The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-16
OUT OF A HAREM
YOUNG ENGLISH GIRL IN LONDON
TELLS A WONDERFUL TALE.

Other Wives Besides Herself-Her Bus
baAd Dies and Numerous Attempts are
Made to XIII Her-English Minister
kaves Her and She Returns to Englard-
Her Accoant Of the Shah's Women.
London, May 15.-Here is an Arabian
N;eh-s tale. II is not ore Of The famous
thousand and one told by the first lady
OF tie harern, tie beautiful Schsherezeda,
"a oeguIle he royal spouse from his an
raunced intention Of chopping her head
from her sove'y shoulders. but il is quite
rev, quite modern and altogether fascin-
stirg. IKE Sc.Ieherezeda's, f. IS told by
a first lady OF The haren. and it deals
with lie In Persia. II Is a romance that
mixes up prosy England and the sensu-
ors cas-: ia the most delightful fashion.
Ter TIE heroine Of il was London shop
girl before sne l-'sme one OF the four
wives, and later one Of the four widows
Of Persian no5lenan-
Sever years ago Miss Frances Black
ms = was a stall girl al the Crystal Pal
Sc. and sold ivory bric-a-brac 70 whom
scevar would buy. She was a rather
prey girl and al the time OF the Shah's
visit To Ecg'ant captivated the fancy
If a dark es,, ned noblenan in the pot
sr.ate's party
THIS D.ar proved 70 be Abdullah Hus-
sei1 Khan. cousin of the Shah, and
man % srs1: wealth and influence in his
own cruE;ry. Stopping enc day al the
sails. he was greatly attracted by Miss
hickman and bough. some trffes from
her. He returned the next day and pur-
chased some more
When he appeared the third day, Miss
BlacknIar perceived that i 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 cou-tship, but Il is known
that be gave her many costly gifts OF
exquisite eastern workmanship and
eventually proposed, was accepted and
married her The ceremony was cele-
brared in Roman Catholic church ii
the beginning OF 1890.
Abdul,ah Hassein Khan was from the
beginning exceedingly fond OF his pref
y English bride. He obtained permits
sior 70 remain in England when the shah
went home. and hired handsome fiat il
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 ne had not yet mentioned
.he fact that be already had three other
wives al home.
But in 1892 there came a command
from me shah 70 return home Abdullah
had by this time decided TO make Eng
land his home. He vac a man OF cultiva-
ton and had found European civilization
much 70 his taste.
But, under the penalty 0: torfeiting his
escates he was obliged 70 obey the shah's
orders, and when he reached Teheran he
had 70 tell his English bride that she was
ol,y No. 1. Ore can imagine the scene.
the tears. the protestations and al the
rest But there was nothing for the
young wife TO do but submit, and she
had the satisfaction OF being the prefer
red vie. the first lady OF the harem-
When il was known 10 The English az
Teheran that one OF their coultryworner
was in the hareu1 there was considerable
excitement, and many English ladies Wis
tied her. she became al once popular in
court circles, and The shah gave her the
name OF Beebee khanuns. s.gnifyirg
the lady Of ladies' But favor and pop
u,arity cost her trials and dangers, as
viii De seen
A few months ago Absullah suddenly
died. much 10 his wife's grief His eldes.
=on. jealous because his father had set
TED so much property upon Beebee's liz
tie son. seized the house and sealed the
doors. Beebee broke the seals and was
arrested and three attempts were made
70 poison her. the last 50 nearly success
tul that an English doctor barely sue
ceeded in saving her life. Through the
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. % the
Gift OF God" has excahonged the baggy
satin trousers and Dose silker coat set
II with diamoni buttons. Of his own
country for the sailor costume % a Brit |
lsa TAR. He is handsome clever boy. |
and az the age Of four already displays |
the autocracy enjoyed by his sex in |
Persia.
he much needs the discipline Of an |
English school" says his mother. "for |
II Persia MS word was law. Being CO.
heir with az only brother. he was lord Of |
the village in which We lived. and every |
village child was his slave When |
brought in 20 anuse him. il their bows /
were not sufficiently reverentsl and con- |
duct irreproachab.e, he Issued instruc- |
lions. and the small offenders were very /
promptly beaten. for Persian boys are |
fought tyranny from the cradle.
When bor-d. band. with the newt |
able dancing monkey. was brought in for !
his sole delecra ton He has been only I
TWO weeks in London. and il Is tmpossi-
BE YET 70 make him understand that pi-
anc-organ ana street musicians are not /
under his absolute authority He per
petually orders them. in native Persian.
20 remain playing so long as ne IS pleas
ed 70 be pleased. and exhibits the utmost
disgust when they move on regardless Of
his ,orjly commands.
Sometimes I am CAD that he ca-rot
speak English. FOR in Persia be Was
taught 20 class Europeans with monkeys
and he has no hesitation II addressing
them as such Il they offend his p-ej1-
.lices Fortunately his language IS 50 pref
" that the opproo-ious title passes for
term % erdsdrTnelc"
Nasr.t * 8 devout Mussuimia and was
,rte1seiy Mortified 20 fRi the familiar |
terms on which dogs SO abaoTTei oy the
are admitted 10 English
households TIE friendly nose % dog