts OF ex-
quislte eastern workmanship and event.
ually proposed, was accepted and married
0o1sa Cd N a
Roman Catholic church in the beginning
of 1890.
Abdullah Hussein Khan was from the
beginning exceedingly fond of his pretty
English bride. He obtained permission to
remain in England when the shah went
home, and hired a handsome fiat at Hyde
Park Mansion, where he lived in supreme
happiness for nearly two years. He had
told his wife of his rank and his wealth,
but he had not yet mentioned the fact that
he already had three other wives at home
But in 1892 there came a command from
the Shah to return home. Abdullah had
by this time decided to make England his
home. He was a man of cultivation and
had found European civilization much to
his taste
But. under penalty of forfeiting his es-
tates, he was obliged to obey the shah s
orders and when he reached Teheran he
had to tell his English bride that she was
=.
tears, the protestations and all the rest.
But there was nothing for the young wife
to do but TO submit, and she had the sat
isfaction of being the preferred wife, the
first lady of the harem.
When IL was known to the English at
Teheran that one of their countrywo-
men was in the harem there was consid-
cradle excitement, and many English Ia
dies visited her. She became at once popu-
lar in court circles, and the shah gave her
the name of Beebee Khanung, signifying
"the lady of ladies'" But favor and popu-
larity cost her trials and dangers, as will
be seen.
A few months ago Abdullah suddenly
died, much TO his wife's grief. His eldest
son, jealous. because his father had settled
so much property upon Beebee's little son,
seized the house and sealed the doors.
Beebee broke the seals, and was arrested
and three attempts were made to poison
| her, the last so nearly successful that an
English doctor barely succeeded in saving
her life. Through tho Intervention of the
British legation she finally obtained her
property and sailed for London, where she
| has Just arrived with her boy.
This little boy, Allah Nasrit, or the
| Gift Of God" has exchanged the baggy
satin trousers and loose silken coat set OF
with diamond buttons, Of his own country
/ FOR tho sailor costume OF a British tar He
is n handsome. clever boy. and at the age
Of four already displays the autocracy en-
| ioyed by his sex In Persia.
"He much needs the discipline OF an
English school," says his mother, for IN
| Persia his word was law. Being co-heir
with an only brother. he was lord OF the
village In which we lived. and every vii.
lage child was his slave. When brought IN
10 amuse him. n their bows were not suf-
/ hcicntly reverentlal and conduct IRE
proachable he issued Instructions, and the
small offenders were promptly beaten, for
Persian boys are taught tyranny from the
cradle.
"Whon bored, a band. with the inevita.
| bic dancing monkey, was brought in for
! his sole delectauon. He has been only
/ two weeks in London. and it Is impossible
| yet 20 make him understand that piano.
organ and street musicians are not under
| his absolute authority. He pcrpotually
orders them. ia native Persian, 20 remain
playing az long as he is pleased 20 be
pleased. and exhibits the utmost disgust
when they move on regardless Of his lord
ly commands.
Sometimes I am glad he cannot speak
English for Ina Persia he was taught 20
class Europeans with monkeys and he
has no hesitation In addressing them a.