, 1880-07-05
We NAV consider the advanced Turk

his manner toward Christians is more
cordial-he does not regard them as
"dogs;" is willing to admit the superb
ority of their laws, is anxious to profit
by their mechanical skill and industry;
but the Oriental babit of procrastina-
ton, and thinking over" matter till
it is forgotten, are the real stumbling
blocks in his road.
Turkish houses are furnished with
large divans, upon which the master of
the house curls himself up smoking his
nargileh, (kind of pipe) receiving his
friends or visitors without moving from
his place, merely giving kind of sa-
laam, and motioning his friend to take
his seat beside him. Here they will
sit and converse for hours, refreshing
themselves from time to time with tiny
cups of black coffee. Turkish houses
boast of no beds, nor do they possess
washstands, nor sometimes even chairs
A Swiss friend of mine, Ia governess
in the harem of perhaps the most en-
lightened young Turk of whom I have
heard) begged over ana over again for
a wash-hand basin of ordinary dimen-
sions. She was expected to repair to
the elegantly built bathroom and per-
form her ablutions in the presence of
the slaves and harem women, who, 1
may remark, have not the commonest
sense of propriety, or the least vestige
of the delicacy of their sex. The basin
was promised more than ten or twenty
times. My friend remained nearly a
year in the pacha's harem, but it never
arrived!
I will conclude my letter by giving
an authentic peep into the morals OF
the harem. Mahmoud Pacha, to whose
young wife my aforementioned friend
became governess and companion, was
sent very early in life to Paris. Receiv-
ing there liberal education, he formed
ideas and opinions uncongenial to his
countrymen. Among them was his de-
sire for one wife, and his determination
to contract marriage Of lore. A diff
cult matter this for Turk, who is not
allowed to make the acquaintance of
any eligible young ladies before mar
riage! However, Mahmoud accom-
plished his purpose in way we might
hesitate to approve of. He bought a
very interesting and youthful Circas-
sian slave; after a year of quiet domes-
tic happiness, finding her Of loving
and teachable character, he determined
to marry her. She soon after gave
birth to child, and her rights to be
considered his first, and, as he declared,
his only wife, were unquestionable.
1t was soon after the birth of her
child that Mahmoud Pacha engaged
my Swiss friend as his wife's compan-
ion and instructress, for though most
amiable, the gentle Circassian was
wholly ignorant of even the commonest
French phrases. In few months the
young mothers health appeared to de-
cline. The best doctors we're consult
ed; they feared consumption; every art
that wealth and tenderness could be-
stow was tried, and for time the foe
was kept at bay.
Summer weather came; the young
wife's health seemed thoroughly re-
established; the happiness OF the yonng
coule was now complete when thun-
der-bolt, launched by the paternal hand
of the sultan himself, destroyed it COM
pletely and forever. Mahmoud Pacha
was wealthy and in the prime of youth;
hewas nearly related to the SultanAbdul
Aziz, and the latter proposed confer
ring upon him the highest honor and
favor, namely, the hand of one of his
daughters in marriage. Useless to de-
clare he was already married, or that a
second wife was in his eyes de trop; in
such circumstances to hear was to obey.
Etiquette demanded the degradation of
the Circassian slave, her removal from
the handsome residence of Mahmoud,
and the installation of the princess of
the palace into the mystical chamber
of her predecessor. Mahmoud tried
the only resistance in his power, and
took a sudden journey to Paris, where
he soJourned many months, hoping
the hated alliance might be forgotten,
or some accident might come to his aid.
Futile hope! he was summarily re-
called, and some honorary post assigned
him. Everything was arranged in a
generous and becoming manner; his
coldness was overlooked. his bride was
richly lowered; and Mahmoud, like
many wiser and better men, submitted
to tho inevitable "hismet."
The last time my Swiss friend visited
his palace she learned that the Circas-
sian lived in retirement, not far from
the dwelling of her happier rival.
Unknown to his wife, Mahmoud con-
tinued to visit her in secret. though at
rare intervals and with great precaution.
Upon seeing her my friend was shocked
at the ravages that grief and disease
had already made upon her person.
The hectic flush and dreaded cough
had returned. Unconscious or careless
of her danger she was daily wasting
away, but would hear of no remedies.
Not complaint as to her position ever
passed her lips, and she spoke of " the