Morris tribune., 1881-11-03
THE EX.KHEDIVE'S HAREM.
Visiting the Palace OF the Favorites, where 1,
fs Now Established.

THE EX-KHEDIVE'S HAREM.
visiting the Palace OF the Favorites, where II
is Now Established.
The Nozzle Revue publishes an INTEREST
ing account of visit by Nine. Della Rocca
to the palace of the favorites, near Naples,
VIII Ire the harem of the ex-khedive of Epvpt
is at present lodged: Between Naples and
Castellanare," says the writer, at little
distance from the ancient Herculianeum.
now called Resina, one may perceive great
palace very simple IN It's architecture and
painted red, together with numerous out.
buildings that surround it, That is the pal
ace of the Favorita. That name was given
to it by Mary Carolina, queen of Naples.
wife of Ferdinand w., and sister of Marie
Antoinette. This voluptious queen, with
her very dear friend Lady Hamilton, took
up her residence in the palace of the Favor
ita and gave series of splendid fetes, balls,
concerts and comedies, with more
friendly entertainments for those who were
in the circle of royal favor. The spectacle
from the windows of the palace is incom-
parable. Capri, Sorrento, and Cape
Mycene are mirrored in the blue and limp
| id sea. Vesuvius may be seen and some-
times heard, but the life of the palace is no
longer what it was. Instead of the aristocrat-
| ic DANES md cavaliers and the elegant court
that once peopled these gardens, new only
figure In white appears from time to time
in the deserted walks. Is it phantom?
No; it is one of the Egyptian princesses ora
slave taking walk. For two years past
| the chateau has been the dwelling of Ismael
Pasha, ex-khedive eff Egypt. He lives at
| Resina, as at Cairo, with his wives, his
| children and a numerous suite, observing
abroad the usages of his country and his
| faith A European is rarely admitted to
| visit the princess, but having requested
this honor I obtained it for certain day,
and was told to call. drove through the
| entrance gate and drew up before a large
and elevated iron railing opening on STAIR
| way. Opposite to this was the private
| entry of the khedive. Two small domes-
tics wearing the tarbouch were waiting for
me on either side of the railing; gate was
opened by kind of giant, and was locked
behind me as I walked in. The creature
without speaking word, made me an ORR
entail salute and gave me a sign to follow
him. The habitation of the women is in
the second story. There was received by
another parsonage, big, black and fat. He
opened the door, and. lifting heavy screen
like those in use in italian churches, led
the way into gallery or corridor from which
opened great humber of doors just as in
convent. These were the rooms of the wo-
men. Nea; one of these doors there were
fourteen slaves ranged in q row, who bowed
to the ground as appeared. This was the
apartment of Mile. OFT, Swiss lady who
acts as interpreter to the Princess Tchech-
mi-Afet. Mile. OFT conducted me up to
another corridor with a glass roof, to the
apartment of her highness. Her highness
received me standing, with her adop-
daughter of the khedive, by hersside. Be-
hind her stood her reader, beautiful Cir
cassian with dark eyes and an ivory skin.
Tchechmi- Afet is woman of imposing as
pect, with the bearing of q queen. She Of
fered me her hand and invited me to take
seat by her side. Mile OFT made little
speech to thank me in the name of the
princess for having thought of her and for
having given myself the trouble to come
to see he-. Tchechmi- Afet does not speak
French, but she understands all that is said
to her in that language. Sometimes she
takes courage, and when we are alone Il
90 there very often now she replies to me
in French. Tchechmi- Afet seems to be
favorite, fer she alone receives visitors.
She is always very elegantly dressed in
Partisan toilets from Worth's. The princess
wears neither rings nor bracelets, though
I am assured that each princess has
several millions worth of pearls and dia-
monds. The princess Talka is 20 years
old. delicate and graceful creature, with
beautiful blonde hair. She speaks French
we'll, and talks with naivete and without
embarrassment. At the end of quarter TO
an hour seven slaves came in and ranged
themselves in military fashion. The one
in the middle carried large tray, upon
which we're the little Turkish goblets con-
tanning coffee, the other slaves carried the
things taken with the coffee. After the
coffee they brought cigarettes, which were
exquisit in spite of their mildness. I sup
pose they contained little opium. Tch-
echn.i- Afet sees all the illustrated papers.
and what she does not understand in them
she asks to have explained to her. One
day talked to her about her existence in
the harem, and asked her if she did not
find this perpetual seclusion wearisome.
Should you not like to see Naples and
the neighborhood?" I said; docs not
this confinement weigh on your
spirits?" "Oh, no." she replied. am &C
customed to asedentary life, and I could
not live otherwise unless were in nv own
country. The very thought of going out
| without veil i revolving to me. Besides
| it seems to me that abroad one seems much
more shamefaced than in ones own coun-
try" These sentiments are rather mex
plicable, for this same princess has given
me her photograph, allows me to show it to
my friends, and even asks me if think she
is prettier than that I asked her fit did
no, make her suffer to see the khedive Of
fer attentions to other princesses She re-
piled with a SMILE you get used to it. I
admit that sometimes it annoys me. When
new princess comes among us we at first
| treat her like an intruder, but as soon as
she is married we consider her as sister,
and try to live on good terms with her."
Everything passes in strict silence at the
Favorita. No noise troubles the harem.
They speak by signs there; they salute by
carrying the hand to the brow.