New-York tribune., 1905-08-05


Napier Malcolms book is to offer. practical sug-
gestions for the conduct of Christian missions
and rnissionaries-in the Persian field In no
wise detracts from the interest OF the volume to
readers who are concerned simply with learn
ing about the Persians they are, apart from
what they may possibly become. The author
has adopted the excellent principle, too often
apparently overlooked by missionaries that IL
IS advisable 10 know something of the manners
and customs of the mental processes ana the
present beliefs of the people whom one feeis
called 10 convert. Possibly 1t was the handicap
that his own efforts received through his un-
familiarity with local conditions his arrival
in Persia that makes him anxious to pass
along the results of his experiences and ohserva-
tieus TO those who may follow him. BE that as
II may he shows himself to have been careful
student Of his surroundings during his five years
stay in Yezd with a conspicuous ability TO
convey his impressions to others with clearness
and brevity It is in fact a picture of Yezd
rather than Of Persia that he gives us, making
few attempts to generalze. yet making clear.
also that this centrally located town may prop
eriv be taken as a typical illustration of general
conditions in the land of the Shah. Applying
the eye TO Mr.. Malcom's microscope one is en-
sbled obtain a minutely intimate view of
small section Of the country. feeling assured
that II the lens had been turned on any other
ETart OF the kingdom IL would have revealed
lr1icrocosu doubtless differing from this in its
details but not in its essential characteristics.
On the ground that the photography of a
country must profoundly influence the mental
latitude and processes of the inhabitants. the
lauthor gives q very graphic portrayal of the
physical conditions under which the people live.
THE land being mainly q desert, irrigated al
most entirely by the melting SHOWS from the
mountains, conveyed long distances by tunnels
n the lowest points OF the plains, the vast ex-
eanse Of painfully monotonous aridity is only
fbroken here and there by isolated towns and
hviIlages, salient and unrelated points In the
Landscape. Even the cultivated ground is
sbroken up into small plots. protected from view
SIS well as from intrusion by lofty walls of mud.
The very plants grow well apart from one an
other, each asserting its own individuality. The
fI1aoistureless air brings out each object in
definite outline. There is no effect of "atmos-
lphere" merging the different features of the
view into a general effect; there Is every
where q sense OF separateness. Everything seen
is conspicuously solitary. To this aspect of their
natural environment is due, the author argues,
the absence of the power Of synthetical rea-
soning in the natives. Thus. in his own efforts
10 build up in their minds belief In the doc
trines Of Christianity, he would get them TO ad-
nit point after point in his argument, and then
had in any way committed themselves 10 an ac-
Acknowledgement of theological system.
The same characteristic is observable in their
conduct which is made up of seemingly un-
related acts, resulting in what Mr.. Malcolm
terms a consistent inconsistency" that is as
universal as it is battling. That man has lied
TO YOU to-day is no indication that he may not
tell you the truth tomorrow. An official who
may perpetrate deeds of oppressive cruelty on
one occasion. on another may exhibit evidences
of aItruistic benevolence. This is also partly
accounted for by that principle Of their religion
which places a high estimate on the saving grace
of .'savabs" or acts of merit. A man who has
committed deed which he knows TO be evil
feels that he has wiped it out when he has done
something he conceives TO be righteous Con-
versely, when he has through accident or design,
acquired merit in considerable quantities. he
feels free to draw literally upon it, even TO over
draw his account. knowing that If he lives he can
soon restore his moral credit balance. In con-
sequence, the moral atmosphere Of Yezd ap-
peared to Mr. Malcolm to be not unlike that Of
a preparatory school for boys. The restrictions
put upon the ''unbelieving' residents, notably
the Jews and Parsis, were childishly arbitrary.
The Parsis not allowed to carry umbrellas;
their girdes must be white. Up TO 1895 there
was strong prohibition upon eyeglasses and
spectacles Every Jew was compelled TO wear
patch upon his coat. But when a regulation
1as adopted that the Zoroastrians should show
ae obvious patch upon the shirt the willy Parss
adopted neat embroidered collar around the
neck and opening of the garment. AS it
obvious and certainly insertion, the Ma
hometans accepted ii, which would indicate
that they not without sense OF humor. 1t
Is not strange, then, that the author found the
people likable but exasperating.
Houses and almost every other article of uti-
fly are made OF mud, wood being scarce and dirt
abundant, with water available where buildings
are needed Despite the dryAess of the climate
these structures easily destroyed one rainy
day having washed away two hundred roofs IN
the town. The best dwellings are regarded as
but temporary shelters. and about two thirds of
the town is ruins. When house is built large
chamber is made below the surface to receive the
drainage, and the size of this is determined by
the length Of time the owner wishes the house
TO last which may be forty fifty years.
When the chamber is full, the occupant moves.
away and the house gradually falls to pieces.
Carelessness as to their houses extends to other
supposed conveniences, even to the telegraph.
One day in Yezd one Of the European residents
wanted 10 send telegram. and sent 70 the teie-
graph office ask when the line would be up
they sent back a very polite message to say that
the trouble was not that the line was down; il
always down. The difficulty was that camel
had stepped on il.
To Europeans the Persian is topsy urvydom
personifed. Never forget" says the author.
that the jokes OF w S. Gilbert are the facts
Of Persia" The merchant will charge you more
for his wares by the quantity than he Will at
retail. He takes shame in dishonest dealing
because he has no consistent moral standard.