New-York tribune., 1912-03-08

about the rejuvenation OF Persia as she
was year ago. The recent adventures OF
that Mr. w Morgan Shuster have elevated
Persian affairs to the plane OF high di-
pomacy on which one may not speak save
IN whispers
Madame received tho Tribune reporter
with her usual grace, but with a worried
look IN her eyes.
did you hear how they introduced my
husband. at the Cornell alumni dinner she
asked 1T was very funny. We will now
bear from Ali Kuli Khan. who will not
speak Of the Persian situation with the
same freedom which has characterized the
uttersnces Of our friend. Morgan Shuster''
That applies TO me just as much as to him
] can't talk. either, though, of course / M
tremendously interested
K But about the modern women in Persia
.--oh. could talk Of them for days! You
know, they're my friends. I lived with
them, and really know them better, ] be-
lieye. than any other woman in the world
does Travellers and visitors. even In the
diplomatic circles. rarely become well ac-
cuainted with the Persian women, but
learned the language and adopted the veil.
50 really became one Of them. Therefore.
say with assurance that the Persian
women are not downtrodden. not kept in
ignorant sUbjection They are brilliant IN
tellectuaily They are we'll educated and
familiar with the Persian classics. They
quote poetry in their conversation as-well'
as very few women in America are able to
quote Shakespeare.
esAnd as for being up 10 date You should
et the articles written by women editors
and poets demanding women's rights or
Particular social reforms. There is nothing
more fiery in England or America. OF
course, however the actual question OF
suffrage is being agitated by a compara-
lively small number but the women as
whole are keenly alive to problems Of po-
htical and social reform"
What about the woman's organization
which Mr.. Shuster has said came TO his as
sistanceg'
The question was put quite innocently.
Women and politics are so mixed up these
DAYS! Well. this, il seems. was political.
and Ali Kuli Khan himself answered
olandly with an elaborate description OF
me Women's Educational Association. The
eoueation of the masses is their aim. II
seems and women OF all classes work to-
sether for this end In places where there
are not public schools the noblewomen es-
iaoiish them In their own grounds and
Visit them personally every morning. The
cultivated women speak not only Persian,
OUT Arabic, and in the schools French and
English are being eagerly studied by the
young girls. who are awake to the world
movement" In Teheran Nine. All Kuli
MAN founded the first girls school along
american lines IN 1905. Now there are
Fh'Fv or forty In that city alone and others
~ over the country, organized by this
Foinen's Educational Association.
II was quite true. however, the Persian
Rplomat admitted that there were a few
ssrsgettes In his troubled land, and they
feaiy did demand the right TO vote. even
2 me press cables have related. This is
Nhat happened: The younger and radical
members Of the National Assembly en-
"fec plea for woman suffrage on the
sround that women were citizens. The con
serYatives would have naught OF II. Their
Nle statesmen who trod the middle course
put In their pacifying voices. while We
ieeosnlze.' they said. in substance, "tht
Justice Of this question. and cannot con-
ssh II TO oblivion, stil1 we realize there are
subjects OF more immediate and pressine
sharaeter. for which this must be set asid,
lor the present, and meantime II Is wisel
4" concern ourselves with school and child
3Fetare problems"
As Tor the delicate questions Of marriage
l'p divorce In Persia, neither Nine. Al
nun Khan nor her husband agreed Will
sndt Mr Shuster Is reported to have said
s'hsi husband in Persia can have al
many wives as he wants, and can divore.
mem just as easily.
never knew a Persian man OF refine
ment who had more than one Wife
madame said definitely, and in all tn,
h0mes l visited-in homes of rich ant