Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-05-01

The frou-frou of silk is heard. Three
ladies' enter the room. Their feet bare,
for they have cast off their shoes at the
door; but all the rest of them is shrouded
in a large sheet Of dark blue silk, the
outer vail of the Persian lady. Grace
fully they sink down into heaps in a
semicircle opposite u.s. "Salaam, sahib
you are welcome. Tea, tea for the Sahib ~
respond in the customary way, and in
quire after the health of my yelled host
esses. One only replies, in confident
tone-she is evidently of middle-age,
and self possessed; the other two blue
heaps shake with inward mirth, but are
silent. 1T cannot be. it is too hot!" the
lady continues, rs she casts off her dark
blue enyelope-an example Immediately
followed by her companions Hearts
delight hastily folds up the three walls
and a plump middle-aged lady, very
comely, aud her two innocent. looking
daughters, handsome young women, fair
as any English girl, with round chubby
faces and magnificent eyes, are disclosed
to view in all the splendor of the Persian
ladv's 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 bouffc,
reaching to the knee; shirts (the Persian
word. like the French chemise, is APP
piled to the garment of both scxes) of
the silk cause; tiny Zouave jackets of
gayly embroidered velvet, just covering
the shoulders and the top of the back
(of these the sleeves are unbuttoned from
the elbow, hanging down and showing
the gay Innings of the pale-colored but
brilliant silk; the top of the head and
the ears are hidden by gorgeous silk
handkerchiefs, embroidered in gold ana
there is no more clothing to describe, un-
less the numerous 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 doctors; but they
giggle and litter good deal. and are
duly reproved for it by the elderly lady.
Tea in delicate old china cups is served /;
we all smoke hubble-bubbles, and four
of them are brought by t's-delight
and three other black female slaves.
Presently hear tittcring behind me,
turn, and instantly there is dead 81
lence as bright curtain of shot. silk
quickly falls, but not before / have OBJ
served an amused bevy of gayly dressed
women and children. Excuse them,
Doctor Sahib; they are so dull, so dull. =
Conversation turns upon the curious GUS
toms of Europeans / am glad if I am
asked If am married have to admit
that am not. and am duly pitied. But
then, latter all, you are right. Where
there 10 a woman there is discord, = says
my hostess More tea; more pipes.
Sweet cakes, confectionery, and con-
serves are handed iced sherbet, In Boz
hemian glass tumblers. gilt and OF gaudy
colors, is served insinuate something
to the effect that this is professional
visit, my hostess smiles. I repeat the
remark. and then the lady, rising TO bid
farewell, replies, 1--WE were dull; we
were bored; you have desennuye us.
Wallah !"--with little laugh-sI have
foxgotten why we sent for YOU. Your
footsteps, however, have been fortunate,
for our hearts are no longer sad. So
here was the'end Of nv visit. We shook
hands hearth y, aud the lady gaveme bou-
quet of naIcissusa as left. AS rode home
through the glaring streets / felt all the
more clearly that / had been merely sent
for out of curiosity. But the handsome
carpet afterward received reconciled me
to the experience, and caused me to re-
member that it is not in Persia alone
that ladies' summon doctor simply be-
cause they are bored - 50. Jnmes' Gazette.