Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
THE SHAH OF PERSIA.

1t falls more heavily on the great than on
the humble. 1t is they VINO are nearest the
throne, and who thus have the most obser
walton and jealousy Of the sovereign, who
are subject to swift changes of fortune or
SUDDEN and cruel severity. The risks are
proportioned to the rewards. The obscure,
under such rule. proceed with uneventfui
course "along the cool, sequestered vale of
life" To u.s. in our western opulence, they
may seem ground to the dust with their
trifing wage. But all such matters depend
on the differing cost of living and the diff
ference in the purchasing power OF money.
All things are relative.
Pure Turkish Stock.
It is a significant fact that the Khajar
dynasty is not of Persian but of pure
Turkish stock. The dynasty which it sup
planted was, like most of Persia's royal
families of Zend or Indo-European or San
scrit origin. Kerim Kahn and his heroic
nephew, Lutf Alec Khan, the last of the
Zends, were among the noblest char
acters in Persian history. In the north of
Persia were some Turkish semi-nomadtc
tribes. who had migrated several centuries
earlier from the Tartar wastes. One of
these tribes was settled near the Caspian.
OF the five clans Of this tribe the one called
Asaka or Yavanlu, assumed the ascen-
dency, and finally their head chief became
head ow the army of Persia. His grandson,
Agha Mohammed Khan, was atrociously
mutilated by the then reigning shah. Even
tually he escaped to his father and lived
to become q scourge to his foes. the founder
of dynasty, q monster OF vindictive fury,
and at the same time a protector of Persia
against her enemies. If he had lived he
might have saved her from the steady af-
fronts treacheries and aggressions Of Rus
sia Monster as he was, he was a soldier
and statesman of no mean power, and had
the requisites to meet Russia on her chos-
en- fields of effort, to wit courage based on
tfod Of hluff and fraud
In 1881 q Russian admiral sailed with
fleet from Astrakhan to Astrabad, on the
Persian coast of the Caspian. Agha Moham-
med Khan was in the vicinity, and the Rus
sian asked permission to plant q counting
house, OF all things, on the solitary Persian
shores. The Khajir. having no fleet, decided
on fighting with Russian weapons. There
fore he yieldeu apparent asquiescence to the
admirals request. Strange to say, when the
counting house was finished 1t proved to be
q strong fort with eighteen guns. Agha
Mohammed pretended to admire the work.
and invited the admiral and his officers to
dine with him at q chiefiik or hunting seat
in the mountains. There he threw them In
irons and gave them the choice of suffering
miral decided that 1t was expedient to sign
an order to wipe the fort out of existence.
This job completed. Agha Mohammed
caused them to be whipped back to tho
ships with abuse galore.
> Naturally, having no offspring 1.gha Mo-
manned Khan was succeeded by his nephew.
Feth Alec Shah. who. In disposition was
quite the reverse of his uncle. He knew
little OF war, and was stripped of consider
able territory by Russia. But he was OF
amiable character. fond Of poetry. amorous
as King Solomon, and noted for a magnifi-
cent beard that reached below his waist.
Domestic Felicities.
There is a neglected old garden and pail
ace still standing in the outskirts Of Tehe-
ran called Negaristan. There Feth Alec