The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-02-01
VIENNA, October l2

script house built by inc orlehtil
DR., Hardl, is wooden building, H.
Illustrating tho houses Of tho wealthy
middle class in Turkey. 1t has two
wings standing somewhat forward
of the main building, but otherwise
the exterior presents nothing very
noticeable. The first room one en-
tors il quite destitute OF furniture
savc in being draped with Turkish
carpets, the use Of which seem to
BIO to hide the nakodness Of the
apartment. Ascending into the up
per story we found two rooms very
elegantly furnished, perhaps more
30 than the pretonsions Of the dwell
ing would warrant, but yet Of gen
uino oriental aspect, The selamik,
which is the reception room of the
master of the house, is carpeted
with u soft Smyrna carpet, whose
bright colors are dmmcd by the
dust from the feet Of the oager
crowd, and it revcnges such football
by angry clouds which fall again,
and lie like heavy pail upon tho
furniture, which consists OF II cabi'
net table and stools, with solid
surface Of inlaid pearl In the cen
ter OF the room stands largo brass
vase with perforated cover, which
we arc informed is used for warm.
ing the apartment by means OF
charcoal burned within the vase.
Tho vase is about three feet and II
half high and with noarly IN equal
diameter at the base, but reaching
up in u graceful form, The ceiling
is irescoed, the curtains are made OF
wooden material embroidered with
colored silk and with gold. A
broad divan occupies the whole Of
ono side of the room, the covering
Of which is Of the same material rs
the curtains. On the other side Of
the hall is the ladies apartment,
and the door which admits one into
it is almost a work of art, being Of
rich dark wood and inlaid with
mother of pearl in beautiful designs,
and is in imitation Of u door in some
palace on tho Bosphorus Tho wall
is covered with n linen tapestry in
red, blue, green and gold, and the
ceiling is painted to correspond.
The floor is covered with a mating
and sofas and chairs, inIaid with
mother of pearl, but quito modern
in form, and which we arc assured
are quite common in Turkey now
a.days, are arranged around the
room, A beautiful marble fireplace
occupies II part Of ono side Of the
room, but it is not u modern fire.
place, for it has no mantle, but
broad marble iacings, not plain, but
ornamental in design, which is
most gothic in character, The cur
tairs are Of crimson silk, embroid-
cred with roses on stripes OF gold
ground, and over each large window
are small windows Of stained glass,
brilliant coIors corresponding to
those of tho ceiling and tapestry,
Empty frames are hanging on the
walls, which in Turkey would DO
filled with mirrors, and inscriptions
in Arabic instead Of with pictures,
and some fancy brackets ornament
another portion Of the walls, and
their use in the Turkish household
is to hold the turbans of the family.
Lifting the piece of carpet which
servesas door, and passing through
Il small hall we enter the bed room,
whose furniture is tho bed, broad
low platform, raised about eighteen
inches, and which is fully four feet
broad and twelve feet long. 1t il
covered with u crimson blanket, and
does not incline one to sigh,
80 bed, bed, bed, delicious bed,
Thou Heaven on earth TO the weary head"
Two bath rooms open out of the
sleeping room and are about eight
by twelve feet in size, lighted
through the arched ceiling by nine
heavy glass bulls eyes the
center one perhaps twelve inches in
diameter, the others about half their
size. The doors are lined with
cloth to make them noiseess and
alright; tho walls of the room
faced about six feet high. The floor
is Of marble, and arrangements are
made for furnishing hot and cold
water. Down stairs the numerous
rooms were empty, and the crowd
took only Il little peep in and went
away, but DESTROYS Of lean ming more
concerning the internal architecture
of the house | wandered on alone
At last doorway closed only with
y carpet barred my progress. My
fate would not certainly be that Of
Fatima in the Blue Beard tale if |
peeped in, for there would be no
bloody key to betry me, and then
too it is not likely that the fates of
the ladies Of the harem are illus.
trated behind that curtain. At any
rate | took ono look, not venturing
too far at first, so rs to be ready to
retreat if need be. My first glance
disclosed small room. or one side
Of which was plastercd range for
cooking, but no untensils. VEN
tured a little further and then
caught sight of u lonesome looking
Turk in fez and flowing robes,
smoking his solitary pipe here in
the deserted kitchen, vainly trying
TO imagine himslf once more en-
Toying the comfort Of his own fire.