AFGHAN’S QUEEN

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1928, Page 4

AFGHAN’S QUEEN

1 first INTERVIEW IN HER LIFE.

Queen Thouraya of Afghanistan gave the first interview of her life to “The Chicago Tribune” correspondent at Brussels. The lovely white-skinned queen of the Orient stretched tt white gloved hand, smiled with ever so lightly rouged lips, and spoke in Persian to her interpreter, who happened to he her own brother. “Tell this American L am the first woman in all the long centuries of Afghan history who has worked for the emancipation of the women of my country anil for women’s education.” she said. “And I collaborate, though from afar, in the great work of. women’s progress in the world. I have been told that American women greatly distinguish themselves in this field, and I have for them a feeling of sincere friendship and great admiration.”

KING HIDES CUT; RAZOR SLIPPED.

While the Queen was giving her first, interview American or any other correspondent. Amir Amauullab Khan stood, halt hidden, in the hotel hall, where tht? entire [tarty was waiting for ears, to drive them to the station to take a train for Switzerland. I could not make out whether he was hiding because ol the male’s instinctive vanity not to appear ridiculous in certain circumstances, because the poor King had to call <fl! his trip to Liege on laecount ol ‘'illness. ac-

cording to the local papers and othei correspondents. Alter visiting the King ami Queen of the Belgians, the Afghan King is going to Switzerland in sett roll ol a cure tor some thioat trouble and a carbuncle, the local papers said. The real reason, as apparent this afternoon from his bandaged face, was that he had sultorcd it serious cut while shaving.

The Queen accepted with great presence of mind the uovet sensation of being interviewed. She said she greatly regretted the United States was not represented in Afghanistan, “which has for the Americans such admiration and liking. ’ “This fact.” she said with a wry smile, “will prevent the King and m.Vself from visiting America. Ax long as the United States does not. make official connections with us, we do not see how we can go there on an oflirial visit, allhough we want to greatly.” MOSLEMS FOUGHT GIRLS’ SCHOOL. The Queen explained how she founded tht* first girls’ school of Afghanistan in the capital. Kabul, against fierce resistance from the old-fash-ioned Mohammedan elements of the population. “But my husband quickly repressed the revolt that broke out,” she said with pride, “and a memorial stone in Kabul now commemorates the battle for women’s freedom. Eight hundred girls attend the school to-day. 'I hey are reared like European girls. My mother directs the school, anti 1 help whenever I can.

“T must wear a veil in Afghanistan. hill not- as thick as any other woman’s. As yet no Afghan has ever seen my face. T know the British India officials were greallv surprised when 1 first unveiled. The veil is tinonly concession I make to Mohammedan customs. My dresses tire till matin in Paris, although f often send beautiful Afghan materials to Paris for the dressmakers to work mi." ENJOYS £3200 .SHOPPING IRIP. She revealed that she spent IOO.OO'J francs (about £3200! alone for dresses on this European trip, which i- costing altogether CTVO.OOO, maybe more.

Queen Thouraya wore a marvellous black broadtail mantle, which is the fifth magnificent fur coni Brussels has seen on the Queen. Me- uses a little powder and no rouge on her cheeks, but a tiny bit of lipstick, although her sister, Princess Tarzi. makes up rather much, using oriental ktfl on the rims of her eyes and a good deal of rouge and lipstick. Queen Thouraya, who is primarily an oriental woman, considers her chief merit has been her ability to hold the King’s love through ten years of happy matrimony. Fiercely' autocratic and stern though he is. he is also one of the few Afghans who is not polygamous, and Queen Thouraya considers the credit- is till hers. Amir Amaniillah’s father, the Queen’s sister divulged, had fifty-four wives and seventy children. Queen Thournya’s one sorrow, however, is the fact that •the king’s oldest son is the child of his first wife. However, one of her hoys may be the next king after all, because the oldest is not necessarily the heir to the throne, of Afghanistan, where the people choose a new ruler after the king’s death from among till his sons.