The mountain Democrat., 1864-03-05

She took leave Of her caravan, then, bid.
ding her cook to prepare the piflGu for the
following day, and to bless Providence the
while, for on her return the civilization Of
the East would hsve made one great step
In the right direction.
AT the appointed time the escort came
for my aunt, aud after about half an hours
march she was deposited at the gate Of =
very respectable Moorish looking house,
which was illuminated for the occasion
with colored lamps. The pasha was await
ing her arrival at the door, and very po-
litely offered her his arm to the dining
room. When they had taken their places,
Eastern fashion, on couches ranged round
q table covered with fruits and flowers,
my aunt asked permission Of her host to
address to him . few questions. Leave
being granted, my aunt opened Gre some.
thing after this fashion:
''You Ire, presume. thoroughly con-
vinced in your own mind Of the truths Of
your religionS'
Most indu6itabiy, Lily Of the West
replied the Pasha, with the utmost eOur.
tesy. There is but one God, and Maho.
met is bis prophet
'TsIamism, however, you must own
has had its day. You no longer believe
in its precePts; and the proof is you drink
wine
'Mahomet.' replied the pasha-'whose
name be thrice blessed-aware Of the mis-
cries caused by an excess in the use of
the juice Of the grape, has sought to pre-.
serve his followers from its fatal effects,
without, at the same time, entirely pro-
scribing . beverage which, taken in mod.
Grafton, strengthens the body, enlivens
the heart, and attunes it to the delightful
passion of love-
And. suiting the action to the word,
the pasha tossed of glass Of champagne.
Il admit this tolerance rejoined my
aunt; but why not extend it to women 7
Does not the seclusion to which you con.
demn them display evidences of a state Of
things-excuse my frankness--in the last
degree barbarons You speak of love.
Now allow me to ask, can this passion
exist in land where the dignity Of my
sex is so little respected P
"'What you term seclusion, o Rose Of
England, is for them leisure--the liberty
Of doing all that they desire. We cover
them with q vail. it is true. when they
walk abroad, but it is to preserve their
compilations from the rays Of too ardent
sun. The beauty Of women is as the
blossom of the jessamine, which the heat
of the day, alas ! too quickly withers; it
Is q gift Of Allah, which, like all his gifts.
We are enjOined most previously to pre-
serve
My aunt was determined not to be
beaten, and accordingly returned to the
charge again
You sacrifice she said, all this to
btauty in your eyes the gifts and graces
Of the mind are counted as nought.- -
Where, may ask, are those arts VIII ch
shed such luSter on the ftmale mind
music, painting, poetry, dancing Are
they. say. even known in your SerailS =
The paSha, without replying, clapped
his hands, and forthwith heavy curtain
which had hitherto concealed the lower
portion Of the room Was drawn aside, and
two women clad in the Eastern costume
appeared before my aunt. One Of them
held in her hands guitar. the other a
>ilken scarf. At the first chords struck
by her companion, the fair dancer unfurl.
ed her scarf and let it float from her pen
onwi>e in the air; then she would bound
forward as if to recover the Silken banner;
an0, she would make it describe all sorts
| Of graceful evolutions, sometimes waving
| like a streamer. at others forming rain
bow like curves of the most graceful na
ture; again she would recover it, and
cause it to twine in snaky folds around her
form, all ner attitudes during this per-
fOrmance exhibiting the very poetry Of
motion. The notes which meanW lille
proceeded from the guitar, by turns gen.
tie and loud, lively and sad, plainly show.
ed that its chords were swept by q skill
ful hand; the melody was on par with
the dance. The pasha, carried away by
his enthusiasm, clapped his hands loudly,
giving utterance to certain sounds equiva-
lent to Bravo, Delight of the Eyes -
'BraviSsimO, Torment Of the Heart I for
these, it would appear, were the names oi
the fair ladies in question.
TO these two succeeded another pair,
equally beautiful and equally accomplish
ed. One presented my aunt with little
drawing Of rose, which she professed to
have executed with her own hands the
other, being neither musician. painter nor
dancer, recited for my aunt's edification
ghazel, which | shall not intlict upon
you. for the simple reason that do moi
know what a ghazel is; but, according to
my aunt's account, it was something pro-
digiouSly fine. In the midst Of all these
amuSements some friends of the paSha
dropped in to spend the evening with him.
Coffee and pipes were served; the pasha's
ladies-rather nice girls, should say, by
all accounts-joined the party, took their
share Of the refreshments, and entered
into conversation with the guests with the
7 uumOSt unconcern. my aunt was NOT q
little astoniShed at all this, and, if the
truth must be told, somewhat annoyed
She sat perfectly quiet, looking at what
was going on, but without uttering =
word. This silence on my aunt's part was
evidently respected by the paShs, out Of
courtesy, no doubt; but NY aunt said he
would give her look now and then ont
Of the corner of his eye, and she fancied
she could occasionally perceive q slight
smile partially concealed hhder his thick
black smOustachios. Depend upon it the
scamp was laughing at her.
After a white the guests rose from ia
BILE and adjourned TO the gardens, where
they amused themselves by sauntering
about in groups amid the OdOrous shrubs
and flowers. The pasha led my aunt to
kiosk surrounded by orange trees in full
blossom.
"Well, Pearl Of the West he began,
are We still insensible to the charms
which elevate and adOrn your sex D.? and
do y"u still think Us jeaIousI'
MY aunt vas rather taken aback by
/ -