The Democratic advocate., 1875-06-05
Our @liu.
From the Ner York 0bseur.
VISIT TO A TURKISH HAREK.
BY AN AMERICAN LADY.

French lady, who has lived here many
years, visits in the harems Of several
Pashas and invited me to accompany her.
donned the best my trunk afforded and
at eleven o'clock we set out, each in a
sedan chair. | had often wondered why
the ladies' l saw riding in them sat SO
straight and looked so stiff, but wondered
no longer when the stout Cretans stepped
into the shafts, one before and the other
behind, and started of. The motion is a
peculiar shake, as il you went two steps
forward aud one back. 1t struck me as
SO ludicrous, my sitting bolt upright like
doll in my little house, that | drew the
curtains and had good laugh at my own
expense
Half an hours ride brought US to the
Pasha's house in Stamboul-a large wood
en- building with closely latticed windows.
We were received at the door by a tall
Ethiopian, who conducted US across q
court to the harem. Here slave took
our wraps aud we passed into little re-
ccption room. A heavy rug Of bright
colors covered the centre of the floor, and
the only furniture were the divans around
the sides The Pashas two wives, having
been apprised of our intended visit, were
waiting to receive us. Madam L.
was an old friend and warmly welcomed
and as she spoke Turkish, conversation
was brisk. She presented me aud we all
curled ourselves up on the diyans. Serv-
ants brought tobacco in little embroidered
bags, and small sheets Of rice paper, rolled
up cigarettes, and soon all were smoking.
The Pasha is an "old style" Turk and
frowns on all European Innovations, and
his large household is conducted on the
old.fashioned principles Of his fore fathers.
His two wives were young and very at
tractive women. One, with a pale, clear
complexion, dark hair aud eyes, quite
came up TO my idea Of an oriental beauty
Mt content, however, with her good looks,
she had her eyebrows darkened, a delicate
black line under her eyes, and little well
applied rouge and powder | regret to con.
fess) made her, at a little distance, a still
more brilliant beauty. | doubt il any
woman understand the use of coamo,;cs NJ
well as these barem ladies Her dross was
I brigb, cherry i'll tho waist ont Low in
from, The st;y, roaoh;,g 10 hor Inoas
Trowssrs Of the same and sIinrers n
match comnleted her costume Tbe o,hs,
wife was equally at,rac,;ve with Iovelv
ble oves ,na soi, wavv bs;r sba wa,
Jresse5 in = White Rrons.a .;lI wa;s,
r;chlv omhro;aored Win cr;,nson ana Ia
braid bIue ill sk;rt white ,ronssrs ana
yellow slinnsrs Thsv both had On = orsa,
deal of ;swelrv Sey.ral se,s 7 .5nuid
,binL wsra d;snossd ahon, ,ha;r aa..sn.
In 80, a., ,ho,,,,L -. = t''o--
shonld cnn.;dsr yorv gooa ,ss,a % b. W
onIv sble 70 we,, ons ns;r & Of [ "arr;,,. ns ,hos
baj ,ho ev,r. na;rs s,d,anad - 49, III: ~
wh;oh wara fIahora,al,, ars.naaa | 80,
,ho;r hasd. and hnnn a"ms as;oJ 49,
Thar. wera hale Jo,en 49,. | !" ~.
room wbo whe, ~, w.;,;nn =. ,ha;.
m;s,rssses son.,,sd on ,ha a.. - I -
and l;s,onad 10 ,ha oo,var..,;oa 90.
was bronah, sImos, ;um"d;a.a,n ,h onse oass
OF lovely blue and white china in pretty
silver holders, on tray Of gilt filigree.
After sitting here while, exchanging
,ho n.~i raau, . - ~, W ;.s P.1 "
dows and door opening into the court.
Here a fountain threw up sparkling let
of water, and several trees and towering
shrubs, with a profusion Of ivy on the
walls, made it very attractive place.
The child Of the eldest wife, bricht-eyed
little boy, was floating ships in the basin
of the fountain, laughing and clappipg
his hands when the falling water unset
them or wet his face. The floor of the
apartment was covered with large. hand.
some rugs, and had luxurious diyaps
around the sides.-little other furniture
seems necessary in Turkish house We
followed our hostess example and seated
ourselves on the diyaps, thouoh not a,
thew did, with their feet under them and
refreshments were served on a LARGE g;lt
salyer. in the middle of which w,s !.