The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23
TREASURES OF THE SHAH.
UONDERFUL THINGS SEEN BIZ PROF.
WARD or ROCHESTER,.

A Journey to Persia to Sec n Meteorite-A
Three-Foot Model of the Earth All In
crusted with Gems md Gold-A jew
eiIcd Chair-Prof. Ward Visits the Shah.
AVALON. Cal. July 1S.-In all probability the
greatest traveller day in America and pos
sibly in the world, II intel ligcnt travel alone is
considered. Ia Prof. Henry Ward Of Rochester.
who has made q business OF cquppng mu-
seums with collections. There Ia not n largo
institution in this country or Europe that has
not been supplied with something or other by
his untiring energy. The American Museum
OF Natural History, the Smithsonian. the
Coum bian. the British, all have been added to
by him. and. as he Ia a man OF means, this has
been more OF n pleasure thnn mere business
pursuit. His remarkable success has been the
result OF personal cndeavor. II a remarkable
discovery Is made in any pnrt OF the world
the chances are that Prof. Ward will be on
the ground. and many n race no hns had with
Prof. Cone. Prof Marsh and various other
specialists to the location OF some remarkable
fossil lust discovered. 1t Is almost impossible
to mention II region that he has not visited in
the interests Of scientific Investigation. trip
around the world is nothing to him. To-day
he is In the heart OF Africa. at the falls OF Fam
best; month or so later in the diamond mines
OF South Africa: next he is heard OF following
the head hunters in Borneo or visiting the
orang- outang hunters. and from there he may
GO to New Zealand land Of giant birds
Every man has his hobby. and that Of Prof.
Ward is meteoritcs. He has a fine collection.
valued at several thousand dollars. He can
tell you where every meteorite OF any scientific
value is located. who owns 1t. and its complete
history. and his endeuvors at the present day
are to add TO his own collection.
"One OF my last finds" he said recently.
was one o! the most interesting. as it led me
long chase / was in Berlin dining with Our
Ambassador Mr.. White. when / happened TO
mention the fact that was going across Rus
sia. Mr.. White gave me letters to u number OF
friends in ct. Petersburg. and among them one
to the Persian Minister. whom | found to be
most Intelligent and interesting gentleman.
We soon got upon the subject OF minerals. and
he showed me n very choice collection which
he had and about which / was able to tell him
something. also gave him some OF the famous
water stones. popularity called. that had re-
Gently found in Uruguay. In the course OF our
conversation he said that in the palace of the
Shah at Tehpran there was stone that was re-
ported to have fallen from the sky. Could see
it? l did not dream OF getting it. He doubted
| it. but he would give me n letter to the Grand
| Nizier OF the Shah, who was his friend. and
| perhaps he could aid me. So. to make n long
| story short. in n few days l was headed across
| country for Persia.
1T was a long journey and costly. The
| only things found cheap were horses. and
| these bought at So each. After various ex-
perences reached Teheran, and when settled
| presented my letter. The same day an at
| tendant from the Grand Nizier called on me
| and requested me to call. found the gentle
! man most interesting He had travelled
! In Europe and spoke English and we got
| along famously. But when l suggested the
| II.
recalled having seen it and thought he could
arrange for me to see 1t: but to photograph it 2
never. as the Shah did not like to have any
thing photographed in the palace. and as for
getting It. or piece. that was impossible. as
the stone was considered a messenger from
| the skies and looked upon with certain
amount Of reverence. However. he treated ME
with the greatest courtesy and said that he
| expected to see the Shah soon and would dc
what he could
| This was very indefinite: q few days might
mean a month. and l did not wish to stay
along indefinitely. having other things in view
But as my trip had already cost me much
decided to remain. As good luck would have
it. in a few days he sent me word that the Shall
had ask ed him to bring tho American profes
sor to call. an announcement which you ma,
be sure gave me much satisfaction, as was q
least to be within the same walls with TIT
meteorite. and thought II l got this far
could manage the rest When the time came
hired the finest equipage l could get il
Teheran. but that was not much compared t
the ordinary vehicles Of an American city
The contract included several outriders. and
moved slowly to the palace Of the Grand Vizie
with as much state rs | could muster.
when | arrived. out Of the gate drove
shabby and. compared to mine. dilapidate,
vehicle containing tho Grand Nizier. | saw u
once that had ntionally made a mis-
take and put my friend at court in the shade
He did not recognize me. but his driver cam
over and told me to follow. Then it occurre
to me that the Grand Nizier would have los
caste had he been seen riding with Christian
and that was the reason lie paid no attention t
me. When we reached tho Shah's palace an
were out OF sight Of inQuiring eyes he assume
the qualities OF good fellowship that had so at
tracted me at our first meeting.
I'VE entered a long hall and wandered alonl
and as it was not time for us to see the Shah h
took me to the famous Peacock Throne ROOF
! and to the museum. where / saw many Jewel,
! more than had seen perhaps in all my life be
! fore Among other things there was the swor
! OF Tamerlane: but the object that struck IN
as being the most remarka able was globe mad
y for the Shah. and on which he probably studio
geography. 1t is the most remarkable one /
existence. As near as could Judge it wa
three feet In diameter. correctly made. the sea
, continents and every portion OF 1t compo6e
OF gems. My recollection does not sery
q me exactly. but l remember that Pei
! | STA was made OF turquoiscs. that bein
the national gem. so to speak Atric
t was in rubies: England and France
= diamonds and so on. every portion being coy
! cred by beautiful gems and the seas by en-
. eralds. 1t contained seventy-nve pounds