Middletown transcript., 1876-09-30
Written for the Middletown Transcript
Centennial Notes No. 8.
TURKEY.


former articles she sends specimens,
from the gorgeous magni6cence Of car
pets measuring from seventy-fve to one
hundred feet square, and in whose
depth the foot sinks almost to the ankle,
down to the course, and almost unbend-
ing strips for common, and bedside use;
seemingly destined to last, at least. one
generation. They certainly surpass in
beauty Of design and thickness all others
exhibited. Turkey makes q grand dis
play Of slate, polished to initiate marble,
and will compare favorably with others
exhibited Of the same nature. She has
quite large number Of shoes on exhi-
bition; those for ladies attracting much
attention, and great deal Of comment
on account Of the shape and frailty Of
the whole fabric. We noticed some
with heels four and FIVE inches high,
and having no back at all-rather diff
6cult to keep on, unless helped with
Spalding's glue, which I doubt not is
for sale in Turkey. Some others had
heels which tapered off to about the
size Of silver quarter. then suddenly
hared out to the same size as at the top
Of the heel Some very handsome kid
and leather shoes are shown similar in
all respects to what are sold by our
fashionable shoemakers Large guam
titles Of mating in various shades, and
patterns; also straw baskets of every
imaginable shape, are exhibited
Along side Of these articles were seen
some old time chair trunks" recalling
to mind the relics of our grandmothers'
garrets; they were profusely ornament
ed with brass nails, and each safely
fastened with tremendous brass lock
at each end. These trunks, though
homely 10 appearance, would stand
better chance with the baggage smash
ers, and outwear any number of the
clap-trap affairs Of this country. whose
chief value lies, not in their strength.
but in the interior decorations and
snuggeries for bonnet and parasol, and
ladies, generally, look to these consider
ations, instead Of something that will
successfully resist the awful slams and
bangs Of professional ''smasher, to
say nothing Of the domestic knocks
But so there is place for "duck Of
a bonnet" and fancy lid over it
decorated with some impossible looking
divinity in spangled jacket, and cute
place for love letters, then it is all right
Why, our ancestors trunks are handed
down from one generation to another
we have one in our family, not SO old
either, which is at least sixty years old,
and in perfect state Of preservation
and has been nearly all over the United
States; while lady from Baltimore
who was boarding with me, speaking Of
the tender condition Of her daughters
two-story and mansard rooted Saratoga
trunk. said ats pretty we'll used up;
this Centennial trip will fix it for
rubbish box T. Some very elegant
tapestries are seen in this department.
also exquisite paintings in oil; one we
noticed in particular-the face Of q
lovely Turkish girl-it was beautifully
painted. showed great skill in the use
Of the brush The display Of soap was
very fine, and certainly looked tempt
ing The Turkish wines, they say ARE
very fine, but never having personally
tasted them. could not vouch for the
truth Of it. The Turks are great smok-
srs and Of course use none but the best
Of tobacco This question we have
had tested at home by our own smokers
and know by the smoke that the Turk
ish tobacco is good.
There is case Of ancient coins in
charge Of very, very fierce old Turk,
who, | think, would decapitate with
gfea. pleasure, every American about
we saw him in one Of his frenzies .
few days ago-an individual had nearly
passed him by. when happening to turn,
to look at the coins, caught sight Of the
old gent, in the red turban, when he
burst out laughing, and laughed one
hoarse laugh after another, until we
really thought be would split his mouth
He was large man, with large face,
and large mouth, and very large
teeth, and an unusual quantity Of them
apparently OF course it was impossi-
bic for any one to keep in countenauce
at this rudeness. and no one did but the
Turk, and be just set his fiery eyes on
the laughing chap. who just laughed
himself out Of sight. forgetting in his
merriment, coins. medals and every
thing else but the old Turk Then the
Turk gave leap for guard standing
near, and with fierce gestures and con-
vulsive limitations of the laughing mans
tone, endeavored to cause the arrest Of
the tickled individual. The guard told
him to ..shut up!'' and we really