Page:From Constantinople to the home of Omar Khayyam.djvu/197

 Sultan Ahmad Riza, the Crown Prince, a lad of eleven years (born January 20, 1898), was selected to mount the Peacock Throne in his stead on July 20, 1909, and now rules Iran under the guidance of a regent. ^

It is not necessary to record in these pages any memoranda of the various uprisings that occurred in other cities of the kingdom or in the outlying districts during the time when the reform movement was winning its way. The clouds seem now to be breaking, and brighter rays to be gilding the horizon to bring back once more some of the older days of glory in the Province of the Sun, if only unity prevail within, and moral and financial support be lent from without to aid this land of a newer regime. ^

But I must return to our impressions and experiences, omit- ting an account of a roam again over the ruins of the ancient city of Rai ^ ; nor can I more than mention several formal visits to officials of the Persian State, whose distinguished courtesy I wish to recognize, as well as to acknowledge the attention received from the Grand Vizir, Atabak Amin as-Sultan, whose assassina- tion in the following September came as a shock to the public.

Through the courtesy of the American Legation, arrange- ments were made for us during our stay to pay a visit to the Royal Palace and to be presented to Shah Muhammad Ali, who had not then been deposed, but was only recently crowned. The buildings and grounds of the imperial residence cover a considerable area in the heart of the city ; and the gardens about the palace, picturesque with their fountains and shaded water-courses, have all the charm that belongs to a paradise in the literal sense of that ancient Persian word, which means 'enclosure, park.'

1 The first regent, Azad al-Malk, Muhammad Ali Mirza is making an at- died Sept. 22, 1910. tempt to regain his throne and has en-

2 See Jackson, Persia, p. 428-441. tered Persia at the head of an armed 8 As these pages are passing through force by way of Astrabad and Sem-

the press (Sept. 1911), word has been nan. It would be difficult to forecast received through the newspapers that the issue of this move.

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