Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-24
Matches made in Egypt.


1t is generally supposed that tine
number of women i'll the aggregate
Larem of the royal household of Egypt
amounted to three thousand. During
the past winter, under the pressure of
reform, an effort was made to reduce
the number. Marriages were, so to
speak, by wholesale. Orders were
given to the ladies that all supernumer-
aries must he married, aud That very
quickly. Lists were forthwith prepared
of the ladies, according to their social
status in the harem. These were Iii.
vided into categories. SO many first
class to be married to lieutenant colo
nels; SO many for the majors, and so on
down through the army list or its equi-
valent 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 master of ceremonies
took them in hand, assured each candi-
date that the khedive had remarked
how Jealous he was in the discharge of
his duties, etc., and that as a mark of
satisfaction intended to give him wife.
Possibly the candidate would declare
that he was already married, in which
case he would be reminded how very
simple was the operation of divorce and
the enormous advantage of becoming a
son-in-law of the modern Pharaoh. If
the candidates were of the higher Or
ders, lieutenant-colonel or hey, the
dowry was $500, two eunuchs, two
black slave girls and one white slave,
the bride being freed by his highness
when sent out of the harem. There was
also a sort of rousseau sent with the
bride-a silver tray and coffee service,
plated ever and basin. A list was
given to the intended husband of the
furniture he was expected to purchase
as the equivalent of the brides dover.
Naturally the more esteemed of the
ladies fell to the lot of the colonies and
majors. l know several men who have
been married in this manner. Some of
them were anything but satisfied, for
when the critical moment came of tear
ing away the veil, hideous angel was
disclosed. Naturally the most intract-
able danes were sent off, in revenge for
which they lead their husbands fear
tul dance. Poorsfellows, they dared not
divorce them, for an appeal to the pal
ace would have brought exile and dis
grace upon them. There are some
amusing stories about marrying his
highness' women from the palace. One
case occurred some years ago in which
a now very distinguished man was the
victim.
The princess mother had a young
girl who had been left her by a very
dear friend, whom she had promised
to take care of her child. AS the girl
grew up she was attached to the old
lady, who finally concluded to marry
her OF. Applying to her son she was
informed that there was 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
hand-maldens. He was promoted to
the rank of aforementioned. The
princess provided a house duly fur
nished, 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 high and mighty dame, duly i'm
bued with an exalted idea of ali that
was due to her rank. After the de-
parture OF the guests, when the groom
appeared, she treated him with great
GOODNESS, refusing to allow him to sit
IN her presence, or even to touch her,
Feeling aggrieved he retired to his own
apartments, waiting for some sign of
contrition on her part. A day or two
later she called on her former mistress.
and, on being questioned as to how she
liked her husband, burst into tears.
saying that he was q wretch. a 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
Bey. was unworthy the treasure she
mad bestowed upon him he had sighted
her hlghness gifts, and was unworthy
such mark OF favor. SO the unworthy
husband was at once exiled to the Son
dan. Naturally divorce was at once
declared. Had he not deserted his
wife
another man was promised and mar
rled to the same girl. The same scene
passed this time; the princess was
Eigh and mighty, and the husband that
fate had given her was only the meaues,
OF her slaves. Apparently he had other
views. Next morning he stroiled over
70 the palace Of the queen mother.
Meeting the chief eunuch, he casually
asked, What sort Of girl is it tina,
they have given me for wife," The
eunuch wished to know why. The bey
could only say that he was under the
impression that her hi illness had wished
as mark of favor, to give him wife.
but that he could not understand how
1t was possible to live with such high