The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-02
One in May at Athens and Other
in July at Teheran, of
New Sovereigns.
by LA MAnoUIsE DE roNTENoY.


LING coNsTANTINEs coronation
n In May. at Athens. Is not the
only AFFAIR OF the kind that is
scheduled FOR this year. News comes
from Teheran that young Shah Ahmed.
who has just celebrated his sixteenth
birthday, and who succeeded to the
throne In 1909, is to be crowned In his
capital on July II.
A royal commission has been formed
there FOR the purpose of making all
the necessary arrangements for the
ceremony. Hut It has been resolved
not to invite foreign governments to
send special embassies for tho occasion.
owing to the length OF the journey, to
the troubled condition Of the country.
and. above all. to the expense which
would be involved by their suitable en-
tertainment. For the Persian treasury
Is still suffering from a chronic state
or emptiness, and the collection OF
taxes. owing to mlsrule and disorder,
is becoming increasingly difficult
The coronation. however, will be a
spectacle well worthy OF n trip TO Tc-
heran BY tourists from this country
VINO have the necessary means and tho
leisure: and / would draw the atten-
ton of the moving picture concerns to
tho fact that one OF the features of
the coronation festivities will be a
Al
governors and chieftains from all parts
of Persia. with their rctinues. Will
each in turn offer their homage and
their tribute to tho young king OF
Kings. who will be seated for the oc-
caslon on the famous jewel studd ed
peacock throne. This is a long. couch
like piece OF alabaster, supported by
four golden lions, formerly belonged TO
the grand moguls of the Indian empire
rrta
Delhi by Nadir Shah. on the occasion
OF his capture OF that city In 1893.
The Persian crown Is a hugo mitre-
shaped affair, resembling In form tho
papal tiara, save that there are no
three coroEets. 1t Is literally covered
with pearls, diamonds. rubies, sapphires
and other precious stones, and Is sur
mounted by q high jeweled aigrette,
attached To the crown by an enormous
emerald. Among the Jewels OF the
crown is wonderful diamond OF
great size and purity. engraved with
the royal arms of England and Scot
land, and which formerly belonged to
Charles j. II was traced from Eng
land to Holland. where 1t was for n
timo in the possession OF Charles IL
Whether he sold it, pawned it. or had
1t stolen from him. it is impossible to
say. AT any rnte, 1t found It's way to
Persia, and Is known to have been in
the imperial treasury at Teheran.
among the regalia, ever since the end
of the seventeenth century.
No ono ever assembled throne with
more reluctance than the present ruler
OF Persia. He was at the time barely
eleven years old. and bound by ties
OF the greatest affection TO his father
and TO his mother. He had 10 be lit
orally torn from their arms when pro-
claimed as ruler, In place of his father,
who was deposed and driven out OF the
country. into foreign exile. The lad,
the first days Of whose reign were
spent in tears and lamentations. has
never seen his parents since. the ex-
Shah making his headquarters In the
great Russian city of Odessa: having
however. spent some months past at
Berlin. In the strictest incognito. for