Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-04-22
A CHRISTIAN HAREa.
The Beausifui Bot IsAorant Creatures
Who Grseed che EstahIishne ems Of .

The Reausifui But IrAor.nt Cresture>
Who Grseed the ,EstahIishm ems OF .
Wealthy Reaiaeat OF JanA-
Writing his life in the Orient In
Frank Leslie's Sunday Magazine, Ed
win de Leon says: One evening We
passed In the enjoyment Of the hospi-
Ialities of rich Greek which resided in
the town. 1t had CHANGED that In my
official capacity l had been able in
Egypt to accom- protection to the large
colony of Greeks residing in Egypt dur
ing the Crimean war, when an edict of
their expulsion from the Ottoman do
minions had been issued from Constan-
tipople by the sublime porte, and sane.
toned by the Christian powers Of Ed
rope potential there
Not REPRESENTING 3 European power,
iieuk the responsibility of retaining
aid protecting thee people in Egypt.
and was ranked among the PHILLIP.
IcEes throughout the whole East order
al San Sauveur by King Ohio. AS the
Greeks are scattered throughout the
East. Sud keep up a constant iuterc0m-
munication and strict bonds of sympa
IT,, ii is Stood ME in good stead. Anon:
ether benz fits, 1t procured me on tnI,
evening the view of one of the loveliest
women have ever beheld in any part
of the world-the daughter Of our en-
tertainer at Jaffa. Although the Greeks
are most fanatIcal Christians, Yet in
mauy customs they, a. well as all other
native Christians in the ESsi, follow
many of the Moslem ussges-among
others, the absolute seclusion of women
from the sight of strangers, either At
home or on the streets. While walk.
ing out they wear impenetrable wells
at home they are restricted to their
own apartments, into which no man l.
ever admitted, save the members Of
their own household. Even the happy
bridegroom is not allowed to see the
face of his bride until after for
NAL betrothal. His female relatives in.
spect her and report her charms, on
which he must form his Judgment. 1t
was, therefore, by special and extra
ordinary favor 10y which was permit
ted to look Oh the unveiled face Of this
lovely Greek maiden, whose beauties
the eyes OF no unmarried man had ever
viewed before, save her future husband,
who that day had first been granted
the privilege. lies extremes se tou,
chent." For here in Jatfa was practls-
ed the matrimonial brokerage which
prevails in France-the queen OF civili-
ZstiOn. Mrs Prime had been passing the
evening in this Christian harem while We
men creatures were solemnly smoking
and stufiing ourselves with eastern
sWeetmeats in the mems apartments
below, and were getting sleepy from
the smoky atmosphere, repletlon and
the conversation under difficulties,
diluted and strained through several
languages, when messenger mysterl-
ously beckoned Mr.. Prime and myself
from the apartment, and following the
messengers shutting steps, we were
ushered into. the sacret precincts of the
ladies' bower, where We found Mrs.
Prime surrounded by IA bevy of damse,s
OF all ages and sizes, from the fulfilled
proportions of the matron down to the
slender-wa s:ed gazelle-ry d girls Of II
or IL years OF age, just ripenIng into
womanhood. Then first knew where
the prophet bad drawn his visions Of
the future State, and where on earth It's
hours might be seen. For those women
were of rare and witching loveliness,
vet q loveliness Of earth earthly-ssve
those who were very young, around
whom yet fingered the grace and pur.
ity of childhood. The soft, bright
light Of intelligence, cultivated by edu-
cation and thought, refined by know
ledge, poetry and music, and feminine
accomplishments, was wanting In those
full, dark brilliant orbs, which, shyly
Lifted up from under the long-fringed
lashes, shot ray of light into your
own, then were bent down again. Yet
there was much to attract the senses In
the sweet faces and will0wy features
Of tho younger dalnseis, the bride-eN-
pectant being very paragon of lowell
ness.
We are bound over to perfect secrecy
as TO our visit, but found the ladies
much nicer to look OF than TO talk to
being ms ignoranr and ill.informed as
children. but full of curiosity, and ex-
ccssively loquacious. They were hab-
tied in Eastern costume of the richest
stufls, exposing the bosom, and substi-
tutipg baggy trousers of silk lshintyans)
for petticoats and skirts, while in their
braided hair shoue jewels and golden
coins. They seemed to enjoy as a rare
frolic the presence OF two bearded men
among them, and no doubt talked it
over, as belle would her first ball.
Here, as below, pipes, pcrfumed mar
gilehs and swe etmeats were the order
of the evening, and q fair damsel
pulled cnergetically and blew clouds Of
Iataka smoke through their nostrIls
with equal grace and graxjty. 1t was
very late when we left, and the jealousy
of our nfortunatc friends we had lel
below was vehcment!y kindled when
they learned our happy fortune.