Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-01-16
Haven Beauty

haven BeAutN
The wife of Minister Wallace Of Cor
stantinople gives the following account
of visit 10 lie Sultan's palace.
A broad low divan Of pale blue silk
ran round the apartment. No pictures
on the marble walls. no books, 10 brio
a-bac, no "trumperyn collections, eera-
mics, aesthetic trash. grave or gay, nor
muffiing hangings. These are not ORR
entail luxJTies, but instead cool, shady
emptiness, plenty OF space for the breeze
10 f1utter the gauZy curtains, and carry
the echo of the plash and drip of the
fountains.
At the furthest end, and reclining On
pillows, of silk and lace, rested the lady
we sought. One little foot in red vel
vet slipper was first seen below white
trousers of yellow silk; loose robe of
white silk, embroidered with gold
thread, was perfectly covered by a
sleeveless jacket of crimson dotted with
seed pearl; a broad variegated sash
wound the slender waist. Half con-
cealing the arms was light scarf, airy
as the woven wind of the ancientS. a
headband, with diamond pendants,
fringed ber forehead. a Teviere of dia-
mOnds circled the bare throat, and here
and there solitary drops flashed in the
braids of her night-black hair. Among
the billowy cushions and vap0rous veil
ings rose the young face-oh, what a
revelation of uplifted in cu-
rious questioning way, TO see what
manner of women these are, who come
from the ends of the earth, with unveil-
ed faces, and go about the world alone.
and have to think for thenSelveS-pOor
things. The expression was that of a
lovely child waking from summer slum-
Der in the happiest hUmOr, ready for
play. \ sensitive, exquisite face, fair
as the first of women while the angel
was vet unfallen. \ perfect oval, the
lips a scarlet thread, and oh, those won
derful Asiatic eyeSl-lustrOus, coal
black, long rather round, beaming
under the Joined eyebrows of which the
poet HaiiZ sings.
NOurmahal did not rise, but held cut
one jeweled band, dimpled as baby's,
with nails and finger ends dyed pink
with henna-fiYe clustered rosebudS.
The magic of beauty made up her sub
jectS. We kissed the little fingers 10y
ally; and yielded ourselves willing cap
tiveS ready to be dragged at the chariot
wheels. My lifelong notions of the
subjection OF women (see Stuart Mill
and the WretchedneSS of prisoners
pining in palatial splendOrs vanished at
the first glance-went down at touch,
like the wounded knight in the lists of
Templestowe. She smiled and hoped
we were well; then followed suitable
inquiries as TO health and journeys, and
expressions of the charm of finding it
all out. / yentured the high assertion
that we had sailed 1000 miles to lay our
homage at her blessed feet; which rhe-
tOT1cal flourish was received with a
childish nod at about what it was
worth. Somehow she did seem so en-
they were with her. 1t seemed the
Beauty had never seen the sea except
from the shore.
At the signal the slaves disappeared,
except one old woman and the negroes,
silent as ghosts beside the Lahore dra-
perry. In a few minutes five slaves
returned, each carrying small round
table of cedar, inlaid with scraps of
mother of-peaTl. Five others followed
with lighted cigarettes, lying each in a
silver saucer; and coffee in tiny cups,
about the size of a giants thimble, rest
ing in silver iilagree holder, set round
with diamonds.
"My new friends have come so far"
said NOurmahal, ''they must be tired.
Take a cigarette and refresh your
selves"
| rather awkardly adjusted the holder
Of amber and yentured one faint Whit.
Imagine my astoniShment at seeing my
friend, whose name with difficulty |
suppress, puff away like a dissipated
old smoker. The Armenian was native
and to the manner born. Nourmahal
smoked, of course, and lulling calm
succeeded the excitement of the bril-
liant conversation reported above.
While feeling around my brain for a
subject of common interest, adapted TO
my hostess capacity and mine, tried a
sip of the coffee. 1t was strong enough
TO bear up egg, thick with grounds
and bitter as death. / pretended to
deep enjoyment of the dose, and slipped
it drop by drop, to the bitter end.
NOurmahal clapped her hands again
anG the ten virgins took away the sau-
GERS. | think none of them were fool
ish, for they fell into line without effort,
each one tTeading in the footsteps of her
predecessor, at an interval to avoid her
train.
''In this charming palace you must
be very happy. How do you pass the
time.n
The dimples deepened in the cheeks
of Beauty.
Pass the time, pass the time?n she
dTeamily repeated, playing with the
knotted fTinges of her scarf. Il do not
pass it, it passes itselfl'' and again she
laughed, and the laughter was as sweet
as the tenderest voice can make it.
''ATe you fond of musieI''
Three ladies in black: "OhI yery.',
''0h, very. ''Ohl very.''
Then YOU should be amused.' She
clapped the rose-leaf palms, and in
marched eight women musicians 1--WE
saw no men that day but the harem
= SudAuI btdAALS oNiliScO liSlI umtulS,
curious-loOking things, like overgrown
violins and haf finished guitars, and
round shell, with strings across, beaten
with two sticks.
Didst ever hear Arabic music beloved?
No? Then never hast thou known sor-
row.
Since Jubal first struck the gamut,
there can be no improvement in these
compositions. How long the exercises
lasted l am unable to record, but l do
know we grew old fast under the beat.
beat, hammer, hammer, in the terse,
notes of the banjo. In the
bright interval at the end of peculiarly
agoniZing strain, sung by muiatto,
seized the moment to ask what were
the words of the song, and was told it
is Il serenade, very ancient, dating back
to the times of ignorance, before the
coming of Mahomet, whose tomb is
covered with the splehdor of unceasing
light.
A IMexicsn Pyramid.