The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-02-27

From the enunchS' courtyard of the
shah's harem corridor leads to a sec
ond gate, which opens on large,
square garden full of geOmetrical
parterres of shrubs and flowers. with
very high plane trees stripped of all
their bougs except a tuft at the top.
This garden is surrounded with in
Vulnerable quarters for the shah'S Ia
dies-buldings of two stories. which
have Il brilliant effect as they encircle
the grounds with the elaborate trac-
cry of their arched WinGOWs-an effect
enhanced by the glitter Of gorgeous
tiles.
Bevies Come and Go.
III this huge square come and go beV-
les of women in the national indoor
. costume. with an immense veil of light
cotton or silk laid over the top of the
head, in which they envelop themselves
more or less. or leave it open and trail
ing on the ground.
The late shah did not follow the ex-
ample of his predecessor. Dr.. SOlyman
says that he had only u wives. The
Anderoun was not much less crowded
for that reason, for the relations, the
slaves and the servants of these wives
musicians, dancers. fortune tellers,
jestors. merchants, all of them neces-
sarily females-gaVe constant anima-
ton to the "Pali;lles des VOluptes."
thaca scanned n live in a
perpetual anticipation of the Judgment
] of Paris. 1t was who should be the
most beautiful: who should possess
, the most fascinating wardrobe. Jewels
i and precious stones excited the great
, est covetousness. The shah distributed
them prOdigally and on his birthday
, and at the New Year. he gave away
/ turquoises sapphires. pearls, rubies,
emerads. even diamonds, by handfuls
This did not hinder them from buy
ing jewels on their own account from
the mere hant women who come into
the harem. They desired to eclipse
their rivals by the richness of the
fabrics which they wore. Silks Of
Resht. velvets of Kashan. shaWls OF
Kirman could not be too expensive, and
fabrics from Europe We're not less pop
ular. Worth. the great Partisan dress
maker, sells off in Tiberan mis- special
silks. when they are left on his hands
long enough to be out of fashion. He
has a very clever lady there to rep
resent him. who is adored by all the
fair of Teheran. Often woman who
wants to be the only pOsseSsor of a
matter what price.
They nave much more tendency to
do this now. for several times a woman.
jealous of the admiration which Il rival
had won With a costume of a new ma
terial would buy some of the same ma
terial and have Il costume made of it
for one of her slaves and then invite
the dear friend" to tea served by that
slave. The rivals qualification can be
ina gined.
In the middle of the AnderOun gar
den stands a raViShing white palace,
square in shape. two stories high. cui-
minating in terrace with an open
work balustrade supporting vases at
intervals. This which is suggestive of
the WidiZ Kiosk at COnstantinople, is
the Khab- CAB. or Palace of Sleep.
Like their less fortunate sisters
generally. they have no education. It
appears, however. that some of the
wives of the late sovereign have been
educated. one of them has the repu
| tation of being literary-a pOetesS. She
has sung the praises of her master in
every mood and all the marvels of
creation are cited in her poems for
comparison with the king of kings.
Intrigue is also one of their faVorite
} Observation-Disclosures to take away
from a rival the favor of the king OF
political intrigue. An instructive di-
> plOmacy is brought into action in these
cases with rare ability. This is why
: some ambitious men have recourse q
l he help OF their wives. who. by pres
ents and tlattery. win influential sup
port in the shahs harem. More than
one important affair mas been thus
brought 10 a successful CONCLUSION more
= than one favor so obtained.
The women of the harem are child
= fsh and easily amused. Marvellous sto-
ries. more or less based on the arabian
Nights. in which the details relating t.
2 love are recounted with uncomfortable
crudity. the buffooneries of old women
|. their burlesque limitations. their clown
4 ings. IaNish them. One of these has
1 won in Teheran the reputation and
vogue of an Yvette Guilbert with us.
She tells stories and illustrates them
herself. impersonating the characters
{ of the romence. She initiates with as
much fidelity the shy attitude of a
bluShing bride as the simpering of a
: middle aged woman. And when a
L dragon, a devil, or a djinn comes into
1 the plot. she succeeds in pulling the
: skin of her face turning up her nose
L with a string. turning her eyelids out
L and so one. assuming the most terrible
Il and monstrous aspects Imaginable. A
story told by her is as much appreci-
in =,