MODERN PERSIA AXD ITS CAPITAL 



355 



PERSIAN WOMEN IN INDOOR COSTUME 



This modified ballet attire was introduced from Europe in the latter part of the nineteenth 

 century. The story is told that Xaser-ed-din Shah, upon attending the opera in Paris during 

 a European visit, was much attracted by the ballet and ordered that the entire front row be 

 purchased at once for his harem, which already contained several scores of carefully selected 

 beauties. Disappointed in this desire, he had to be content with the adoption of the ballet 

 skirt by the ladies of his harem, whence the new fashion rapidly spread. 



