The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-25
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the odelisk are kept the soft carpets, the
brilliant rugs. the siIken embroideries,
the mirrors, the fountains, the polished
woods; for here is lived the life of init.
macy and secrecy into which not even
friend or relative can enter. Turkish
lie is sealed go completely, that 1t is not
only difficult but nearly impossible to
know what masses behind the finely
trellised windows, and for this reason
and the absolute government of the
Turks in their houses, 1 can readily be-
lieve those stories of terrible cruelties
and crimes committed by the barbarons
masters on wives and slaves; in fact,
as an active criminal agent, poison is
in frequent use, and I have heard
Turks talk of the strong coffee with a
cool and terrible emphasis. Talking to
Turk of his wife or the female mem
bers OF his family Is to commit the most
gross impoliteness, and banished from
the subject OF social conversation are
all those polite inquiries OF chow is
your wife's health7" etc. In fact, the
wife OF one OF our ambassadors, In pre-
sentiDg some beautiful presents to one
of the pachas, which of course were in
tended for the lady-members of his
household, used words such as "Here
are the stuffs which you know better
than any one how to employ" There
fore, 1t is one of the incongruities of this
barbnrous, gross. and selfish, they yet
can have their susceptibilities wounded
more quickly than any other people in
the world.
LOVE. INTRIGUE5 IN EGYPT.
An Egyptian girl or woman, conceal
ed behind her Shu-Gdk (window), sees
pass Il man who pleases her fancy. She
calls, and, as the head of the unknown
is raised, a flower, note, or hand
kerchief, is dropped at his feet. This Is
not vet a rendezvous. but an invitation
the moment the favored one leaves the
spot, the door opens, and eunuch or
negress follows him. This servant Is
charged to know who he Is, where he
rests, what is his name, and condition
of life.
The day after, in passing by the same
house, if a flower, or other token, again
tails from the same window, the lover
knows that the report of the servant is
made, and that his suit Is favorably re-
ceived.
Now adds Mahmoud Il translating
into fairer English his odd expresslons),
lis the dangerous time. Sometimes al
the cafe, sometimes in the street, you
are met by an old woman, who tells you
that such and such Il man has beauti-
full daughter, who wants to be married
She has the beauty OF a princess, and
all the charms that can tempt the imagi-
nation
Il wish to see her = says the lover.
'Impossible,' replies the old dame.
'GaZe upon the beauty of a child OF the
faithful before neutrality-suspicious.
Forbid!
Il wish to see her, repeats the lover,
unmoved, and he slips a piece ofgold
into the wOman's hand.
You shall behold the Story of her
eyes, replies the woman, softened.
.No,-more,' repeats the lover, and
woman.
You shall behold her rosy mouth,
filled with teeth beautiful as the pearls
on the sultana's neck
'More!'
And, at the third gold piece, the wo.
man leaves the lover, saying, You are
the prince, and am your slave!
From that moment the interview Is
determined on.
The best occasion Is generally that OF
the mosque or the baths. Ia the shad-
ows of the former, at a proper moment,
the girl will remove her veil, even so
far as to expose her neck and shoulders,
that Is, If some jealous eunuch is far
enough away. AS to the bath-this Is
a thing more full of danger and cog uet-
~. The master of the bath is nearly
always in the intrigue. He has two
bGck8hishes to gain: one on the part of
the woman, another. from the lover
The eunuchS, or slaves, rest at the door
of the bath. These immense halls have
a cupola on high, pierced with thou
sand little holes, each of which Is sup
posed 10 be covered with glass; but the
lover discovers that some are not thus
closed, when he is led by. the master to
the roofof the building, where, II he
be wise, he will be able to judge of the
rests in all the charming negLige of the
bat h-toilet.