Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-07-20
THE Ex-KHEDIVE'S HAREB.
What a Naples Lady Saw on a
Visit 10 the FaVOriIe.

St. James Gazstte.l
A lady living in Naples, who short
ly before the departure of Ismal
Pasha's womankind for CONSTANT.
nople, received an invitation to visit
the Princess Techechmi Afet, the
khedive's favorite, sends to the Jour
nal de Geneve an account of her re-
ception, and a description of some Of
the inmates of the ex-khedive's har-
EN-. She says:
Arrived at the villa, nv carriage
passed through the principal entrance
and stopped before a large iron gate
which gave access to a taircase. Two
footboys were in attendance at the
two sides Of the gate. 1t was opened
by a species of giant, who. after hav
ing admitted me, closed and locked
the gate. He saluted me in oriental
fashion, and, without uttering a word.
led the way up the staircase. The
women's quarters are on the second
floor. Here | was delivered by
my conductor to another great
fat parsonage, who showed me
into a gallery or corridor into which
open the chambers OF the women.
On my entrance | was received by
fifteen females ranged in two rows,
who bowed to the ground before me.
Then one relieved me of my cloak.
another took my muf, a third my veil:
w%hereupon an extremely lady-like
person, a native of Switzerland. who
acts as the princess interpreter, came
forward and invited me to accompany
her to the private apartments of her
highness, which are reached by a
glass-cOvered corridor. The princess.
who had at her side the Princess
Faika, one of the Khedive's daugh-
ters, received me standing. Tchechmi
Afet is a fine woman, of imposing
presence, large and strong, and with
the port Of a queen. The princess
does not speak French, although she
understands all that you say in that
language. Her salon is furnished
with the greatest simplicity. Two
large sofas upholstered in gray stuff.
two great cushions covered with white
linen, and AL immense round table
enveloped in a turkish cloth, were the
only things oriental to be seen in
the room. A few Indifferent litho-
graphs on the walls, gay window cur
tains half faded, a beautiful carpet. an
upright piano, a few chairs-this is
the luxury and magnifcence of which
80 many stories have been told.
Techechmi Afet appears to be the
chief favorite. She alone receives
visits, the other ~princesses never be-
ing seen nor their names mentioned
Her gown was a grenadine velvet by
Worth, with an immense train. the
bust only being trimmed with lace.
Diamond drops hung from her beau
tiful ears. Her hands are small and
shapely. She wore neither rings nor,
bracelets, diamond ear-pendants being
the onlp jewelry she cares for. Prin.
cess Faika wore a dress of green vel
vet, trimmed with satin of the same
color, and so short that | could adj.
mire at my ease her fairy like feet.
She is a delicate, pretty crea-
ture, scarcely eighteen years old
with beautiful and abundant
faxen hair. She is very lively
speaks French huently, smokes. and
converses without gene. After we
had talked about aquarter of an hour
seven female slaves entered and placed
themselves in military order near the
door. One of them carried a large
tray, covered with red velvet eIotn,
richly embroidered, and with golden
fringe that swept the floor. The tray
held little goblets for coffee a la Tur.
que. Another of the slaves carried n
silver ever, another a silver cbafng
dish, the others silver plates. The
princess was the first served. I the
next, then the others. After the cof.
fee' some exquisite cigarettes were
produced. Although We had to talk
through an interpreter, the conver,a-
ton was lively throughout and never
once tagged, The princess takes
an interest in everything. | asked
her if she did not weary Of her