The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-07-18
A Turkish Harem.

stantinople as follows After leaving the
carpet store, went to call upon portion
OF the family Of Subri Pasha, whom / had
met at the bath. He is one of the wealth.
lest Turks in Constantinople, and has the
finest harem and horses Of anybody, except
the Padisha himself l had met four of
his wives, and on their invitation called.
was met at the gate by the chief eunuch,
and after having given him my card, was
ushered into the sitting room, while he
acquainted the ladies Of my presence. |
suppose they were not dressed for visitors,
for | had TO wait more than an hour be-
fore the summons came that might enter
the grand saloon. was so cold | could
hardly move when / did start, and think
my nose was the prettiest violet color i'm
aginable. suppose the intention was to
have the full magnifcence Of the scene
burst upon me at once, and that they we're
to enjoy the surprise that j should exhibit
at the luxurious elegance of the decora-
tions. | walked from one end Of the room
to the otherefull eighty feet, before found
the ladies who had invited me, who were
standing while all the rest we're sitting
They greeted me kindly and seated me in
the middle Of a divan, while two Of them
took seats on each side, and then came the
inevitable coffee and preserves. Those
scented or favored with violet or rose
seemed to me too much like hair oil to be
relished very keenly, but / made martyr
of myself courageously.
After the refreshments were disposed of
the other ladies gathered about me, one by
one, and without the formality of an in
production, began to talk. Some of them
only spoke Arabic, Others Turkish, and
others spoke Greek and French, while one
little slave-girl spoke pretty fair English,
an accomplishment she seemed very proud
of. After little Of the first awkwardness
wore of the women volunteered to show
me their jewels and children, and notic-
cd that those who had the most children
had the least jewels and fine clothes. They
do not seem to be over-fond Of each other,
these women, and / think | should be
much the same in the same predicament.
One would tell me that this one or that
one had no bust, or that she was painted,
or had to dye her hair because it was
blonde or red, or that she had ugly feet,
or that she told so many lies that the Pasha
hated her, etc. OF course this brought
denials and other accusations, and / began
to think we were to have a battle-royal,
when the chief eunuch came and looked
sternly around, and the quarrel ceased at
once.
Two Of the ladies then rose, and asked
if would like to visit their bedrooms and
inspect their wardrobes, and / rose and
followed them out of the grand saloon,
leaving the others there to talk about us
as much as they chose.
We traversed long corridor, the floor
of which was of many colored porcelain in
pretty figures, and at the extreme end of
which were the rooms we had come to see.
Each lady had three rooms to herself, and
the furnishing of them was generally left
to her taste or caprice. They were ar
ranged very well, and the furniture was
very handsome, but curious in form. A
regular Turkish bed is something quite
different from ours. There is no bedstead
or mattrass, but about't thirty very thickly
padded quilts, covered with silk or satin,
laid one on top Of the other on the floor,
till they are about two feet deep. The
sheets are invariably of silk, embroidered,
and the coverlid is a marvel of gold and
silver embroidery on satin or velvet. The
pillows are of pink, blue or yellow satin,
covered with beautiful lace. From the
ceiling hangs large jewelled and gilded
hoop, and from this rich lace curtains
which encircle the bed. To hold their
robes they have innumerable brass mailed,
camphor wood trunks, and as one of these
after another was turned out for me TO see
the contents, began almost to lose nv
head in the confusion Of colors and beauty
ofmaterials. Iadmired the things to their
hearts content, and then we all went back
to the grand saloon, my guides assuring
me that their husband kept them better
dressed than even the Sultan's wives. I
asked If they were very happy, and they
said yes, why not, when there were no
women in Constantinople who had more
jewels, or more clothes, or nicer horses to
their carriages. I said, very true, and
asked no more, except what they amused
themselves with. They rode every day
when the weather was fine; they went to
the public bath; they went to the Sweet
Waters and played tricks on the eunuch,
when they could they went to the bazaas,
and bought new dresses and had them
made, and then paid visits. asked what
they did when the weather was bad, and
then they sighed and said, that there was
nothing to be done then, only sometimes
they sang, and had the girls dance, and
played with Chinese shadows -omJres
Chinoises, they called them.
A Coon IDEA.-Here is suggestion
that is worthy Of some attention awhy
should not farmer put his name upon his
gate or the entmnce Of his premises and