Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-10
THE
A DINNER in THE HAREM.
FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 10, 1855.

a DINNER IN TIE iIAREM.
from Mrs Ho.aty's wo'k on CoaSian'irCp'e ]
AT the entrance of the dining-room stoad
two Arab slaves, richly attired. To each Ia
d., as she entered, one of these held a beau
tiful silver bowl, while the other poured rose
water over her hands from a vase Of the same
richly chased material. Two little slave
girls presented fine napkins, the ends en-
broidercd in gold, on which We each shook
the rosewater from our ii gers. The Inning
room wac a most iuxuri Us apartment close
" latiiced, TOR it looked into the streets Il
STEAMBOAT, but cheerful ard rich IN crimson
disaps and carsel and PAINTED flowers Ga
the walls aud ceiling. All had !e9n done 10
make the cage bearatla. RiVa picha', ba'
rem is, | am told, one Of the most 'tashlona-
ble," which accounted for sceing IN EurePean
table. adorned with handsome centre piece
and four beautiful vessels Of Il )werS aud lruit
after the French fashion. The dlnhe: ser
vice was of rare and beautiful! China, the sii-
yer knives and forks were extremely hand'
some, the serceHe delica,e!y iue, the flowers
exouisi,ely arranged, and Mingled "i'h
oranges aud lemons, in Eastern fashion; The
slaves were standing rouud, three or Hour
deep. awaiting our slighses, s'sD; "e seii SUI
more ia the land Of dreams. tirst 0i all,
they placed to each guest sparkling wa;eI-
bottle and glass. Then a II e chiiia plate
containing a fl st rlll OF kind OF rye bread,
called semeet, quite new and warm. and cav
cred with seed, which, Dot being 2 cataFy or a
linnet, | objected to. Then soup vas ser'ed
"A great novelty IN a harem; 1t was most
exceiient-chicken aud verniceiiI. IpeL
came a dish of pilau OF chicken aud rice, done
brown. | sat next TO the chief vile, on her
right hand; as the slave held the d,sh, sac
pointed out the incest pieces, begging me 20
take them. The fair Circassian sat opposite
TO one. was curious TO SEQ II they reilly
seemed to like the modern innov"tloh q
knives and folks. For the first few INMATES
they used Extraordinarily 10 do as We dad;
but the Circassian beauty failing 10 seca'e
the particular piece of chicken she coveted
with q troublesome fork and spoon, threw
those incompetent auxIiinrles down, auu
grabbed successfully, and t. her eotire SUITS,
faction, with Der tIgers. She then looked
at me and laughed, and showed me- bow TO
take a piece Of bread between ny hoseIS,
begging US to eat a Ia Turqae, winch they
we're all doing themselves, last, and inFi"u.;
and to please them we accordingly pleSed d
few chicken bones with our iiugers. We had
all three been enchanted with the iair Cii-
c~assian, as | have told y%ou--with her beauty,
her wining, yet lofty manue17, and exquisite
grace; we had seen Der smoke, AID admired
her still; we he'd even forgiven her tor loving
the barbarous noise 10 the "concert 81 muse"
but to see her lick her fingers up to tue last
Joint after each dish--;o see her lick her Ia
vorite tortoise she'll spoon bright, after sue
c~essi1e Observation-Disclosures enormous
platefulls Of sweet pancakes, tan1ed WHO
honey, and tarts TOO luscious Tor the hhaNc
of Hearts-this was too much for Venus her
self to have done with impunity; sc were per-
fectly disenchanted long before the least vas
over.
The rest were not so bad, (eXcep:ibg Mad.
Liston, who might as well have a trough at
once. but We began to feel rather sick alter
the first few dishes were dispatched, aud tie
animal passions OF the ladies began TO lie
reused By their fayorite sweets AID >jeilie>,
which they tore to pieces with their tn-erS,
and threw down their t6roats III large Jumps.
The jester waited at the table, presenting the
principal dishes with jokes which CAUSED
bursts Of laughter from the ladies and the
slaves 10 attendance, who seem perfectly at
home and ON very free and easy terms with
their mistresses, Notwithstanding their COM
plete submission to them. The jester was a
wild aud most extraordinary looking woman
with an immensely Of bread humor and dTol-
lery in her lace. We thought il quite as we'll
that We could not understand the kes at
which the fair Circassian, between the inter
walls of licking her fingers ard spoon, and pop
ping tithits On our plates, laughed go COMP"
Gently, and which sometimes obliged the
Arabs and eunuchs at the door 10 dive under
the srras to conceal their uncomfortable fits
Of mirth.