Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-01-27
A New Victim.

From Mrs. LeOnowen's Romance of the la
| rem" THIU 1868.
Smayatee was led into the adytum o
the dukes palace, conducted to a small
chamber, and left there; while her
guards betook themselves to their din
ner. Very soon, the rumor of her great
beauty having spread, nearly all the
lovely girls in the harem rushed out tc
get glimpse of her; but finding hei
closely yelled, and that no persuasion
could avail with her to uncover her face
they gradually departed, one young
woman only remaining behind, sitting
apart in silent sympathy.
After while two female physicians
came in, talking.in low tones one to the
other. They then proceeded to ques-
ton the girl, and to all Of their questions
she returned modest replies; after they
we're satisfied they bade her lnrobe,
which she did with some hesitancy.
When she laid aside her veil. her eyes
met those of her silent visitor; an indie
scribable something beamed from every
feature of the stranger, and they became
friends. The physicians then examined
the girl, Just as if she were an animal;
having finished their inventory of her
perfections and imperfections, they
dropped few pleasant words, and de-
parted. Smayatee had no sooner
dressed herself and taken her place
close to her new friend, and they had in
q brief moment exchanged names, when
another batch of women appeared, and
told her to follow them. She rose, and
went out holding her new friend
hand. After passing through dark
and silent street, they brought her to a
marble building with baths and foun-
tains all around 1t. Here she was again
told to undress, and take her place on
a marble couch. With her eyes she
pleadingly besought her friend to stay,
who did so, seated, leaning against a
pillar. The bathers then anointed
Smayatee's person with fragrant pre-
paration; when she was completely be-
smeared they suspended their labors, in
or0er to let the stuff dry on the poor
girl, who knew no more what was going
10 be done to her than if she had been a
little kitten; and as she sat there, her
skin glowing and her heart palpitating,
she heard herself discussed by the
bathers, whose language she only parti-
ally understood. But she heard enough
to realize the life in store for herself.
After half an hour they seized her again,
rubbed off briskly the dried paste, and
showered buckets of hot and cold water
upon her. Another set of women now
took charge of the poor girl, and dressed
her in beautiful silk robes, like those
worn by the Loatian women of high
rank. Her hair was combed, periumed,
and ornamented with flowers. Finally
she was conducted to a pretty little
house, luxuriously fitted up, and left in
charge of number of female slaves.
@Smayatee now wore a new veil of In
dian gauze, but she would rather have
kept the old one. She covered down in
a corner, and laid her tired head in the
lap of her new friend, who began patting
and soothing her, without uttering a sim
gle word.
Most girls, as soon as they have over
come the horror which such life must
naturally inspire in the young aud en-
thusiastic, begin to calculate on their
ehanoes Of promotion to the highest
place in the harem.
AS for Smayatee, no thought bat OF
escape presented itself to her mind; her
nature was too wild and untamed TO be
hattered by the luxuries that now sur
rounded her; she looked upon them only
as so many fetters. All kinds Of wild
plans for running away took violent pos
session of her brain; but the soothing
influence Of the bath, combined with the
exhaustion Of the day, overcame her, and
she was soon sound asleep.