The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-17

Two events Of more than national i'm
portance have recently placed Persia
prominently in public attention. The first
was the granting OF a constitution by the
Shah, which was closely followed by the
death Of that ruler and the browning Of
his son The new Shah has Travelled much
abroad and says that in addition TO car
rying out the reform started by his
father he will endeavor 10 add others.
Under these circumstances, the following
article written by the Paris correspondent
Of the London Truth is especially timely.
I have seen three Shahs during this
third republic. The original Shah. who
led the way, appeared to me terrible
Kurd. His manners were Of piece with
his methods Of government His sue
cessor. one of the most amiable Of Orien-
tails, and the handsomest when he came
among US as heir apparent became, for
the sake of the Coatrexeville waters, an
annual visitor 10 France. The Shah now
reigning attended his father when the
latter was only heir apparent, and passed
almost Unnoticed.
The first appearance Of Nasr-ed-Din was
brought about by the Moral order gov
eminent To reconcile Paris 10 monarch
ism. The Shah made his debut amid pub
lie festivities and all the military and
civic pomp the government could COM
mand. The receptions given in his honor
were about the most brilliant that ever
came of in Paris To snub the prn-
cipIe of parliamentary institutions the
emi-barbarous despot from the East was,
with his endless suite, assigned the Petit
Bourbon for "a residence, and he made
himself al home there.
Looked Character of Fiction.
His title Of King of Kings amused the
multitude and the magnihcence Of the
diamonds which he wore gave it a sem
blauce Of reality. The white thorough
bred which he mounted at the Long
champs review, with its splenddly jeweled
reins and saddle, and its long pink tail,
enhanced the masters prestige. 1t all
made him seem a monarch in the Ara
bian Nights genre. Nasr-ed-Din looked
what nature made him. feTOCious. cruel
crafty, and, in short, an awful Tartar.
II In company be wanted forty winks.
he said 50. He poked la MaTechale Mac
Mahon IN the ribs at dinner, felt her
dairy-maid arms. which he admired, and
assured her, through the former drago-
man Of a French Embassy. that were she
less old she would be entirely 10 his taste.
At the Louvre, Nasr-ed-Din begged the
dragoman in Turkish, which he spoke
equally well with Persian. TO tell the fine
acts minister who took him round, that
ne detested European paintings and scuip-
tured things, and wanted 20 go away.
The way out, the way out"' he peremp-
tOrily added
Oriental mOnaTChs seldom see company
and their will being law, do not affect
any grace or graciousness which nature
has not bestowed on them.
Late shah spoke His Mind.
The late Shah had for his genueness
and beauty been preferred 10 his elder
brother, Prince I'll, as heir to the throne.
I'll is "a man OF far higher ability and OF
an iron villa reason. perhaps, why the
despotic Nasr-ed-Din sent him Of to Is
phahan and kept him in that far-dlstani
place as governor. The government OF
AzerbeIdjan, which fell TO the lot Of the
late shah at the age Of nine, is on the
verge Of Turkish Asia Minor and the eau