Smyrna times., 1883-01-24
About Smyrna.
BY MRS. SUSAN E. WALLACE,
CMrs. Gen. Lew wallace).

In the old days, when Smyrna be- |
longed to, the Kingdom of the Beauti-
full Myths, her women were bewitch-
ing with graces of person and willy arts
inherited from the Gods. The modern
Smyrniote has peculiar witchery of
of her own, which beams from the Ian
guild dark eyes, and, in a soft repose of
manner, she passes the daughters of
men with her fascinations. How idle
these women look, sitting in the doors
gazing at the passer-by, with eyes like
haunted chambers, unsearchable as
midnight, glittering as the edge of the
sword of the Prophet! The descrip-
tions made of them years ago answer
as well for to-day. Leaning out the
lattices, thinking upon nothing, idle as
painted pictures, which, indeed, some
of them are. Interchangeable except in
costumes, they have abandoned the
flowing draperies and yelling scarfs of
the Orient for the modern French
dress except, here and there, one
may see in the rich braids of jet black
hair long stilletto hairpin of ancient
work, or on the low smooth forehead a
fringe of pendant coins, reminder of
Egypt. There is strong dash of Jew
ish blood, showing mainly in the high
nose; and the Greek blood, though
thinned by an alien strain, beats warm
in the people of Asia Minor. Nor have
they forgotten the names Of the dead
classic times. Aspasia and Sappho
make pretence of embroidery, as
they look up and down the, street
from the projecting balcony. Aglaia
and Proserpine yet gather flowers in
the beautiful, close-walled gardens
There is fountain of pure, sparkling
water in the centre of the city, and o
this there is an ancient saying: "Drinl
once of this water, and, though you
fly to the ends of the earth, you ar
sure to drink again. 1t is not in tn
fountain alone, grateful and refreshing
as it is, that the charm of Smyrna lies
There is wonderful fascination in tn
variety of color, costume, nationality
which, captivates the travellers fror
. the West. Along the. broad, well
built quay which extends almos
across the entire length of the city 20
: catch your first glimpse of a caravan
!. camels, a long train, each sixth one lie
: by a donkey. Naturally, the Bib
days come into mind. Thus came th
, Queen of .Sheha to Solomon with
very great, train !; with camels thu
NJ bore spices and very much gold an
m precious stones. Into this finest po
s and richest city of the Levant POI
treasures from the four quarters of Il
2 globe but our interest is not in Il
stuffs of France and Germany, it il
, in the bales from ] Persia. g Aa1o
chronicler of the past century say
p from Persia came two thousand bal
l. of silk q, year medicines, gums, bs
sans all sweet spices, furs, and. eve
sort of carpet; the jewels that spark
4 ON the brow of beauty |; the wealth
llu ormux and Of Ind; pearls from wal
Il and distant seas and that yagt
indefinite idea of all things, rich q
rs rare, Is hidden in the brown bales
on the, back Of the unwieldy, slo
in moving beast, They. come from t
trackless desert, from Bagdad and b
.se sora, and an Arab directs their marc
- he is true believer and thinks
II sword of the PEcphet y the key b'
- of Heaven and Hell; he prays &
lHa times a day and knows an houri
Paradise is waiting to give him
- diamond cup of Immortality WI
Sse SSe he unIoads at the bazars, you may
Ices Ices carpets of irridescent dyes, soft as fin
pes. plush, cloth of gold and silver, sea
-" of Mecca, the Holy City of the Propf
. the matchless embroidery Arabesq