The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-01-17
RroHARD ROE.

F., It wasn't with any particular expec-
| tation of success that I sent my card
to His Highness Mira Ali Asgar, Pre-
mier of Persia, at the Young Hotel
yesterday afternoon. The prince and
| his retinue occupied rooms on the fifth
| floor and delay in the return of the
| bell boy was not altogether unexplain-
| able, although it was not conducive
to the peace of mind of a man who is
about to interview one of the foremost
men in the Oriental kingdoms.
Honolulu is not often honored by a
visit from Grand vizier of Persia,
and the ordinary newspaper man nat
| urally hasn't the art of interviewing
such distinguished foreign visitors
down to that point, which permits the
unabashed questioning of a man equal
ly prominent in American affairs.
Naturally also it wasn't altogether GER
tain that the prince would consent to
be interviewed. The five minutes of
waiting for the return of the bell-boy
We're spent in an effort to recall to
memory historical knowledge of school
days, and a contemplation of what
happened in the past to inquisitive peo-
pie in the Persian kingdom. Extreme
ly doubtful of being admitted to the
august presence at all, 1 yet wondered
if it was the custom for the members
of the princes staff to first search
those who might approach his highness
for dangerous weapons before admit
ting them to the royal presence.
1t was somewhat of a surprise to
hear the tramp of many feet down the
marble hotel corridors, and to see in
stead of the tiny bel1-boy that was ex-
pected to lead me in fear and trem-
bling to the Vizier's fifth floor room,
Atabake Azam Mira Ali Asgar Khan,
himself, approaching accompanied by
Mehdi Quoli Khan and several other
members of his suite.
The ex-premier is a person who would
have been picked out in any assembly
as a man of many. Unconsciously
the likeness to Secretary Taft, not
physically, but the undefnable stamp
of power which clings to the new Sec
retary of War, is the first impression
of Mira Ali Asgar. The ex-premier
is a heavy-set man, with clear cut
features. attenuated by the close fitting
Astrachan cap, and with black hair
and close cropped beard. He has the
appearance of prosperous Russian
gentleman and to tell the truth he
didn't appear to be much interested in
the interview.
'I am glad to meet you" said the
prince in quite good English, and then
2e~s fiuently asked the interviewer If
he could speak either French or Ger
man. The premier speaks French and
Mehdi Quoli Khan, the minister of Ed
ucation, is fine German scholar. The
Minister of Education acted as inter-
prefer during the interview. I con-
fessed to some slight knowledge of
German and there was a little CONVEX
sation in that language, but evidently
the Minister of Educa ton didn't be-
Iieve my German was as adaptable to
the purposes of an interview as his own
of English. The conversa-
ton was afterwards carried on in Eng
iish, and Mehdi Quo1i Khan really is
quite we'll able to take care of himself
aud the party in the United States.
The Prince is a democratic enough
gentleman. He led the way to the
hotel writing room and the Minister
IF Education followed. Any difficult