Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-12-18
Persian Capital City of Ka-
leidoscopic Contrasts.

Washington. Recent news dis
patches from Persia announce the de-
position of the Kajar dynasty, which
has ruled the country for more than
$50 years, and the ascension of a new
shah to the famous peacock throne in
Teheran.
Despite Persia's traditional con-
servatism in governmental affairs Te-
heran, its capital is a city of kaleido-
scopic contrasts" says bulletin from
the Washington headquarters of the
National Geographic society. "Visitors
may enter through any of its twelve
beautiful gates, whose glazed tiles
glisten in the sunlight, and find spread
before them dingy collection of mud
houses rubbing elbows with palatiai
residences enclosing fiower-filled gar
dens. A numbering camel, seemingly
just stepped out of priceless old Per-
sian rug, may draw aside to allow the
passage of a high-powered motor car
bearing wealthy Persian en- route to
mis- villa on the outskirts Of the city.
Linked With ARABIAN Nights"
'Teheran has not always been the
capital of Persia. Rhages or Rel, Its
predecessor, the ruins of which are
nearby, was bustling city of one and
half millions in the Middle ages. AS
the birthplace of Harum al-R9shid,
Caliph of Bagdad, the fifth and most
renowned of the Abbassides, its name
is forever linked with Arabian Nights
This city, also called Rhagae, was de-
stroyed By Jenghiz Khan and Timur.
Modern Teheran's position, 20 miles
south of the Caspian sea, commanding
the highways of the extensive upland
plateau ard the entrance to the Elburz
passes has made 1t the center of a
considerable caravan trade, though 1t
does not rank high as an Industrial
city It's population is roughly esti-
mated at 100000 in winter, but in sum-
mer this number dIminishes one-third.
For, although the district lies in the
approximate latitude of Cape Hat
teras, and nine months of the year
bring 1t cool nights and sunshiny days.
the three mouths Of summer are I'M
comfortably hot and dry.
1.-THE palace of the deposed shah is
located in the Ark or former citadel,
In the middle of the city. Here is the
Salaam court, containing the large
Takht-i-Khaneh, or throne room, where
the shah received his people at his
New Years reception, three months
and more after the Western world
,,cb in This
ton formerly was a brilliant affair
the royal hand played all through the
ceremony the court poet was much
in evidence with the shah's greetings
for the new season, and the shah him
self was seated in a jeweled chair on
beautiful marble throne, which, how
ever should not be confused with the
priceless Peacock throne kept In the
treasure vault.
1.-THE office of the commandant of
the imperial guards, the apartments
of the grand vizier and the imperial
archives are separated from the main
palace by shady rose garden, but
ones interest naturally centers In the
treasure vault wherein are kept the
Persian crown jewels.
"Nadir Shah, who was also known
as Kuli Khan, was shah of Persia from
1876 to 1747 Shortly after he was
crowned he invaded India, laid waste
the country and sacked Delhi 1t
was he who laid down his bare sword
as a sign that the massacre might be-
gin and refused to lift 1t again until
thousands of the inhabitants had been
murdered And he 1t was who brought
the peacock throne to Teheran where
1t has been since 1889.
This gorgeous chair of state is In
crusted with thousands of precious
Jewels; rubies, diamonds, emeralds
and so many others that one Is almost
blinded by Its coruscant splendor EN-
blazoned on the back is the large pea
cock from which the throne takes its
name, with its tail spread out in
magnificence no living peacock ever