Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-02
ZENIB'S H1REM.
Circissiau Beauties. Iausuishing 0da.
lisQueS and Brilliant Dressing.

other day To 4 Turkish harem-'hat OF
Zenib Hauoum, sister Of Ismail Pasha,
the ex-khedive. This lady is one of
the most remarkable of living Turk
ish women from her intelligence, liberal
ideas and immense wealth. Her "yall,
large gray palace, is one of the hand
soonest on the Bosphorous. On alight.
ing from her carnage, Mrs. Hesp and
the four ladies accompanying her were
met at the door by some half-dozen
men-cavasses, grooms and eurdchs-
brilliantly dressed. These escorted the
party through the selemlik, or mems
apartments, which in this case, the lady
being widow, are rather bare. They
consisted of four or five rooms. \ long
corridor, softly carpeted, and numerous
windows overlooking fine garden, led
TO the women's rooms or haremhk. The
door was opened by two handsome Cir
cassian girls, who led the ladies in, fol
lowed by couple of euauchs.
A magnificent hall was entered,
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 furnished in true
oriental style. Divans of crimson dam
ask lined The gayly-colored walls, an ell
egant buhl comfortable stood on the
rich rug that covered the floor, and Il
number of little walnut tables, intri-
cately inlaid with mother-of-pearl,
cleaned in the sunlight that streamcd
through the numerous windows. Wo-
men of age and color were grouped
about, chatting and lounging, but the
arrival of the Franks" silenced them.
In the rear opposite the glass alcove,
ran up wide staircase thickly carpet
ed, of gold and white, joined on sort
of gallery which extended from end to
end Of the room, and up there was a
group of women in bright costumes, en-.
gagged at the loom or i'll talking and
smoking. All these "odalisques" rose
at the visitors arrival. A hideous eu-
much brought word that his mistress was
ready to receive, and her two nieces,
daughters of Hamhn 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
n composite style of dress, half Euro
uean and half Turkish. The head dress
was turban deliberately embroidered,
and the fair Orientsls were fairly SPAN
ged with brilliants. massive earrings and
brooches. A loose skirt and short
Jacket Of light silk and high-heeled en-
broidered slippers, completed their cos.
tune of piquant ensemble.
Zenib Hanoum received in regal state
She was sitting, or rather squatting, at
tired richly III full Turkish costume, on
~ raised settee, covered with many soft
cushions. After the usual exchange of
compliments, as manifold and ceremo.
NOUS as in China, the lady clapped her
ieweled hands together and the doors
opened wide. Then in came the pro-
cession bringing the coffee. First en-.
tered two black slaves, carrying on their
shoulders carved pole, from which
hung by silver chains tiny brazler of
the same metal. On its glowing
GOALS were placed several little long
handled coffee pots, the aromatic Mo-
cha s.eaming and bubbling, and diffus-
Ing delicious odor through the apart
ment. These stood motionless. Then
four others, bearing an immense silver
tray, from which hung to the floor q
rich silk towel, studded with precious
stones and embroidered in gold thread.
Several other females entered, and each
took from the tray small coffee cup
holder or "saf," placed thereon the cup
filled with coffee, and, kneeling before
each visitor, presented it to them.
Mrs. Heap then noticed that her and
the other ladies' ''zafs" were of gold
filigree work, and literally, in the bright
sunlight, blazing with brilliants, in elab-
crate designs of birds and flowers.
With the same punctllio the coffee was
removed and the compliments recon-
menced "de plus bell" After that
volley 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 different. When, after visit of
two hours-for to devote less time to a
call would be grave infraction of the
laws of etiquette--the ladies rose to
take leave. Zsnib Hanoum asked
them to wait an instant. No sooner
had they reseated themselves than the
door opened to give Abundance to an.
other flock of women, bringing one
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 ii there was any ornamentshe
wore that Mrs. Heap would be pleased
to accept as souvenir, and looked
quite hurt when her guest excused her
self from accepting any gift. Herjew
els were magnificent, noticeably a large
emerald surrounded by diamonds,
worn in the shape of a brooch. Alter
many pressing invitations to call again,
the ladies left the yall. feeling all the
way home as though they had beenper.
mitted to live for few hours IN the
harem of Haroun.al-Raschid, or allow
"a to take peep into the Mohamrle-
dams paradise.
Using up the Elephants.