The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-07
Books and Authors
Persian Children of the Royal Fam.

Persian Children of the Royal Fam
lily. Narrative Of an English Tutor at the
Court of His Imperial Highness. zilu's
Sultan. By Wilfrid SparToy. New York, 81
Fifth avenue: John Lane. The Bodley Head
This book embodies the very interesting
narrative of the English tutor of the children
of Sultan Masud Mira, who bears the title
Of Zlllu's Sultan, or Shadow of the King
and who is the brother of the reigning shah,
who, although younger than he, succeeded
the assasslnated Nasirned- Din by reason of
his royal birth on his mothers side, the
zillu'e mother being a daughter of an out
rider in the service Of the late shah's uncle.
zillus Sultan formerly ruled over two-ffths
OF Persia through the favor of his father,
and had a kingly income and we'll drilled
army OF H. 900 men, but he was stripped of
all but 1spahan province through the mach
nations of Russian agents and home enc
mics. Still, In 1spahan the zill is pretty well
provided with revenue, harems and pomp
The author had quite an amusing reception.
His house was not ready and the Zill put
him In rather meagre quarters to wait upon
his leisure. and when he got little farther
on he found from personal experience that
court life in Persia is 1.-The apotheosis of
trivialities.' Not knowing Persian etiquette,
he made amusing mistakes and kotowed to
people who had taken the trouble to come
tor the purpose Of kotowing to him. Visitors
Of distinction would pocket articles in his
apartments while Mr.. Sparroy was looking
at them. The Persians, as of old, use very
high flown rhetoric and make glowing prom
ises, which they are slow to perform. TO
morrow" Is a favorite expression with them,
1t Is with the Cubans and Spaniards. The
authors quarters were made habitable only
by threats of leaving, for his prince pupils
liked him and interceded for expedition with
k1@J.S EexL xl,s-
as in others, he found Persian diplomatists
"adepts in the perplexing arts and artifces
which go to the making of the licensed liar
and In subtle subterfuge and willy shifts they
cannot be matched
The tutor Of the princes rose at g. tubbed
In the tank, took tea without milk and, at
Z, went to his school preceded by two SOL
diers bearing the books and writing ma
terials. At noon a substantial meal was
taken, brought on a tray of brass covered
with cloth having a brilliant design in pur-
pie and gold. Fifteen courses were served,
among them poached eggs, mutton broth un-
der yellow oil, boiled rice and currants,
stewed meat, bread and fruit and bowl of
delicious sherbet, and curds and cucumbers.
The servant who brought the tray would,
upon setting it down, bow and say: MAY it
be sweet to your SOUL" After the meal.
siesta, cold tub and enjoyment until the
final meal two hours after sunset. The in
huence of foreigner, whether consul or
otherwise. depends upon the brilliancy Of his
outfit and retinue. The Russian and British
consuls and ministers play this Persian
weakness in strong rivalry. The author
when going to housekeeping on his own ac-
count, hired cook who was descendant
Of The Prophet.
The pen-pictures of the daily school life
are very interesting. The nine pupils. faith
cred by the Zillu-Suftan were bright and in
quisitive. Only. two of them had the same
mother. Some of them had Kurd mothers.
The boys Of Persian mothers quarreled with
the boys Of Kurd mothers, and they some
times fought. Some Of the pupils sided with
Spain in the Spanish American war, and
argued stoutly for that country, asking where
the Yankees would be IL Columbus had not
discovered America, etc. The reader will
obtain much information from this book about
Persian characteristics and find both amuse-
ment and subjects for serious consideration.
The author was, of course, barred out of
any investigation Of harem life, for the only
persons admitted are the shah, the Zillu's-