Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-28
paiIp sIrnnebrt Journal
TrE SWEEP MATTERS OF EuRaPE.

Ii is the fashion for the world to go on
Friday to the Sweet Waters of Europe. the
inlet of the Golden Horn, flowing down
between two ranges of hills. This vale.
which is almost AS celebrated in poetry as
that of the Heavenly Waters on the Asiatlc
shore. is resorted to by thousands, in hun
dreds OF carriages from Pera, in thousands
of caiques and barges. On the water, the
excursion is festival of the people, OF
strangers, of adventures of both sexes,
the more fashionable though not moral
part of society, which have equipages to
display, go by land. We chose the water,
and selected a large iour-oared caique. in
the bottom OF which we seated ourselves.
after dozen narrow escapes from upset
ting the totish craft. and rowed away,
with the grave Ab-del-Atti balanced be-
hind and under boads TO preserve his eX-
act equilibrium All the city seems to be
upon the water; the stream is alive with
the slender, swift caiques; family parties,
rolicking midshipmen from some foreign
vessel. solitary beauties reclining in selfish
loneliness. grave Tat Turks in stupid en-
joyment. No voyage could he gayer than
this through the shipping, with the multi
dinous houses of the city rising on either
hand. As we advance, the shore is lined
with people. mostly ladies in gay holiday
appareL sguattihg along Upstream. rs on
ASPIRING aayain Paris. those who cannot
afford carriages line the avenue 10 the l1os
de Bologne to watch the passing pageant.
The stream grows more narrow, AT length
winds in graceful turns. and finally is only
few yards wide, and the banks are re-
tanned by masonry. Tie vale narrows
also, and the hills draw near The water
way is choked with gaiy'painted caiques,
full Iof laughing beauties and reckless
pleasure-seekers, and the reader of Egyp-
aan history might think himself in a sat
urnalia of the revel-makers in the ancient
fete OF Bnbastis on the Nile. The women
are clad in soft silk-blue, red, pink. yell
low and gray-some OF them with their
faces tied up as if they were the victims Of
toothaehe, Others. wearing the.gauze wells.
which enhance without concealng charms
often The color and beauty that nature has
denied are initiated by paint and enamel.
We land and walk on. Singers and play
ers on curious instruments sit along the
bank and in groups under the trees fill
the festive air with the plaintiff and I'M
trained Oriental music The variety of
costumes is innumerable; here meet all
that Is gay and fantastic In Europe and
Asia. The navigation ends at the white
marble palace and mosque which we now
see shining amid the trees, fresh with May
foliage. Booths and tents, green and
white, are erected everywhere, and there
are many groups of gypsies and fortune
tellers. The olived complexioned, black
eyed. long haired women, who trade in
the secrets of the Orient aud the vices OF
the Occident, do thriving business with
those curious of the future, or fascinated
by the mysterious beauty OF the southsay-
ers. Besides the bands of music there are |
solitary bagpipers whose instrument is a
skin. with-a pine for mouth-piece, and
another at the opposite end having grad |
uated holes for lingering; and l noticed
with pleasure that. the, lingering and the
music continued long after the musician
md ceased to blow into the inflated skin. |
Nofbing was wanted to the most brilliant
scene; ladies' in bright groups on gay
rugs and mats, children weaving head
dresses from leaves and rushes, crowds OF
carriages, ine horses and gallant horse
men, sellers OF re freshments balancing
great trays on their heads, and bearing
tripod stools, and all degrees of the most
cosmopolitan capital enjoying the charm
lug spring holiday. In the palace grounds
dozens OF ipeacocks were summing them !
selves, and the Judas-trees were in full
pink bloom. Above the palace the river
flows in walled banks and before it reach
es it, tumbles over an artificial fall of
rocks, andssw ceps round the garden in a
graceful cufre. Beyond the palace. also
on the bank OF the stream, are grove of
superb trees and a greensward; !, here a 4
military band plays, and this Is the fash
ionable meeting place for carriages. where
hundreds were circling round and round |
in the Initiated etiquette of Hyde Park.
We came down at sunset, racing swiftly |
among the caiques, passing and passed by
laughing boatfuls, whose gay lhangings
trimmed Ia the stream, as In pageant on
the Grand Canal OF Venice, and watching
With the interest OF the philosopher only.
the light boat of beauty and Fatality pur-
sued By the youthful caique of inexperi-
ence and desire. The hour contributed
10 make the scene one of magical beauty
-Scribner's Monthly. Ia a--.'