Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-10
A Modern Queen Lab.

.hi4 AS'''SiS "! tHc lhOuS;llu anu On(
Night" probably remember the history O.
Queen Lab, who upon tiring of her gallants
was wont by her entertainments to transform
them into the likeness of the brute creation
The following account Of Il Jezcbc of our day
bcursa remarkable similarity to the story
referred TO above, exhibiting more cruelty.
however.
Some days ago, before the suLiugation of
Arahl Pacha in Egypt, the cable announced
that the Princess Elmineh, sister of the late
hhcdlrc OF Egypt, had cspoused Arabi's
cause, and had induced many other Princes
and Princcsses in Cairo to do the same. She
is the richest and most Noted woman in the
East, has great influence with the fellah pop
ulatlon. anG hers is one of the prcttiest, and
is certainly the richest. Of the palaces of
Cairo. Being IL little oyer 10 years old. the
hot Egyptian sun, combined with Il life of
dissipation and lmrcstruincd endowment.
have played havoc with one who. ten
Years ago, was called ''thc Star ofthc East :"
Egyptian, like Turkish. women are mar
ricd by their parents without their wishes
ever being consulted: in fact. neither bride
nor bridegroom sees his or her future COM
panioh till the everlasting knot is tied so
that, aS IL rule, there is no prctense of love
or even sympathy between them. Thus
was the Princess Elminch, ut the age of Is.
given away TO II Turkish Pacha noted only
for his wealth and dishonesty. being old.
ugly and ignorant.
The Princess received Il liberal education
and is an accomplished lady, and she had
soon seen enough of her husband to dcspisc
him and treat him with contempt. No Turk
dare enter his wifes private apartment if
she reverscs her ovcrshocs, which every
Turkish woman wears, and leaves them out
side her door. and the Princess Elminch
availeG herself of this privilege during the
two months she remained in Constantinople.
At the expiration of that time the doctors
advised her 10 pass the winter ut Cairo.
whittier she wcnt accompanied by her hus-
band, and where she has remained ever
since. Immediately on arriving in Egypt she
laid herself ut the feet of the khcdivc. tell
ing him that she preferred death to living
with her husband, who was in every respect
her inferior, and begged him to protect her.
As she was II tavorite of his he appointed
her husband to the gcneralship of Souakin.
OH the Red Sea, and, as he never arrived
there. it is presumed that he was poisoned
on the way, this being the ordinary method
time silcnccd their foes. The Princess hay
ing thus freed herself commenced Il life
which for romance, cruelty. pronigacy, ad-
venture and dissipation has not often been
surpassed.
There was in the service of the khcdive Il
handsome, young Swiss officer named Coll,
who had been i'll the Popc's Swiss Guard,
and the Princess, happening to see him
one day on duty at the Palace. became
cnamorcd Of him, and next day asked
the khcdivc to transfer him to her ser
vice, which he did. The main gate to
her palace was then pulled down, and
over large archway :: beautiful Swiss
chalet was built Lieutenant Coll took pos
session of ii as the Princess Master Of Ccrc
monies. From that time they seemed i'll
scparablc, wherever the Princess went
young Coll accompanied her. He went to
switzerland one summer and returned ac
companicd by his sister. who became the
Princess companion. About four years
after this it was rumorcd that Coll had
formed an attachment for Il French actress
named Erncstinc Lcduc, and those of his
friends who knew the Egyptians well adj
viscd him to he cautious, rs their vengeance
was terrible. He, however. paid little or no
attention to the warming. Coll suddenly
disappeared. leaving no traces behind him,
and at the same time Ernestine Laduc was
found strangled in her apartments. Ten
days later the banks of the Nile ovcrilowed,
and the mutlated body of young Coll was
deposited by lis waters in field adjoining
the palace The hands and feet were tied
together. the eyes had been torn from their
sockets, and the heart had been pierced
through and through.
During the following seven years Cairo
was startled by frequent disappearances of
young gentlemen belonging to the best ma
tive and European families, and these re-
mained unexplained until the following in
cident occurred: 4 young Austrian doctor
named Canelli had been in Cairo about a
year. One afternoon, as he was driving on
the ShOubra road, he saw yelled Turkish
lady making signs to him from her carr-
age. He mentioned this to friend, who
told him it must have been the Prin-
cess Elminch and that he had better
avoid her. Soon after that, and at short in
tervals. DR.. Canelli received numerous gifts
! from an unknown benefactor. At about II
o'clock one night, as he was preparing tc
retire. he heard Il carriage rattle into his
ward at brcakneck pace and minute Ia
| ter his servant appeared before him, accom-
panied by an elegantly attired eunuch, wht
said that his master, kiamil Pacha, had beer
suddenly taken i'll, and that he had carri
age waiting for the Doctor down stairs, Il:
not a moment was to be lost. DR.. Canell
dressed, rushed down stairs and jumped in
to the carriage The carriage went on rap
idly for ten minutes and stopped under al
archway. A gate was closed behind them
and DR.. Canelli saw at glance that he wa
in the seraglio Of the Princess prisoner, ant
resolved to make the best he could of the sit
uation.