The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-05-20
LIFE IN A HAREM.

|
ioned principles of his fore fathers His
two wives were young and very attrac.
| tive women. One with pale, clear
complexion, dark hair and eyes, quite
came up TO my ideas Of an Oriental
| beauty. Not content, however, with
her good looks, she had her eyebrows
darkened, while a delicate black line
under her eyes and n little well applied
rouge and powder & regret to conless)
made her at a little distances still mor"
brilliant beauty. ] doubt II any wO.
men understand the USE ot cosmetics as
we'll as these harem ladies'. Her dress
was might cherry silk, the waist cut
low in front, the skirt reaching to her
knees. Trousers Of the same and slip
pprs to match completed her cGsiOmr.
The other wife was equally attractive,
with loving blue eyes aud soft wavy
hair. She was dressed in white
BrOusa silk waist, richly embroidered
with crimson and blue braid, blue silk
skirt, with trousers and yellow slippers.
They both had on great deal Of Jew
elry. Several sets, ! should think, were
disposed about their persons with great
effect, though not in what we should
consider very good taste. Being only
able to wear one pair of ear rings, they
had the extra pair fastened to their
braids, which were elaborately ar
ranged about their heads and hung
down behind. There were half do
zen slaves in the room, who, when not
waiting on their mistresses, squatted on
the floor. smoked and listened to the
conversation. Coffee was brought al
most immediately, the cups of lovely
blue and white china in pretty silver
holders on tray of gilt liligree,
After sitting here awhile exchanging
the compliments of the day, we passed
to the next room, large saloon with
court. IIele fountain threw up a
sparkling JET of water, and several trees
and Towering shrubs, with prOfusion
Of ivy on the walls, made it very at
tractive place. The child of the eldest
wife, bright little boy, was floating
chips in the basin of the fountain, ,laugh-
ing and clappng his hands when the
falling water upset them or wet
Mis- face. The floor was covered with
large, handsome rugs, and along the
sides of the room were luxurious divans,
| little other furniture seems necessary
| in Turkish house. We followed our
hostesses' example aud seated ourselves
on the dpans, though not, as they did,
! with our feet under us, and refresh
! ments were served on large gilt sal
ver, in the middle Of which was hand
some covered dish of Bohemian glaS-
! filed with sweetmeat, with yaSts on
! each SIDE to match, one holding queer
| shaped little spoons with golden bows.
| There were also four glasses OF water
and four minute glasses ot pale yelio"
cordial. Fortunately, the tray was
! passed first to Madam l.. so | watched
her movements and learned what to do
She took sp0oH from one vase dlppeC
it in the Sweetmeat, and after eating
placed her spoon in the empty vase
| Then she took some water and dra TX {
glass OF cordial. So we each did Git Is
polite to taste but Once), and placed thu
sOiled spoon in the vase for that pur-
pose. did not need to be told that Thu
sweetmeats were rose leaves, for thu
flavor was perfectly preserved.
Madame l., kindly repeated most o
the conversation, which, on their side
was chiefly composed of questions con
cerning Madam LIS family Was hel
husband as kind as ever, had he mad
her any presents lately was | mar
ried what was my husbands person
al appearance did love him ? how
old was /? where fromP and where
going ? These and similar questions
which are considered perfectly polit,
and proper, they ask with the curioait!
of children.
Then we were invited into a third
room where we were served with viOle
sherbets, cake ana Turkish paste. AT
ter partaking Of these the ladies sen
for their Jewel boxes, and displayed
their treasures, which consisted of pins
earrings, necklaces, mead and belt 0rna
ments, some very handsome, and al
composed of precious stones of more o
less value, for Turkish woman doe
not value an ornament that Is not Sc
with precious stones. This was al
agreeable change from the former con
versation, and when we had admire,
their Jewels break fast was served III
servants brought scarlet rug of sOf
shaggy stuff, which was spread on tn
floor a low round brass table, tw
feet high and three in diameter, wa
placed in the center of this ug, and W
four ladies seated ourselves around tn
table la Turque. A servant brough
& brass basin, which was like an i'm
mense washbowl with a cclander in
turned upside down we washed ou
hands over this, water being pOure
over them from a large coffee pot
should call it) with an unusually lon
, nose, and wiped our hands on hand
some towels embroidered at the end
with gold thread. A dish of fried tis
1 was placed on the table for the tr:
course each helped ourselves to ont
laying it on the table before her (w
had no plates, knives or fOrks), picl
ing 1t to pieces aud eating /, with he
: fingers. When this was ended the d.
/ bris was thrown on the platter and re
, moved, the table wiped off and dis
, of rice and mutton brought for th
z we had spoons, but all ate from I'll
q dish. Then came an immense caul
b flower covered thick with strange tas
ing cheese, and the Turkish ladies use