Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-13
Shah Supports the Reforms.

Eyes. the new shah Is supporting the re
forms and is working in harmony with the
parliament" continued Mr.. Jordan. He Is
about thirty-six years old, has strong
character and great intelligence, but he mas
had an oriental education, has never been
outside of Persia, knows very little about
modern progress or European metnoos ana
forms of government administration.
Persia has made very little progress. we
have had many promises and good pros
poets, but they have not been fulnlleo. Whas
we need most is railroads. Inc russians na slu
been too busy. The only way to reach Ie-
heran Ia by steamer on the Caspian sea, 10
the port Of Enzeli, and from there by car
riage or stage coach, 212 miles; You can
quite comfortable, and you can arrange Tor
relays of horses every four parasangs, ana
the journey Is not uncomfortable When l
left Persia automobiles had been ordered Tor
passenger service along this route, and l
presume that they are already In use.
I'VE have Anticipated horse cars In Te-
heran, and electric lights In the palace or
the shah and in the houses OF some OF the
mobiles. A national bank Of $25, 100000 CAPT.
tai is being talked of, and various other en-
terprises are contemplated and discussed.
but they do not develop as we hoped they
would.
'"The greatest progress has been In edu-
cation. Within the last fourteen years about
forty modern schools have been established
in imitation of the American schools, and
are conducted as nearly as possible on the
American plan. Our textbooks are used.
There are four American schools In Persia.
as follows, under the care of the Presby-
terrain board Of foreign missions:
Eat Teheran, under the direction OF Rev.
M. Jordan Of Pennsylvania, educated at
Lafayette College and Princeton
"At Tabrdz. under the direction OF Rev: s;
Princeton, class Of 1870. Mr.. Wilson has
been IN Persia for many years and Is au-
thor Of Persian Life and Customs.
At Urumia, in charge of Rev: w. A.
Seminary, and son Of Rev. DR.. 3. c. Shedd,
one of our Oldest missionaries in Persia. Mr..
w. A. Shedd was born at Urumia and has
spent his life there, except Whiie . ne was
"At Hamadan, under the direction on
Rev. Norman B. Euwer, class OF %.
Geneva College and Princeton Theological
Seminary.
The Persian Schools.
English is taught at all these schools.
In the lower grades the Persian language
ia used, but in the grammar and high
school grades the instruction Is altogether
In English and the text books are IN that
language, They are not charity schools.
Tuition fees are charged every pupil, ex-
cept in special cases where 1t Is considered
expedient to make an allowance. sorn-
"
Mohammedan population, but during recent
years Mohammedan students are constantly
Increasing, being attracted by the better
facilities offered by tie American schools
over those of the native schools. A large
number of the students now come from
the strictest and most influential Mohom-
medan families, including princes OF the
royal blood, who are taught democratic
ideas and equality as well as book learning.
This is Illustrated by the fact that 1t be-
came necessary not long ago to expel
nrince OF the royal family from our school
at Teheran for improper conduct.
Modern education has become FAD In
Persia, as 1t has in. China. Last year the,
government brought out five French pro-
fessors for the Imperial College The
American high school at Teheran was
opened in 1887. and has been growing
rapidly until last year there were 220 stu
dents enrolled. ar increase from sixty
students in ten years. About 100 are from
the nobility and 12S are Mohammedans, the
remainder are Jews. Armenians and Zorro
every part of the country, and the fact
that the Bible is taught openly as text
book does not seem to deter them. 1t is
not considered an objection even by the
orthodox Mohammedans. The schools are
not sectarian. We DO not proselyte the
students, but we make sure that they have
a thorough knowledge Of Christianity along
with other useful information before they
leave US. Not long ago the sun-in-law of
American college at Teheran, where the
Persians could educate their sons In mod
ern learning instead of making 1t necessary
for them to go to Beirut, Constantinople
and Europe. The prime minister told me
that he kept himself informed about our