News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-12-20
LETTER FROM TURKEY.

LETTER FROM TURKEY.
TRIP TO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
When you finally muster up the
resolution to withdraw, you are wrap
ped by an attendant in a bournouse
and laid on a couch, where you can
lie and dream, or sip lemonade and
read ''the world forgetting by the world
forgot" You are not in a hurry
no one is in this country, and bye and
bye you reluctantly rehabilitate, and
emerging, mount your donkey, which
has been peacefully awaiting you all
this time, and Jog along city-ward,
filled with the sense of the budding
beauty around you, and at peace with
the world. After a Sjestd you have a
glorious appetite for dinner, and all
this luxury for the modest sum of 90
cents, donkey included.
The most noticeable piece Of Byzan-
tine architecture now remaining Ia
Broosa is church, converted by the
Turks into the tomb Of Orkhan. Like
many other Greek churches, 1t was
originally dedicated to the prophet
Elijah, and is circular in plan. The
interior is octagonal in shape and I'm
ished in beautiful tiles. The tomb of
marble is covered with rare India
shawls, and embroidered handker-
chiefs cover the turhan with which it
is suTmOunted. There are about 200
mosques in Broosa, many OF them
fine specimens of Mahometan archl-
lecture, but the Green Mosque, so
called from the color of the cupola
and minaret, is by far the most per-
feet one. 1t is built of many co,Ored
marbles, and has magnificent carved
doorway. But the interior is marvel
lous, Being finished in enamelled faience
of the most delicate greens and blues,
gilded in arabesques, and lapse of
five hundred years has only height
ened its richness. 1t is said that the
tiles were made by Persian wOrkmen,
who were put to death after the work
was finished, that the secret might
never be known and copied. In some
places the tiles have fallen and are
being replaced by a bright blue. The
effect is simply hideous, contrasted
with the tender soft green of the
original, fading almost into a sea
mist. But the true life of Broosa is
seen best bv n trip in its bazars-
| which, though much less extensive
than those OF Stamboul, arc con
stuctcd on a similar pIan-a long GOV
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/ shop-keeper sits and displays his
wares. Are you searching for gossa
mer silks of wondrous hues? Here
they are in profusion. Silks light as
air, creamy tinted, a perfect marvel
of daintiness silks, rainhow-hued,
brilliant in purple and orange, and
yellow; gay striped kerchiefs, tassel
finished, which are worn alike in the
east by wandering Bedouins, shad-
ing the forehead and floating down the
shoulders, and by fair Frank la
dies, for scarfs and fichus. There are
silk scarfs and handkerchiefs, gay
embroidered cloths, table covers,
table scarfs OF the creamiest and
sheerest wool, heavy with gold and
silver work, embroideries in gold and
silver on velvet, gowns and slippers
and saddle cloths. All these are I'M
folded to the astonished gaze, and
leave us perplexed and bewildered
amid all this splendor. | am search
ing for Bulgarian towel. Finally l
find one dim and spotted and thin
with age, but with the ends wonder
of beautiful handiwork. GLOW
much?" That? Oh, that is very
old !" $50 l perceive" "Let me
see-I couldn't let you have that less
than two liras" (eight dollars and
half. l mournfully shake my head,
reluctantly drop the towel, and pro-
coed to take up the next one. But
the willy Shopman sees regret and
longing in my eyes. "What will you
give, madame?" "Half lira," l say
at venture, and wonder at my own
temerity. "Now madame is laugh
ing at me. Madame wishes a really
fine fabric, used in the families of Sui
the hand of a Princess. Madame
would not ruin me'' l shake my
head. "Too Old" "Too old Mad
anne is sarcastic. Can anything in
that design be too Old? Well, for her
sake, and because madame appreci-
it for a Ira and half. Madame sees
that couldn't be unreasonable"
Madame examines it critically again
and concludes to stick to the original
offer. "Half Ira for p towel as
fine as the meshes of spiders web,
and heavy with gold that never djms.
Well, say Ira, then, positively the
last price" Now | affect Indifference
and turn away. "Show me some
Broosa towels" "Surely, madame
cannot think Of anything so common
place as hand towels in comparison
with this towel, as old as Broosa it.
self, mayhap." "But l will give you
half a Ira, and that is my last price,
if it was old as the Turkish EN-
pire," and l turn away in disgust to
go to another shop. Then he calls
after me "seventy-fve piaStreS." But
no; this time l am determined not to
be fooled, and proceed to the next
shop. But Immediately boy comes
running after us. "Come back come
back !" What for?" well. he
wants to give it to you" SO back l
go. The man is holding up the goods
in the most insinuating manner.
"Sixty-five, madame. 1 am actually
throwing it away" Again l turn
away in Impotence. "Well, half a
Ira let it be, then, madame, but you
are absolutely running me. have ac-
tually given it to you, madame, out of
pure regard for the American nation p'
And he rolls up the purchase and
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