The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-15
THE LIGHT OF THE HAREM.

THE LIGHT OF The HAREM.
From Mrs. $ E. wallace's New Book, 1.-THE Stored
= Two sides of the room were of
glass the one overlooking the bay latticed
with iron, painted white, which banished
the prison look it would otherwise have.
Vslvety rugs OF Bochara and Korassan were
laid here and there over the floor of blue and
white mosaic. A broad, low divan of pale
blue silk ran round the apartment VOLTA
tout. No pictures on the marble walls, no
books, no bric-a-brac, no trumpery "collec-
tions," ceramics, aesthetic trash, grave or
gay, nor mufling hangings. These are not
Oriental Injuries; but, instead, cool, shady
emptiness, plenty of space for the breeze to
hutter the gauzy curtains and carry the echo
of the plash and drip of the fountains.
At the furthest end, reclining on pillows
Of silk and lace, rested the lady we sought.
One little foot, in red velvet slipper was
first seen below wide trousers of yellow silk;
a loose robe OF white silk, embroidered with
gold thread, was partly covered by sleeve
less jacket Of crimson, dotted with seed
pearls; a broad variegated sash wound the
slender waist Half concealing the arms
was light scarf, airy as the woven wind of
the ancients. headband, with diamond
pendants, fringed her forehead; REVERE of
diamonds circled the bare throat; and here
and there solitary drops flashed in the braids
of her night black hair. Among the billowy
cushions and vaporous veilings rose the
young Tace-oh what revelation of beautyl
--uplifted in q curious, questioning way, to
see what manner of women these are who
come from the ends of the earth, with
unveiled faces and go about the
world alone and have to think
for themselves-poor thingsl The
expression was that OF a lovely child,
waking from summer slumber in the happi-
est humoP, ready for play. A sensitive, ex-
quisite face, fair as the first of women while
the angel was yet unfallen. A perfect oval,
the lips scarlet thread and oh, those Won
derful Asiatic eyes!-lustrous, coa-b black,
long, rather than round. beaming under the
joined eyebrows of which the poet Haiz
sings.
The edges OF the eyelids were blackened
with kohl, which Orientals use to intensity
the brilliance of the brightest ewes under the
sun. The most common kind is smoke
black, made by burning frankincense or
shells of almonds. Sometimes an ore OF lead
is used in fine powder. Our American girls
make miserable bungle of 1t. smearing the
whole eyelids giving a CHASTITY and unnat-
ural effect, very different from the thin line
of antimonv, applied by probe OF ivory,
dipped in the powder and skllfully drawn
on the tip edges OF the lids.
Nourmahal did not rise, but held out one
jeweled hand, dimpled as a babv's with
nails and fnger-ends dyed pink with henna
five clustered rosebuds The magic of
beauty made us her subjects We kissed the
little fingers loyalty and yielded ourselves
willing capuves ready to be dragged at her
chariot-wheels. My lifelong notions of the
subsection OF woman (see Stuart Mild and
the Wretchedness OF prisoners pinng in
palatial splendOrs vanished al the first glance;
went down at a touch. like the wounded
knight in the lists of Templestowe. She
smiled and hoped we were we'll; then fol-
lowed suitable inquiries as to health and
Journeys, and expressions of the charm of
finding it all out Our interpreter was an
Armenian lady with the gift of tongues.
When conversation is filtered through three
languages, il becomes very thin; even such
bold and spirited remarks as, This is a
happy day for me; | shall never
forget it," was robbed of half
its spice and favor by the time it
reached the ear for which it was intended |
ventured the high assertion that we had
sailed 5000 miles on purpose to lay our hon.
age at her blessed feet; which rhetorical flour
ish was received with a childish nod at about
what it was worth. Somehow, she did not
seem so enchanted with her new worshipers
as they were with her. 1t appeared the
beauty had never seen the sea except from,
shore
What is it like when you are in the mid
die of the dark water?'
Had she seen the great DESERT"
Y eS, many tlmeS, ana nad tremDed when
awful columns OF dust swept across it, moved
by the wings oil evil cenii."
at was like that; wide, still. desert of
water more lonely than any land"
do many people drown there she asked
Of the mysterious horror
Every few. You would have no fear"
because | shall never go on IT," she said
triumphantly, and laughed, showing teeth
like pomegranate seeds. and shook the dia-
mond drops on her forehead, so delighted
was she with the simple wit i At
the signal the slaves disappeared, except one
old woman and the negroes, silent as ghosts
beside the Lahore drapcry. In few min
utes five slaves returned, each carrying a
small round table OF cedar inlad with scraps
of mother-otpcarl. Five others followed,
with lighted cigarettes. lying each in a silver
saucer; and coffee in tiny cups, about tie
size OF giants ;himble. resting in silver
filagree holder. set round with diamonds.
My new friends nave come so far, said
Nourmahal, they must be tired. Take
cigarette and refresh yourselves"
rather awkardly adjusted the holder OF
amber and ventured one iaint Whit Imag-
inc my establishment at seeing my friend,
whose name with difficulty ] suppress. puff
away like dissipated old smoker. Tie
ARlenian was native and to the manner