The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-29
A NIGHT IN STAMB0UL.

Late upon an August evening, in Constan-
tinople or rather in the dirtiest yet most
picturesque of its suburbs, Pera, party of
five gentlemen we're seated at dinner-table
in one of the large houses that stood upon
the brow of the hill, which slopes down ward
till it reaches the Bosphorus, not far from the
new palace of the Sultan. Their undress
uniforms, and the litter of sabres and forage
caps scattered about the room, suggested at
once that the occupants were attached to one
Of the armies then carrying on the great
struggle in the Crimea. The frequent refer
ences made by all of them to ''the front,
and the tone of interest in which the latest
news was inquired for and given, was usual
enough in any company at that time in Con-
stantinople, bat their familiarity with the
subject, as they discussed it over their wine,
made it apparent that most if not all, of
them were we'll acquainted with the lights
and shades of campaigners life In the
Crimea.
The conversation was carried on in French,
and the light-blue uniforms of the cbGsSeWrS
O cIepaI and the dark uniform of the cbGS-
seuTs O pied, sufficiently established the ma
tionality of the wearers. The youngest of
the party, although wearing the undress of
the cavalry, from the marked accent with
which he spoke, and from those various
shades of difference, more or less defined,
which distinguish the Saxon from the Gaul,
ment he was speaking across the table to
tall, dark, soldierly y-looking man, whose
bronzed countenance bore marks of more
than one hard-earned victory in Algiers.
II say, st. Heliers, q prOpos of our new
eommander-in-chief Did you ever serve
under him in the colonies? Duchesne here
was telling me to. day some stories about him
that would augur rather sharper work at the
front than any we have had hitherto"
81 was sous-lieutenant under him one
summer in Oran, my dear Arden, but we
were in barracks the whole time. Still,
know good deal about him, aud can ven
ture to promise you we shall let the Rus
SLAMS see that that they have at last caught
Tartar in old Pelissier."
'Well," said the gentleman referred to as
Duchesne, 81 am glad he has the command,
but 1 should be sorry to have on my con-
science the load the old fellow must carry on
his after that affair at the Caves"
''Pshaw !" replied st. Heliers, "what in the
deuce was he to do with the beggars? He
had to choose between losing the best part
of his own men, and the destruction of a
horde of murderous rascals But come, we
won't discuss the matter; it's too soon after
dinner for an argument. What's to be done
tonight ?"
First, to arrange where we are to mess to-
morrow-with you, L think, ID DEpernay?" said
Arden.
''All right, mon cheri" rejoined D'Epernay,
good-looking fellow in the uniform of the
line as he rose from the table. "Pdr6leu,
Arden" he continued, halting before the
large double windows, the eastern lattices of
which were thrown back TO admit the soft
night air that came gently breathing over the
pine-tops from the cool waters of the Bospho-
rus below, Il envy you such view as this.
Look here, st. Heliers; look, D'Ardier
Zounds man might, Ill get romantic with
that scene before him
And perhaps no more beautiful stand point
could have been selected among the many
around this most beautiful city of the world.
vast Turkish graveyard, with its dense
groves of Expresses, lay almost beneath their
feet. On the right extended a large, park
like enclosure, its lofty wall bordered with
myrtles and fig trees, whose heavy foliage
and interiacing boughs formed dense
screen against the intrusion of impertinent
eyes. Beyond, over the pines, like a dark
line, swept the rapid Bosphorus, with here
and there a dim glimmering light as a cal
QuedI or belated fisherman shot across the
straits, with his paper lanterns suspended
from the prov. Occasionally the moon,
breaking through the fieecy clouds that
covered the sky, lent an increased brilliancy
to everything. The pines and Expresses
waved in silver spires, deepening the dark
ness of the shadows below; the numerous
palaces of the pachas, with their long glitter
ing lines of illuminated windows, were scat
tered in the distance, and the night-breeze,
cool and moist, from distant Marmora, came
sweeping past, bearing its stolen fragrance
from the jasmines and myrtles of Scutari.
The fragrance of Latakia was apparently
preferred to that of the myrtle by the little
knot that collected around the window at the
call of DEpernay, and meerschaums anG
cigars were lighted in despair of any more
active method of KILN time.
''What bore it is, yawned st. Heliers
''that the opera is over for the month";
D,Ardier, you have not spoken for the las
two hours. / condemn you to suggest some
thing to do"
Goodnight, them" replied D'Ardier; g.
am off to bed. It's nearly eleven, and I've
six-o clock parade in the morning. You fel
lows on leave can lie in bed as long as yeJ
like"
''Hang it all, don't go yeti" said DEper
nay. 81 say, Arden, what's this enclosure
next door to your"
sIt belongs to some old pacha or other,
replied Arden. ''My man tells me he has go
his harem in villa down there among tn,
trees"
sBy the sacred camel I" shouted st. He
liers, making plunge off the divan, ant
nearly upsetting Duchesne, who was perchet
on the back of a chair endeav oring to se
how long he could preserve his balance, &c
have an idea J"
''Well please don't break my neck in you
astonishment at the novelty, but let us hav
it. I've not had such a thing for the las
twenty-four hours.
''Nor the twenty-four years preceding, yo
might add, chimed in D'Epernay, with
laugh.
''Idsten, you fellows" continued St. HI