ol our wives. If we beat
them they could take the train and be in Europe in one day, while now
it takes twenty days. Again, some of our women might marry Christians
and escape to Europe."

THE KING IN HIS PALACE.

The royal palace is surrounded by high stone walls. The grounds are
entered by four beautiful gates. The walls at the sides and above the
gates are adorned with the pictures of former kings and brave generals;
also decorative carvings of lions, the standards of Persia, and of
birds. The grounds are beautifully arranged, all the roads leading to
the king's palace in the center, and beautified with ornamental trees
and hedges of roses of varied hues. Guarding the entrances to the gates
and the roadways that lead to the palace doors are numerous officers of
superior rank, those nearest the palace ever standing with drawn
swords. When the king sits in judgment he uses the peacock throne, and
is surrounded by his six cabinet officers, who are advisers. He is
absolute, and may overrule the advice of the cabinet. This body makes
the laws of the land. The king appoints the members of his cabinet, the
people having no voice whatever in government. When the Shah tires of
the routine of governmental duties, his secretary reads to him from
Shahnameh, a poetical history of Persian kings. It is one of the king's
duties to become very familiar with the history of Persia and her
former rulers. When the king retires to his private room at night, the
entrance to the room is guarded by two most trusted officials with
drawn swords. One of the four gates in the walls around the palace is
called the king's gate, as he always enters through it. No other
person, be he lord, count, or high official is permitted to pass
through this gate on horseback or in carriage. He must dismount and
walk through.

When the king goes from the palace for a hunt or vacation, he is
escorted out of the city by a large guard. First, coming down the
street will be seen about thirty infantry bearing each a golden club,
and shouting: "Get out; get out!" Whereupon the street is cleared of
all traffic that the royal procession may pass. The infantry is
followed by about fifty cavalrymen with drawn swords. Next comes ten or
a dozen riderless Arabian horses. These horses are beauties, and are
adorned with bridles of gold and many precious stones.

HIS TABLE.

The king's table is set with the luxuries of the land. From the time of
the purchase until i