The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-08-30
The suItan's Harem.

tinguished Turkish lawS er. He
stands erect, and has a fine form.
He has black, dancing eyes and a
mustache as fine as silk, that droops
gracefully over the corners of his
mouth. When he smiles he shows
a set of teeth that would charm a
dentist. He is a man who will cause
great havoc among Gotham's
women, who will do well to keep on
the opposite side of the street in
which he may be strelling unless
they have the temerity to Tisk los
ing their hearts, His father is n.
de Castro Bey, private counsel to
the Sultan, who resides in Paris.
$50 you wish to know something
about the Sultan's harem?" said
young Mr.. De Castro yesterday as
he rolled back in a sumptuous
leathern chair in his law Office at
No. So Liberty street, and threw out
a curl of smoke from cigar.
eyes do they firt?"
sNo; they can't. Like all other
women, however, they would like
to-"
"Why can't they ?"
Their religion compels them to
hide their face whenever they meet
a man. If they happen to be met
without veil they will gather up
one of their skirts and throw them
over their heads"
"Where does the Sultan obtain
his wives ?"
"From Circassia and a certain
part of Asia. These countries are
noted for the beauty Of their Wo-
men, and the Sultan has emissaries
stationed there to make selections
and importations. The govern
ments of these countries often send
pretty young women to the Sultan
as presents to obtain his good will
and favor"
"Are the women blondes or bru-
nettes ?"
"Brunettes."
"Do they ever bleach their hair p
"Oh, yes. Blondes are so scarce
that they are in great demand, and
the women use a plant for turning
their hair yellow"
What is the color of their eyes p
"Black as jet and bright as dia-
monds."
"Are they petite or larger"
"Small of stature, but very
plump. When young they are
really the handsomest women in the
world, but they don't last great
while"
"They fade, do they?"
ayes. Their lives are so luxuri-
ous that they decline for want Of
healthful exercise"
"What do they do?"
"Sit on low diYans under bright
canopies, and smoke cigarettes anC
drink strong Coffee"
"HoW do they dress ?'
Every temptingly in loose, bright
garments. They dress in the Turk
ish style, but are adopting the Eu-
ropean fashions as much as possible
The Sultan has often issued DEGREES
against the adoption of European
tastes, but the women don't care
about the dress nova days anC
when on the street many of then
wear high Flench heels and bustles
They always wear white muslin
wells, however, which add much tt
the seductiveness of their genera
appearance"
"How do the ladies wear theil
finger nails"
"They bleach them red, and have
them cut short. The nails are short
[ suppose, because they are afraiC
their tempers might get the bette.
OF them, and Mr.. de Castro strokeC
his mustache and laughed heartily
"But you say the ladies don't firt
How can they refraIn?"
swell, they do firt. They low
to f1irt with Europeans because it il
forbidden fruit, l suppose"
as there any danger in flirting
with a Turkish damsel ?"
"Wel you would think so if {
harem keeper caught you. He car.
ries big whip for flirts.'
"What does the Sultan do will
his wives when he tires of them ?"
ale gives them to his chamber
lain, who takes them as legitimate
wives"
"Are there many Turks who keel
harems ?"
"Not so many as you imagine
They're too expensive. When {
man has two wives he must have
a double home. One home is foI
the husband and the other for tht
wives. But besides the Legitimate
wives, nearly every man has a few
slaves. When the first wife comes
of high and wealthy family she
usually holds sway over her hus-
band, and won't permit him to have
slaves or harem. She won't allow
him to sit down, or even to come
into erpresence without her specia
permission. There are two kind
of slaves. One kind are used a:
servants, and the other are called
odalisques, and they assist in the
harem, and often become the wives
of the Turk. Their duties are tt
| play on tie banjos, dance and sing.
/ "Then slavery still exists in Tur
key"
YES" replied M. de Castro will
a sly wink, "but only on the quiet
There are marts where we can bu!
a slave. And in spite of the laws
| prohibiting slavery, if you buy
slave and she is not as represented
I the court will sustain you in sui
4 A.