Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-10-26
DAILY EVENING STAR,
THE POWER OF BEAUTY.

Canleio ieduet WIN cosby SILKS and Stufts
of Syria. As they pursued their journey
Semid ie,l INTO conversation with one o
the merchants, an elderly man of milo
ard impressive aspect, who listened with
| delight and wonder to the discourse eff the
stranger, which few could hear unmoved
as to his youth and exquisite beauty
| were now added the wisdom and eXpe-
renee ne had acquired as an Iluaun A
they drew near the termination of theil
journey, the merchant of Bagdad grew
more and more attached to Scmid, and
earnestly pressed him, as he had no home
OF his own, to reside under his roof. par
take of the tolls and cares of his business,
and he to him as a son. They soun be-
held the TigriS flowing in its pride be-
meath the walls of Bagdad, and entered
the gardens of palm trees, on its banks.
Passing through several narrow and ,,n.
paved streets, the merchant and his friend
stopped at the low door of mean look
ing habitation. Being admitted, scene
of luxury appeared within. The court or
area was adorned by noble fountain,
over which hung the orange and the
lemon trees: rccesses in the walls, cover
ed with cushions and carpets, invited to
repoSe; and the interior apartments were
spIcndidly furnished: but when the mer-
chant of Bagdad, after the travellers had
bathcd and perfumcd themselves, bade a
slave call his child, his IIoulema, to well
come her father and his friend, Senid saw
only the form, heard only the voice of the
girl of Bagdad. 1t was even ne, and the
cool apartment, with its trcllised and
projecting windows, hung over the waters
beneath; the moon, that lit up the waves
and their shores, cast her light through
the open lattice-work, at which sat IIou-
lena, who had taken her guitar, and as
she sang verses expressive of the iovs of
home and its dear affections, after long
and cruel separations, like the cool waves
of the Tigris amid the burning sands that
surround it, her voice was ineXprcssibly
sweet. Her form was of the middle size,
and her complexion excessively fair; her
eyes were hazel, her hair dark, and her
bust lovcllcr than was ever formed by a
Grecian sculptor; the small and delicate
foot was no way concealed bv the rich
sandal that held 1t, and the white and
rounded arm was exposed nearly to the
shoulder; in her whole air, in every look
and word, there was spirit Of vivacitv.
as if the soul itself were infused in it. As
sSa Zen J faHf aSa aSt 5tsnef oHe 5 tr spirit PH FAR d r.
fcrcnt to that which the superior beauty
OF the Circassan had inspired.
His venerable patron now began to in
itiate him in the details of commerce,
sent him sometime with caravan of mer-
chandizc to BaSsora, and other parts of
the Persian gulf, and assigned him por-
ton ei his gains. Sclnid saw his in
creasing fortune with indifference. in every
journey always anticipating the hour of
return, he gazcd with rapture from af;.r
on the blue wave of the Tigris that cir
cled round the dwelling of his beloved
Houlcma. The father who from the first
had destined his only child for his favor
ite, TO whom he felt as to an only son,
saw their growing passion with pleasure.
Often when the lovers were st ated in tho
cool lIoSgue that overlooked the wide
plain beyond the city, Seemed told of the
various scenes and revcrscs he had passed
through, while his fine eyes and match
less features bcamcd with affection; ITou-
lena thought she never had bcheld 50
fascinating being, or listened to a voice
ofsuch soul-touching melody. "She loves
mefor myself alone thought Scmid, land
not for my beauty, unlike the youthful
CircasSian whose impctuous and sudden
uit ,,-,,n,,nh. l,,.cl
tiremcnt, and untainted by dissipation in
her tenderness | shall find resting place
at last"
Scmid had been absent Cor some wccts
on a journey to Basra, and one evening
Iioulcma was Solacing herself with music
in the apartment i'll which she had ST
often sat with him, and anticipating his
return, when the chief officer of the pacha
Of Bagdad returning home on the opposite
shore of the Tigrls, heard those sweet
sounds waited across in the stiilncSSiso
| the night, and listened with rapture. Tn,
| next day he told his prince that he had
heard melody, such as none but tn,
Houris who attend the ble>t could hay,
made, and that the woman who possessed
such a voice must be incxpreSsibIy beau,
tiful. The prince S curiosity WAS awaken
ed, he directed inquiries to be made, and
was soon acquainted that it was tht
daughter of the old merchant. whose mel
ody was only inferior to hef lovcliness
Resolved to crafty his passionate desire
of seeing her; he put on the disguise of /
merchant, who sold precious stones ant
ornaments, and being admitted with some
difficulty, by displaying some splendie
Jewels to the sight of Houlcma, was cn
raptured with her beauty. The follow
ing day he sent for the father. and de
manded his daughter in marriage; th'
old man, undazzled by the prospect o
grandeur for his child, and faithful to hi
promise to Semid gave submissive bu
decided refusal. Although enrased a
having his hope crossed by a subject, ye
confiding in his own attractions and rank
became, magnificently attired and attend