New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-23
THE PRINCESS HUSSEIN At HOME.

From a Cairo Ladys Letter IN The London GiOJe.
Passing through half-a-dOzcn salons arranged
in modern French style, but presenting rather IA
STACEY" appearance. we At length entered a cosy
bOudOir. half European. half Oriental IN lis com
forts. The half-clOsed "mus lrabecs' allowed n
GLIMPSE of the fairy garden below. and admitted n
subdued light which fell on a broad diVan covered
with rare carpets Extended on this couch, and
attired i'm long garment of pink satin, rcpOscd
rather stout little lady, with a book in her nand.
This volume was closed, and our hOStcSs--f0r this
was the Princess--appcarcd 10 he engaged IN con-
tempating the tips of her slippers Men would
call them dainty slippers, for they were GER
tainly smallsh.'
The Princess roso as We entered, and advanced
few steps, smiling to meet us, gave us her hand,
and made room for us on the cOuch-OnC on cach
side of her. A male critic. especially II under
fiye-and-twcnty, would have pronounced her at
once TO be charming and indeed her splendid
hair. reaching To hor knees, her fine eyes and
agreeable manners would almost warrant the
verdict. Her complexion was also exquisite, not
being of tic sickly white generally seen ~ the
harein The Princess is one III thousand amongst
harcn ladies as regards intellrctual acqurcncnts
she is a great reader, especially OF modern French
works. Very different this harcm and this Princess
from the others ! have since visited, where the
fashions of the West cumsly made to Jar on
Eastern manners, involving a sacrifice Of beauty
without any gain OF comfort and where the i'll
mates do absolutely nothing from morn TN eve save
smoke drink coffee, have their hair dressed, and
quarrel. Reading Is voted slow, music a bore and
conversation an unnecessary cXcrtlOn, so That u
visit to many harems is a very slow affair indeed.
Princess Hussein is a Turk, and has never been
in Paris or, indeed, i'll Europe, but she dOtes on
everything P:risian, and insists upon sending TO-
what Victor Hugo calls the capital OF the world
for everything. Hearing that was English, she
sent for her childTCIIshe has fOurwhO with their
English governess. soon made Their appearance
and began to jabbcr away with an absence OF shy
ness seldom seen in Europe. The conversation
somehow turned upon the absent husband, who
was sent out OF Egypt short time before his father
twenty-four They have not seen each other for
nearly two years, and, however well ho may
succeed in cOnsOling himself over the separation,
there is no doubt that the Princess truly monrls
her sad lot. Genuine tears began to How when she
touched on the subject, which was fortunately
leaving this topic however, the Princess explained
why She did not join her husband in Europe. 1t
appeaIs that if she were to leave her palace 1t might
possibly be seized by relations as family property,
left OwnerlcSs through the cXparaton OF ITS former
possessors. She is a great iayorlt9 with hcI
Khedive, and he has begged her to remain III
Egypt promising to- exert his influence TO procure
the return of his brother In the meantime the good
| Princess Hussein leads rather lonely life, not
caring to see many friends, but husyng herself
| with her books, her music, her singing-she has a
riding She is the only native grandc dame" who
| takes horse exercise, often riding OF an evening
with her brother, Ibrahim PaCha, IN the lovely
| country round about the Pyramids On these
| occasions her lIighness wears an English riding
habit the face, however being OF course, concealed
| binat0n of costume, but one more strange than
&Ec were now taken upstairs and shown the
Arabic part of the Palace, the luxurious baths the
cool sleeping chambers, almost devoid Of furniture,
| the airy terraces. ] was especially strnck with
| one room covered throughout with finest white
cashmere, ceilings walls and divans, the furniture
maid with silver, a silver lamp suspended in the
| centre, the floor of snow white rarhlc-thc mirrors
| wefe frosted silver frames. Everything was gold
| and white in this chamber-the PT1nccsSs iaVOntc
| retTeat-save, thrown on diyan n blood red gown
of cashmere, embroidered with gold. This gar
mcnt, the one point OF color amongst all surround
| ing objects stood ont in burning contrast Chance
conld not have placed it there, and, fOrgctful of
etiquette turned for instant to the Princess i'll
tending TO ask for All explanation. But strange
look. half pain, half shyncss on her face, at once
checked my purpose. l would at that moment en-,
| friend who herself had never seen the white
chamber before was that the scarlet garment was a
| . Wedding gown" or one worn by bride at her
| marriage The Princess sadly mOnrns her absent
lord and the gown, souvenir of happier hours,
told It's own tale Of sad hours. employed in the
bitfer-sweet task of cOnjWing up the past.