Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-28
SECRETS OF THE HAREM.
How the Br-hhedive OF Egypt Managed His
female Department.

How the EI-hhedive Of Egypt Managed His
female Department
a correspondent of the NeD YORK
Herald writes from Cairo: Those
OF your read ers Who have como To
Egypt TO winter for It's clear skies
ano bright, warm days, or else led
bither simply by thirst for the
marvellous, can wen remember that,
go where one would, everything
that was handsome or snowy was
found 10 belong to the K,edive
They have generally gone eff i'm
pressed with the idea that, for good
or I'll, he was the mainspring, and
ordered verything for his own
comfort, glory or aggrandizement
L we'll remember driving with u
friend, and after passing number
OF immense palaces, which | had
pointed GU. as the property Of the
Khedive, was snally asked, We'll
where does he live 2" This was a
difficult question, as three or fopr
palaces were always kept 10 order,
and the chances were that he might
sleep at any one of them, only his
Immediate attendants knowing
where he would pass the night, and
that few moments before he On.
tiers his carriage to drive off A
change ia The wind or in the tenn
perature might lead him to imagine
himself uncomfortable, or probably
be might become very filial aud i'm
plore the hospitality of his mothers
GEOGRAPHICALLY if his numerous
family had not been duly submissive
and had ruffled his temper. l fear
that the dear old lady would not be
looked upon as peculiarly sensitive
upon family morality. For her such
an occasion was one of great tri-
umph. She had to try to gain some
lasting advantage. Coffee Was
served by the most charming of her
women (; Was the son preoccupied
and failed l" nDtice the beautiful
obalisques. another would present
cigarettes, third bringing u email
tray of grapes, while fourth held
lighted coal in a pair of delicate
silver tongs. Thus quite a number
would pass in review before the
modern Pharaoh.
THE PRESENTATIONS OF THE PALACE.
If he showed himself proof against
this battery of beauty they gave
way for the moment TO music and
the dance. A few of the bes. danc-
ers would be called to wake the
Lord of the hsrem to thoughts of
this world. If he noticed any one
of them. simply saying to bis moth
er, "Whae pretty girl ~ and ask
ing few questions about her she
was appointed Ualet de chanabre for
the occasion, and charged to watch
over her new LORDS slumbers. On
taking leave of his affectionate pa.
rent, be might possibly deign to re-
member the least Of his slaves, and
beg that his mother would send the
pretty girl that waited on him 10
the palace. That there might be 10
error, the old lady would send one
of her head women or else Der chief
eunuch to inform the kehia, or chief,
of the harem-generalIy Disagree
able cid woman-of what had
passed, and that she trusted to her
10 make all smooth FIR ner young
protege.
The kehia would take into her
confidence that one of the wives she
especially wished to honor. They
hold q council, arrange the new
comer's apartment, see about her
wardrobe, and for the while will be
most amiable. 1t is always a deli.
cate point. First of all, the young
lady is sure to be warmly sup ported
by the Princess mother-a very Sc
rious matter; next she may become
a favorite-much more serious. So
it is we'll to secure her dependence
and make use of her prestige while
it lasts. Should it have been simp-
ly az evanescent flame, and she
prove unable to bind her lord with
silken letters, she will still be cared
for, treated with a gradually dimin-
ishing respect, until it is evident
that there is nothing TO be either
hoped or feared. when arrange.
ments will be made to find hus,
band. Should, on the other hand
it become apparent that there is 9
possibility of her race being long il
the land, His Highness must be in.
formed. She retains her apartment
is treated with great distinction IN
til the birth of her child, after which
she will be duly provided for, giver
house and servants, but sent out
from the harem. When old enough
her child will be taken from her anC
brought up in the harem. going from
time to time to visit it's mother
Sometimes the mother dies, probab
ly poisoned, either by order or els'
through jealousy. ln this case thu
child will be adopted by one of thu
wives
LIFE IN THE HAREM.
The constitution of the harem i
somewhat singular. Iu the frs
place the word "harem" simply
means discreet or secret, aud tn
apartments devoted to the use o
the women are known as the harem
lik, while the other and smaller par
OF the building, set apart for tn
men, is known as tho selam. lik, o
place of salutation. His Highness
the Khedise, has four wives, VIII
are generally spoken of by thei
numbers--the FIRST princess, the Sc
cond princess. or her highness tn
first wife. | once saw legal doc
ument, evidently translated fror
the French into the Arabic and the
back into the French. 1t was
deed of sale of palace to the fra
three wives. "The agent of Hi
Highness. the Khedive, the Wis