Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-06-17
ORIENTAL LIFE.
Ceremonies Observed at Fashionable
Turkish Dining Party.


In the Oriental household there are
no fixed hours, no fixed habits. no reg
ular sitting-rooms, dining-rooms, bed
rooms The divan, which serves as
seat or lounging place during the day.
serves as couch at night Each person
eats when disposed to. Sweetmeats.
sherbets and coffee, particularly the last,
are partaken of at intervals all day
long When regular meal is served.
it Is usually an occasion" of some
sort. and it is served in courses. The
greater the ..occasisn." the larger the
number of courses, One dish composes
the course. 1t is served on large cir
cular platter Of copper or brass or sill
yer -Dr gold, according to the wealth of
the host. The platter is placed on a cir
cular table of the same circumference as
the platter, and about a couple of feet
high Around this table the guests
place themselves either on cushions or
in order to be: accurate | must be in
elegant-squatting. There are neither
knives, forks nor plates, nothing but
the huge platter. which entirely covers
the sable; and from this huge dish each
persian helps himself with the first two
fingers of the right hand. Never under
aaV circumstances must food be touched
with the left hand; to do so would be
to de4iIe it. A meal served in this way
consists of any where from six to twen-
ty-six courses. Some of them are very
nice. many of them very nasty. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that no wine is
served. The good Mussulman never
drinks wine in public. After every
course servants hand to each guest a
small basin containing tepid water deli
cately perfumed and clean napkin.
This is very refreshing, and, when the
manner of dining is remembered. very
necessary There is no lack OF liquid
refreshments, but as this is made up OF
sherbets of various tiavors, but all ex-
tremeIr sweet, one is apt, about mid
wav of the feast, to long for drsught
of cool. clean, comfortable water.
Of course. it is always more or less OF
an .-evearf>' when the master OF the
household visits the harem. Theme is
ALWAYS sad heart-burning and jealousy
of the fayorite INDEPENDENTLY the last
of the lot From this circumstance one
is apt to conclude that there is CREST
deal of human nature aboE the Turk.
after all.
1t Is very PrcttS SsShe ~ *
ish lady of rank taking her afternoon
drive This is always in coupe or
clarence; never in an open carriage
First comes the -ssaiee," or running
sootman. ALWAYS a tall. 9ithe, handsome
goung Arab. with bare legs and feet,
Clothed rs to body in a thin white shirt
with wide. open flowing sleeves: a sash
of cav colors around his waist, his head
covered with the inevitable '-tarboosh,
aroslnd which is rolled great turbasa of
soft. white muslin. Armed with long,
light staff. he waves it in graceful
curves and evolutions in the AR
as he runs in advance of the
horses. clearing the way. Then
comes in great state the eunuchs-two
four or six, according to the rank of the I
..Pasha'' to whom belongs the cortege. |
and then. lying back as only an Orient |
al woman can. is a soft, lovely, fat erea-
ture. with great, languishing black |
ewes. w,ess softness and brightness |
are enhanced BY the ''kohl' with /
which brows and lashes are colored.
They shine like great stars above the /
white ..yashmakn which covers the
lower portions of the face. Some times