Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-05-08
PAREPA ROSA.
Her visit TO the Khedive's Harer

Her Visit 90 the KhedIVe's Harem.
A private letter from Madame Parepa-
Rosa to a friend in New York gives an
interesting account of visit to the la
dies of the Khedives harem. We
were obliged" she says, like all ladies
visiting the harems, to be dressed in gay
colors, as they will not see any one in
black, nor do they like dark dresses.
We were driven to the different palaces;
but will describe the one of Princess
Said. You drive to the door OF the
outer court, and there, all of row, sit
about sixteen or eighteen eunuchs,
dressed like European gentlemen, but
wearing red turbans on their heads, with
great deal of jewelry. There is a
heavily wadded curtain of patchwork,
most lovely, with weight at the end;
that is lifted, and you enter the yard OF
the harem; then you pass another thick
curtain, and find yourself in a pretty
garden, with flowers and lots of orange
trees overpowering you with SCENT this
garden leading to the staircase OF the
house, is filled with girls from thirteen
to eighteen or twenty--some very lovely,
Others very ugly-dressed with a loose
gown drawn in at the waist by belt OF
bright colored cotton stuff, and sort OF
little turban on the head of different
colored tarletanes, very bright, with a
flower stuck in the front part OF it for
the slaves, and a beautiful jeweled
branch for the ladies. They looked
at US very curiously, and put their
hands FIRST to their lips, then to their
foreheads, as welcome. The room we
we're ushered into was about twice as
large as Stei9Bay Hall, with large
bird cage in the middle, diVans all
around, and looking glasses, and two
large tables. The slaves brought Us a
lighted pipe each of two yards in length,
all the stem wrought in gold, and the
meuth piece of large piece of amber,
attached to the pipe BY q great row of
diamonds in a gold nat ring setting. We
smoked the pipes they resting on small
silver salvers laid on the floor to prevent
the carpet burning. Then they brought
us coffee in an exquisite little cup with
ont handle, the cup being placed on
an esa CUP lsuch as one uses in England
| for boiled eggs Of hligree Of gold all
studded with diamonds. The adopted
daughter Of tho Princess speaks little
French, and was very nice to US. An
othsg Princess, the daughter-in-law OF
the khedive, speaks perfect French, and
kept me a long time talking. She vas
dressed in the highest Partisan fashion,
a charming girl Of fourteen, just married
q lev Eeeks ago to the second son Of the
viceroy." Jnst before leaving Cairo,
Madame Rosa had remarkable benefit
at the opera house, Of which We cite an
acocnDt The benefit was taken in
band bg the pest Greek, English and
American resiqents here, who raised
subscription among themselves 10
illuminate the theater with wax
candles, asd buy up the whole thea
ter for their friends, the public
having a poor chance for places, and
offering any sum for seats and boxes.
They ordsred go bouquets, and sonnets.
in different languages, printed on differ
ent colored paper At the eleventh
hour ltwenty-four hours before the per
formance) Medini, the hasso, Who vas ts
have sung q Greek song. vas taken IN
and could not sing. 90 / had 10 learn
song in Greek You NAV fancy ny
agony at pronounciug . language ! don't
knou, but they all say ] did Il very vel,
and the public nearly vent mad over