New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-19
THE TURKISH LENT.
4 MosIFM DlNNEK-THE NIGHTLY CAR
NryAI,-REyELLING ASCE1ICS.

uro" i"- CoNsTAHTINOPLE, July 81.
q rho Arabian Nights" give gilmpses OF orientai
feasts But those voracous records mad not pre-
,ared me for the first inequalities OF my Moslein
host when entered his house 80 due last night
had accepted the invitation with aacrity In order
20 witness the reoicings with which sunset Is vel
eomed by the faithful during the feast of Ramazan
had betaken myself with two companions late 10
the afternoon to the house Of my friend situated
In the very neart of tine most intensely Mcsiem
quarter of old STEAMBOAT. 1t was entirely removed
from the communicating influences of Giaours' since
no iniidel could or would live within mile OF the
place. And now We foand ourselves recovering
breath upon sofa in the upper room set apart Tor
our entertainments As . beginning OF hospisai
titles our host who had received US at the door, no"
formally welcomed us to his hote with the remark
You are welcome and happily welcome donS
know what vour usage is but IT is our custom to
undress "A soon as we arrive at home. IT You
would Ike to do SO, here aTc some gowns
We looked at each other. We knew that the
avs Of the East are always the Of The ways
of the West but the idea Of undressing Tor dinner
very nearly overset the studied gravity winch we
had neryed ourselves to maintain We nad' now
ever heroieally resolved to go to all lengths ana
wo knew, moreover. that dinner with the turks is
= serious business involving muscular excrtion for
hasts 10 remove our own garments and to don the
o robes Of the feast prepared for our use. There
was little awkwardness about getting the long
skirts over our heals when The attempt Was made
20 gracefully get into them. but Ia five minutes the
Transformation was complete. We stood and
looked at each other. One was arrayed In PIP
lowered gown. Another had a gorgeous Dolly
Warden pattern for his robe; and the manly hgure
of the third was draped select cretonnc curtain
stutf The robes fell straight from the shoulders 10
the feet each with sort Of pOonaise fixture VI the
same material worn as an over-dress. vi course
the incongruity OF collars ana CUTS with such
dress was at once felt and remedled; and wnen
our host had brought us some slippers 10 replace
our boots we felt cOntentod ana happy as IL 10 the
manner born. Later girdle OF white macrame
lace was added to increase the effect OF the dress
By this time the sunset gun had fred and our
friends were ravenously eager to moisten then
parched lips But the minarets all around were re-
sounding with the call to prayer uttered at breath
less speed. A stern pride in Notifying the desh
led the family to perform their doyotlonS 40 iui
length before touching food.
At length we were seated at table. The table was
a circular tray Of copper on stand provided TOT
the purpose. 1t was about four feet IN diatueier.
Tn its centre wa, the Ramazan breakfsst-ffteen OF
delicacies, such as preserves, caviar. cherry
lam. cheese. bolo qua sausage. dried mutton, grape
Tally. etc Around the borders OF the tray were
fragments of splccd rusk winch each guest dipped
into .neh of the saucers as suited his fancy. And
AZ with his thumb he could fish out plum he con-
adhered himself most fortunate. short skirinish
with this light array of delicaoies prepared the way
for the more solid yiands of the dinner ITSELF The
thsorv upou which the bill of fare was made mp
was an alienation Of intensely sweet dishes with
meats and vegetables in 8 regular sequence OF
supermposed strata. The soup was a pnree on
ssstem unknown at DelmOnico's. beng favored
with liberal surface dressing OF olive OH. ASIDE
from shat ons dish, the bill OF fare was not dis
tasteful in any of It's thirteen courses Inc coniec
tionsrs of your city might do worse than copy one
of the Dishes consisting Of psper-ke sheets oil rice
uaxte rolled around morsel of clotted cream after
heing saturated with honey. and left to soak IN
rosa water for an hour before being served. Salad
WAS served in two dishes containing cucumbers
and anchovies The company applied their own
forks 10 these dishes in common. The hnal course
oons.ted of q huge puncli-bowl filed with Morelo
cherries floating IN q of syrup. series OF great
horn spoons decorated tho outskirts of this dish Snd
each one took spoon and helped himself-from the
common bowl This system OF feeding produces a
feeling of intimacy between the members OF the
convivial party that is unknown to those VINO nave
felt the ice hopelessly binding the liberties OF
dinner-party conducted on the basis OF separate
plates and scpara te interests.
Although good feeling was manifest throughout
the feast the channel Of expression was not genera
conversation on subjects Of mutual interest. Litt
caressng words Of approval bestowed upon any WIZ
ehpwed special sust OF appetite, OF sympathet
INQUIRIES as to the or any neglect OF partcnia
dishes. were the basis for the growtn OF friendl
intimacy during that principal portion OF the mea
in which the common physical yearnings requires
actiou-not words. The true Turk himself believe
An the prime importance of the dinner hour an
naturally falls into line of table talk which be
travs bis presumption that ali men WOW the mea
from a purely carnal standpoint. One OF the party
having early failed to do justice TO the loaded plate
which succeeded each other in competitive pietn
ora of richness. received a mild reminder that ha
he been Of the true faith he might have zone better
alt is dispensation of Providence" said the en-
thusiastic Moslem. that ut time when specis
capacity OF digestion is needed our religion olei
the means In Rainazan, In ordor TO fast all DAY
one must eat ell night But IN wise provision
this necessity men are required to perform no ies
than twenty complete series OF genuhoAions
the evening worship. This exercise suihces
,nvure the Digestion" The idea evidently wa
that the hope OF increasing their capacity for tn
pleasures of tho table might entce the helpie
foreigner to try for himself the regime proposed
the Mosem.
The closing scene of the repast was she washir
OF hands. An attendant presented to each In tuI
broad metal basin and poured over the hands
the guest thin stream Of water froin the spout OF
aver of graceful workmanship The table nap Kin
winch were wide towels with gold thread woven
stripes across the ends. served to dry the ham
after use Of this substitute for the finger bowl
After the company had adjourned up stairs, u
ladies of the house could be beard prsttling merri
over the lssvings CT the feast. Those had not De-
seeu By aay guest. although their subdnea whispe
ings had seemed throughout tho repast provo
snply near as they patiently awaited their turn