Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-08-14
A Strange story.

Towards the close of the last century
que wealthy and most respectable
French family bearing the name of
Rivery. Ii consisted of a father, moth
er, boy and girl. The latter was
raised with the most jealous care, and
when it became necessary to send them
to France to finish their education the
aged and pious pair parted from them
in deepest sorrow. Four or five years
rolled by, the boy had become man
and the girl developed into beauteous
womanhood. The day arrived when
they were TO cross the ocean. and they
left Havre in a sailing vessel TO JOIN
their parents, but heaven ordained
them for a different purpose. The
ship on which they sailed became a
wreck, from which they were rescued
bv vessel bound for Minorea. AT
this time the Mediterranean was infest-
ed by pirates and our unfortunates
were captured and taken To Algiers.
Here history differs-one account
stating that the brother and sister were
here parted, the latter being sent a
present TO the Sultan of Constantine
pie. Another version says they were
together carried TO Smyrna and resold.
Here il is claimed the idea occurred 10
Aime to deliver her brother by in
gratiating herself with the Sultan him.
self. Her success succeeded her most
sanguine expectations. Her purchaser
sent her with others to the same mark
ket in Stamboul, according her the
privilege of making her own toilette,
and being person of great natural
beauty, it was greatly enhanced by the
light and ETHEREAL coverings OF the ORR
ent. She was at once selected for the
imperial harem and became one of
those who are not favorites, but under
observation. Many years she spent in
the old palace of Seraglio, her sorrow
doubtless increased by the solemn cy-
press grove in which ii lies. Now that
She was so near him who could free
her brother, it seemed a if, through
jealousy, she was as tar away as her
native land. Aime was lover of
music, and while in France her voice
had been cultivated, and she often sang
i'm most plaintive tones and with touch
ing eloquence the sorrows which op-
pressed her young lie On one CT
these occasions she was confronted by
Abdul Hamid himself, who was at
once captivated by the voice and per-
son of the Christian slave. He at once
claimed those rights which the sover-
eign will of the Sultan enjoys. But,
for the first time. the proposals of the
Padisehah were rejected, and his
slave demanded the freedom of her
brother. Another would have been
sewn up and thrown into the swift cur
rent which runs by the walls of Sera-
Clio, but the heart of Hamid was too
much involved. The brother was
searched for, found and granted royal
honors. and Mademoiselle de Rivery
was changed from the pupil OF the con-
vent at Nantes, in France, to the
favored wife of the Sultan. This union
gave birth to Mahomoud Ii, the most
famous of the modern Sultans. He
alone was brave enough to overthrow
the power of the t.Janasaries and insti-
tute the changes whereby he gained
the maine of Reformer. Later Sultans
have ransacked the archives of the
French Embassy at COnstantinople to
lind the facts and establish their rela-
tions to this French girl who was at
the same time the sport and favorite of
fortune