Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-09
THE TURKISH PRINCESS.

THE TURKISH PRINCESS.
Among other iptroduc,ions we tWo English
6uuen had brought letter to certain Turk
lsh princess, widow of pasha, and reputed to
De beautiful, amlable, and agreeable lady.
The presentation Of this nlssiVe required some
little formality but after one or two Interviews
between our dragoman and Her Royal High
oess' chief of the household, all was arranged;
and oCe sultry afternoon we found ourselves at
the gate of the palace.
Two very smart negroes, dressed 10 black
sroekcoats and trousers, received Us With state
iv polileoess. We were led through garden
io tie front Of the house, where several wo-
men servants received US, and the men retired.
These TWO women, ut first glance, might have
bveu taken for English maids of all work; but,
III closer inspection, their olive features and
white crspe turbans betrayed an Oriental "a
tlonsli,y They were 10 fact Circasslan slaves.
o. the terrace sat very ugly Old duenna,
smoking long pipe. We bowed TO each other
and she rose With difficulty to accompany as to
rhe reception room, q long apartment that
made US fancy we were in 9 fashionable iodg-
iog house at St. Leonard's. Excepting few
ku;ck .knacks ali the furniture had come from
Puris aud Londcn, and was 10 very bad taste
Indeed. The old lady motlooed Us 70 slt down.
oiu.s we're presented to US, which We refused
with all praciousness attaipabe; then followed
long ,ause, during which our comps0lon
continued to puff away and stare hard without
word
Then the princess entered. She was tail and
slender and very handsome with pearly skin,
delica.ely-cut textures, and black hair and eyes.
Her dress was simply perfect, ample, flowing,
easy, Of soft, Doiseless, lustrous silk, the pre-
else hue of which it was impossible to describe;
il vas something between an asphodel blossom
and the palest pink coral, and yet neither the
ore uor the other approached it at all nearly.
Aruuud her head was wound little turban OF
delicately. gauze, fastened over the fore
head with Jewel. Now, am sorry to con-
tess lhel his graceful aud imposing creature
was suol an inreterate smoker that it seemed
the solo business of two or three OF her slave
sirls to supply her wants. During the two hours
that we were hcnored With her presence one OF
lhose automa,ou-like figures would come 10
abuu, seven or eight minutes, Qnsummoned.
aud hand each Of the ladies cigarette. Any
.hlup ulore like machinery could not be con-
ycived., There was no salatation on the part
Of the servant, 90 acknowledgment on the part
Of The mistress. The cigarettes came and went,
aud that was all Meantime, our hostess had
sent for the French goyerness OF her little
adopted daughter, Gilpare, to act as interpre-
ter; and soon the governess and her young pu-
pill appeared. Coffee was handed to " in little
jswsIed cups. The French lady made some
;hiug like socisbility possible, and We were ask
ed ii we should like some music aud dancing.
--Ofe course, the proposal was accepted JOY
eblx :, , ,,., y ..;a -.
E.sucb poyerness to me; ''the Turkish national
airs ere 60 nsivc, and the princess has among
her Young slaves some really 6ne yoicee."
''We do not realize at home, l said. that
slavery still exists in the East"
"Oh, but what kind of slavery? These girls
are happier than our cooks and housemalds at
home. The princess is like a mother 10 them.
Some abe marries off ard provides with dowry;
to oil she is kindness itself. They have no cares
think of that /"
Not being able to argue the point from her
standpoint, I vas silent. | could readily be
Icvc that our hostess would be good and kind
to everybody aud everything under ber care !;
but the thought was uppermost 10 my mind,
how differently such goodness and kindness
work in our own conditions OF society. ;Wath
Us good mistress Is sure to have snall0g
household. Here no Que smiled Every. look
and movement Of the dozens of woman we saw
about us, most Of them young gitls, was joyless,
mechanical, monotopous They were evident
y neither starved nor beaten, nor overwosked;
but ,hepreyailipg look Of apathetic bel plesapess
and hopeessness was very depresslngt to unac''
customed eyes.
Meantime, the musicians and dancers enter
ed, ten in number, all Circassans. The latter
wore Turkish trousers Of white huen, striped
With gold, bright silk sashes, and flowers, 10
their hair, which was long and towing. The
Gneius had something inexpresslbly savage
about it, consisting fer the post part OF Wild
chants repeated again and again TO mon-
otonous accompanimcnt. Alter the sopgs
came dancing, which issed rear'y ON bbur
series Of gymrastic t.ats and excIcis-
ss could, indeed, be called dsLcing. The
wood cuts 10 Wilkinsop's Ancient Egypt,
lsus," representing women tumblirg AID per.
forming feats of agility, from the temple OF
bsni Hassan, would give better idea OF the
entertainment than any descriptions 10 whiting
The jumps, prostratious, rhythmic movement
Of the arms, standing on the head, aud other
ungraceful, laborious performances displayed
TOR our amusement, must be very like those OF
the dancing women of the time OF the Phaf-
sOhs.
On the termination Of the dance We rose TO-
take lesvo, Gilpare, her governess, aod halt
dozen maids--I mean slaves-accompsoled
y: to the gardsu, where We were presented
Nth roses; then they retired, and we drove
away without the slightest wish ever again to
enter the precincts of harem. The aono.-
0ny, the inaui,iou, the dead-alivc atmosphere
we're uueudurable III Pethons Edsoards.
SoAPs, SOAPS he ney, Glyeernee, Rese,
y pNsr L., Tr,pttA p.