The American patriot. (Clinton, La.) 1854-1???, 1855-11-17
The Turkish H:rem.

following interesting statements:
The word Harem, he began, was q word IA
mliar to most, and yet, despite the familiarity
OF the word, misrepresentation Of the signii-
cancy of the word as applied among the Turks
was almost universal, Most considered it
word that it was not proper to mention to ears
polite The word was only suggestive TO
them of grand conclave Of beautiful women
held imprisoned, as mistrcsses to the sensual
ty of the high magnatcs of the Orienla! coun-
tries This, he proceeded to show, Yves
great mistake. Harem meant nothing more
than the private apartments Of the women of
Turkey. With them it had no such meaning
as that supposed to belong to it among Chris
tian people. II was an arcana Of the Turkish
household, where more often the retired woman
gave her time to her Koran and praying than
to degrading and promiscuous and vile sensl,-
ality. The scclusion of women in Turkey
was custom Of great antiquity. IL was y
custom that prevailed long anterior to the
time of Mahomet. The Koran, indeed, was
only sustainer of the harem. II advocated
the careful sccusion of women from thc rude
gaze of mon. For this reason the houses Of
the Orientals were divided into two apartments
-one for the males and the othcr for the ft-
males, the female apartment bearing the gen
egal designation harem. liarem, therefore, it
was shown, ccrrcspondod very nearly to the
English word home. When Pacha was men
toned as travelling, and having his harem
with him, his family was only women, and il
did not follow that more than one female was
numbered in his family. In no country was
woman more respected than in Turkey. No
one would dare address lady in public. The
husband, even, should he meet his wife, passes
her without showing the slightest recognizancc.
Should one so Ear forget himself as to approach
q Turkish lady unsolicited, he would find hm-
self attacked with that woman's woapon--hcr
tongue--which would be found in Turkey to
possess all the youbility and bitterness Of the
female sex in christian countries. AS showing
further the respect universally shown to women
the cus'em of sacking women was declared
mark of respect. The men alone were except
ed The harem, or the private female apart
ment, was to all intcnts and purposes under
the exclusive control of the women. The Sui
tan himself never entered within its sacred
precincts without consent of its occupants
The children, however, have free iugrcss anl
egress to the two apartments of Turkish,
household.
When the female offspring reaches the age
of ten years this freedom is cut or and she
forms portion of the llarcm. The lecturer
meanwhile gave an account of the harem of the
present rcgnng Sultan. Connected with his
harcm were two thousand females: of shis nun.
Der only seven held the rank of wives. The
luxiries which they enjoyed were graphically
described, as also their habits and mo lc Of liv-
ing. Although the women belonging TO the
~ tan harcm were SO many in numb +, tntY
were not all mistresscs. Included in the har-
EN- were the mother and sisters of the Sultan.
In the royal palace, it might be supposed, the
lecturer adds, there would be numerous repre-
'entativcs OF the rising generation, but this
was II mistake. On the one hand. i: was
he said, Of State policy, TO keep di.
nnshcd the number Of heirs to the throne.
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