The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-16
Choosing a Wife.

In Madame Kibrizli. Mehemet. Pasha's
book on harem life, we find an amusing
example OF tho mode in which wives are
obtained among the Turks. II appears
that general with the somewhatform
dable name Of Gueuzluklu. Rechid-
Pasha, knowing the experience that
Madame K. had acquired In the world,
commissioned her TO choose him q wife,
who was TO have "a slender figure, o
spiritual phySiognomy, and black hair. :"
Z" l at once began the campaign says
the lady, "and having put on myhand-
soonest attire, I sailed forth upon o
round Of visits to all the families Of o
rank equal to thnt Of the General. The
custom is as follows: You present
yourself at the door OF a house where
there is a young Indy OF manageable
age residing. 'What do you want,
madame2 'Iw wish TO see your daugh.
ter Thereupon follows an introduc.
ton TO the saloon, and you are invited
to take seat upon the diyan, until the
young lady completes her toilet. Pres
emily she comes forth clad in her rich.
est robes, salutes you with her hand
kerchfef, seats herself, with eyes cast
down, on a seat placed purposely for
her. Soms coffee Is then brought in q
small silver cup, which is supped very
slowly, as the young lady always disap.
pears the moment the cup is empty.
Presently one Of her relatives approach
es you and asks what you think Of her.
Naturally, nothing is said but eulogies
OF the young lady, whereupon they emu
merate 10 you her dresses and her jew
els, stating also the value OF her dowry.
Care must DO taken not to believe too
much Of all this, for very often the rela-
tiyes soy they will give much more than
they can or will give, aud, though they
break their word in this respect, the
daughter or sou.in-law have no resource
against them.
81 assured the family that I would
give q faithful accountto those who had
sent me; and I did in fact make q re.
port every evening to my husband, who
transmitted II TO the General. The lat
ter, however, showed himself very dill.
cult to please. Sometimes lie found
that the girl had too many relations, or
that she was too tall, or too old; some
times the fortune was not sufficient.
For twenty days I ceased not to visit
the dwellings Of all the ulemas, minis
tiers, and high dignitaries in general.
Tired at length Of making so many
Ruthless INQUIRIES, / resolved to accept
the first that came to hand thereafter.
She proved TO be tall, robust girl,
with regular features, but her hair and
eyebrows were red. Gueuzluklu, II
will be remembered, wanted quite the
contrary. I, however, offered her the
bouquet, enriched with diamonds, which
his Excellency intrusted TO me for pre-.
sentation 10 the lady who was TO be
chosen.
az took her TO my own.house, but
was careful not to whisper q word
about red hair. AT my request clever
Greek dyed her locks deep black, u
also her eyelashes and eyebrows. This
contrasting with the natural delicacy o
her skin, produced 0 very. agreeable
effect. In spite Of these precautions
however, l felt q little terror, for tn,
General Threatened to send her hom
on the morrow after the wedding il sh,
was not to his taste, and give vent !,
his anger not only upon my husband
but upon myself. However, the mex
day he thanked me for the choice l hat
made, and his affection for his wife be
came SO strong that he wouldneyertak
o second" &.