The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-04-28

st. James Gazette.
The frou-frou of silk is heard. Three
ladies enter the room. Their feet and
legs are bare to the knee. for they have
cast off their shoes at the door; but all
the rest Of them is shrouded in allarge
of dark blue silk, the over veil of the
Persian lady. Gracefully they sink down
into heaps in q semicircle opposite us
"salaam, sahib: you are welcome. Tea,
tea for the Sahib!" responded in the
customary way, and inquire after the
health Of my yelled hostesses. One only
replies, in confident tone-she is evil
IDENTIFY of middle age, and self-possessed;
the other two blue heaps shake with in
ward mirth, but are silent. TT cannot
be, it is too hotg' the lady continues, as
she cast off her dark blue enveIope-an
example Immediately followed by her
companions. Hearts delight hastily
folds up the wells; and o plump middle
aged lady, very comely. and her two in
nocent-looking daughters, handsome
young women, fair as any English girl,
with round chubby faces and magni-
ficient eyes, are disclosed to view in all
the spIender of the Persian lady's indoor
dress. The costume of all is the same
varying only in colors, and these are of
the gayest; short and voluminous skirts
of silk, much boufTe, reaching to the
knee; shirts (the Persian word, like the
French chemise, is applied to the gar
ment of both sexes) Of transparent velvet,
Just covering the shoulders and the top
of the sleeves are unbuttoned from the
elbow. hanging down and showing the
gay Innings of pale-colored but brilliant
silk3 The top Of the head and the ears are
hidden by gorgeous silk kerchiefs, en-
broidered in gold. and there is no more
clothing to describe, unless the numer
Gus bracelets Of the bangle form, of gold
and Of glass. which jangle as the ladies
move their arms, may be called clothes.
The ladies chat; the younger ones only to
each other in an undertone, for maiden
modesty prevents their addressing the
doctor; but they giggle and litter good
deal, and are duly reproved for it by the
elder lady Tea in delicate old china
cups is served; we all smoke hubble-bub-
bles, and four of them are brought by
Heart's-delight and three other black
female slaves. Presently | hear a litter
ing behind me, turn and instantly there
is a dead silence as a bright curtain of
shotsilk quickly falls, but not before /
have observed an amused bevy of gayly
dressed women and children. Excuse
them, DR. Sahib; they arc so dull, so
dull" Conversation turns upon the
curious customs of Europeans. I am
asked if am married. ] have to admit
chat Z am not, and am duly pitied. But
then, After all, you are right. Where
there is a women there is discord, says
my hostess More tea: more pipes.
Sweet cakes, confectionery, and conserv-
es are handed; iced sherbet, in Bohemian
glass tumblers, gilt and of gaudy colors,
Is served / insinuate something TO the
effect that this is professional visit: my
hostess smiles. Irepeat the remark, and
then the lady, rising to bid farewell, re-
plies, I'VE were dull: we were bored; you
have desennuye us. Wallahw-with
little laugh--"T lave forgotten why we
sent for you, Your footsteps, however,
have been fortunate, for our hearts are
so longer sad" So here was an end Of
my visit. We shook hands heartily, and
the lady gave me a huge boquet Of mar
cissus rs I left. As 1 rode home through
the glazing streets I felt all the more
clearly that I had been merely sent for
out of curiosity. But the handsome lit
tie carpet I afterward received as a fee
reconciled me to the experience. and
caused me to remember that it is not in
Persia alone that ladies summon 4 doc
tor simply because they are bored