The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-12-18
VISIT TO A HAREM.
The Story as Told by an American Consul
Generals Wife.

The Story as Told by an American Consul
= Generals Wife.
[Constantinople Cor Philadelphia Telegram
Mrs. Heap, wife of our Consul Gen
eral, described to me avisit paid by her,
the other day, to a Turkish harem-that
of Zenib Hanoum, sister OF Ismail Pa
sha, the ex-Khediye. The lady is one
of the most remarkable of living Turk
ish women from her intelligence, liberal
ideas and immense wealth. Her "yali,"
large grey palace, is one of tie hand
soonest on the Bosphorus. On aiighting
from the carriage, Mrs. Heap and the
four ladies accompanying her were met
at the door by some half-dozen men
canvasses, grooms and eunuchsAbril-
liantly dressed. These escorted the
party through the selamlik, or mems
apartments, which in this case, the lady
being a widow, are rather bare. They
consisted of four or five rooms. A long
corridor, softly carpeted, and whose
numerous windows overlooked a fine
garden, led to the women's rooms or
haremlik. The door was opened by
two handsome Circassian girls, who led
the ladies in, followed by couple of
eunuchs. A magnificent hall was en-
tered, square in shape, with two alcoves,
one of which was like an enormous bay
window, enclosed on all sides by
plate glass, This room was fur
nished in true Oriental style. Divans
of crimson damask lined the gayly col
ored walls, an elegant buhl comfortable
stood on the rich rug that covered the
floor, and a number of little walnut
tables, intricately laid with mother-of-
pearl, cleaned in the sunlight that
streamed through the numerous win
dows Women of every age and color
were grouped about, chatting and laugh
ing, but the arrival of the Franks !"
silenced them. In the rear, opposite
the glass alcove, ran up wide staircase.
thickly carpeted, of gold and white,
joined on to sort of gallery which ex-
tended from end to end of the room,
and up there was group of women in
bright costumes, engaged at the loom or
in talking and smoking. AL these
"odalisques - rose at the visitors ar
rival. A hideous eunuch brought word
that his mistress was ready to receive,
and her two nieces, daughters of Hahn
Pasha, came to usher the ladies in.
These two young ladies, much rouged
and painted, were pretty in the sickly
and theatrical way common to harem
beauties. They wore a composite style
of dress, half European, half Turkish.
The head-dress was a turban elaborate
ly embroidered, and the fair Orientals
were fairly spangled with brilliants,
massive earrings and brooches. A
loose skirt and short jacket of light silk
and high-heeled embroidered slippers
completed their costumes of piquant
ensemble. fETx ~
Zenib Hanoum receives in legal state.
She was sitting, or rather squatting, at
tired richly in complete Turkish COS
tune, on raised settee covered with
many soft cushions. After the usual in
terchange of compliments, as manifold
and ,ceremonious as in China, the lady
iclapped her jeweled hands together and
the doors opened wide. Then in came
the procession, bringing the Coffee
First entered two black slaves carrying
their shoulders carved pole, from
which hung by silver chains tiny bra
zier of the same metal. On its glowing
Goals were placed several little long
handled coffee-pots, the aromatic Mocha
Dreaming and bubbling, and diffusing q
delicious odor through the apartment.
These stood motionless. 3 Then four
others, bearing an immense silver tray,
from which hung to the floor rich silk
towel, studded with precious stones and
embroidered in gold thread Several
other females entered, and, each took
from the tray a small coffee cup holder
or +" zaf," placed thereon the cup filled
with coffee, and, knesling before each
visitor, presented it to them. Mrs.
Heap then noticed that her. and the other
ladies' 4.zafs = were of gold filigree
work and literally, in the bright sunlight,
blazing with brilliants in elaborate de-
signs of birds and flowers. With the same
punetilio, the coffee was removed, and
the compliments recommended "de
pluss belle" After that, O yollev of
questions followed on every conceivable
subject; some very, to put it mildly,
queer, for harem ideas of propriety and
ours are, grieve to say, widely differ
ent. Wnen, after, a. visit OF over two
hours-for to devote less time to a call
would be grave infraction ON the laws
OF etiquette-the ladies rose to take
leave. Zenib Hanoiiin asked them to
wait an instant. No sooner had they
reseated themselves than the door
opened again. to, give admittance to an
other. flock of women, one bringing a
crystal beaker of delicious sherbet, be-
side which our boosted cocktails would
sour with envy. Another swarm brought
soft towels for the ladies to dry their
lips on. In accordance with Oriental
ideas the lady of.the house asked Mrs,
Heap if there was any ornament she
wore that Mrs. Heap would be pleased
to accept as a souvenir, and looked quite
hurt when her. guest excused herself
from accepting any gift. Her Jewels
were magnificent, noticeably large
emerald, surrounded by diamonds, worn
in the shape Of a brooch. After MANY
pressing Invitations to come again, the
ladies left the YAH, feeling ali the way
home as though they had been permitted
to live for a few hours in the harem of
Io 81 Do AL, a. II. I