The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-08-14


attendants, to say nothing of the servants re-
quired for real hard work, as also those for
ornamental purposes. The rapidity with
wlch such multiplication rolls up into
large total is wonderful.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MOTHER.
We have thus counted four wives, with
their attendants, etc, At 3 200. The mother
OF his highness kept up an enormous estab-
lishment, computed at 500. Tifhida Uanem,
or the Princess Mansour, who pFided her
self on her moderation, said to a friend of
mine: ~ have not very many womenl 200
are sufficient for me-" The high and mighty
dame is the eldest daughter OF the ex-khe-
dive, and is probably the most cxtravagant
woman of her time. She was married ten
years ago to a distant cousin. Mansour
Pasha, a man OF great wealth. In 1876, i'll
consequence OF the eX-khedive being greatly
embarrassed and having stopped the sup
plies, Mansour Pasha was forced to arrange
with his creditors. In two years the lrin-
cess had rolled up debts to the amount Of
Sl.5OO,OOO, besides getting rid of ali her loose
cash as It came in. MansOur Pasha's prop
critics were supposed TO yield 100000 per
annum, while the Princess received from
her own lands net rental OF S225 600 per
annum. This income and the debt spread
over three years gives an annual ex-
penditure of 81 100000. What became OF
such large sums is probably a question that
Mansour has often puzzled his brain to ad-
swer He arranged to pay two-thirds his rev.
enue TO his creditors, and the Princess
pledged her estate for number of years
charging chem with the sum OF 100000 per
annum as the price OF the loan. Her estates
were aIterward, under the action of the COM
mission d'Enquete ceded to the State and
she was allowed $4,000 Il year. Se-much
for the most extravagant and least rational
of all the Princesses. She is i'll reality the
most reckless, for none OF the others have
even been in difficulties. Moreover Tifhida
Hanem bears name for gaiIantry which
causes her to be very highly spoken OF by
the natives, who regard her Us a second
McsSaIina.
REDUCING THE HAREM
During the past winter, under the pres
sure OF reform, an effort was made TO reduce
the harem. Marriages We're made not in
heaven, but by wholesale. Orders were given
to the ladies that all extra hands must be
married, and that very quickly. Lists were
forthwith prepared OF the ladies according
to their social status in the haren. These
were divided into categorics. So many
first class, to be married 10 Lieutenant-Colo-
nels; so many Tor the majors and so on
down through the army lists, or its equiva-
lent in the civil service. Word was sent to
the Ministers, or to the chiefs of service, to
send in the names Of likely candidates. The
masters Of ceremonies would take them in
hand, say that khedive had remarked how
Jealous he was in the discharge Of his du-
ties, etc, and that as a mark OF his satisfac-
ton intended to give him wife. Pos
siblY the candidate would declare that he
was already, in which case he would be
reminded how very simple was the opera
ton OF divorce and the enormous advantage
of becoming u son-in-law of the modern
Pharaoh. He would be told TO walk about
a certain street at such an hour. Ii the can
didate was of the higher orders, lieuten-
ant colonel or hey, the dowery was $500, two
eunuchs, two black slave girls and one white
/ slave, the bride being freed bv his Highness
/ when sent out of the harem. There was
also a SOFT OF troSsedW sent with the bride-&
silver tray and coffee service, a plated ever
and basin. A list was given to the intend
ed husband OF the furniture he was expected
to furnish as the equivalent OF the brides
dover. Naturally the more esteemed Uf the
ladies fell TO the lot of the colonies and ma
jors. know several meu who have been
married In this manner. Some OF them
were anything but satisfied tor when the
critical moment came OF tearing away the
veil sometimes u hideous old toad would be
disclosed. Naturally only the most intract-
able ones are sent of, in revenge Tor which
! they lead their husbands a fearful dance.
Poor fellows, they dare not divorce them,
for am appeal TO the palace would have
brought exile and disgrace upon them.
There are some amusing stories about mar
rying his Highness' woman from the palace.
| One case occurred some years ago in which
a now very distinguished man was the vic
! tim.
STORIES OF THE HAREM.
The Princess Mother had young girl
who had been left her bv very dear friend,
to when she had promised to take care OF
her child. As the girl grew up she was at
tached to the old lady, who finally concluded
TO marry her off. Applying to her son she
was informed that there was a clever young
! Major at the young lady's disposition.
/ Achmet Effendi was informed that the old
! princess, wishing to honor him, would give
| him in marriage one of her handmaidens.
| lie was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
1 Colonel. The Princess provided Il house
duly furnished, and everything looked we'll
for the young couple. The proper amount
of feasting was gone through with and the
bride entered her new home. She was a
high and mighty dame, duly imbued with
an exalted idea of all that was due to her
rank. After the departure of the guests,
when the groom appeared she treated him
with great coldness refusing to allow him
to sit in her presence or even to touch her.
Feeling aggrieved, lie retired to his own
/ apartments, waiting for some sign of con-
;r.tion on her a + A day or two later
she called on her former mistress, and, on
/ being questioned TO how she liked her hus-
/ band burst into Tears, saying that he was a
wretch, brute; that he never came near
her, but hid himself in distant corner of
/ the house, passing his time reading foreign
/ books The Princess was Justly indignant,
and sought her son. The wretch, Achmet
Bcv,was unworthy the treasure that she had
! bestowed upon him he had sighted Her
/ Highness' gifts, and was unworthy such a
mark Of favor So the unworthy husband
was at once exilcd 10 the Soudan. Natural
( " a divorce was at once declared. Had he
not deserted his wife?
4 TROUBLESOME PRINCES
Another man was promoted and married
to the same girl The same scene passed
this time; the Princess was high and mighty
and the husband that fate had given her
was only the meaneSt OF her slaves. Ap-
| parcntly he had other views. The next
morning he strollcd over to the palace OF
the Queen Mother Meeting the chief eunuch
he casually asked, ''What sort Of a girl is
that they have given me for a wife," The
eunuch wished TO know why. The boy could
only say tnat he was under the impression
that Her Highness had wished, mark
Of her favor, TO give him wife, but that he
could not understand how 1t was possible to
/ live with such a high and mighty Princess,
who wished to reverse the natural order Of
/ things aud make him stand in her presence.
/ The eunuch remembt red that there had
been some trouble about that Young lady
once before, that she had got Achmet Bey
/ into disgrace. lie would see her Highness.
/ When the story was related TO the old lady
! She excI.in,.ad s.. H.. :. IIah she c. nj