The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19
THE GRAND TURKS HAREM.
MRS. LEW WALLACE DESCRIBES THE
SULTAN'S sERAGLIO.

- = .'N
Ree.as into which c,,y Ono MN May
Ester-ReAuttfui Women Amid TsistIal
spienders-Daushters of Love who spend
Thrir Days on Cushions OF Rose Leaves
In Cool Perfumed Chsmser.-The Imperial
Painee and Its spiendors-Cnprices 81 the
Women Ettsuctte OF the The
Queen Mother-An Imperisl Bnrso that
Rtvais In GorEeousness that of Cleopatra.
~tcoptrioh. 1881
Through four hundred years the Turkish
house royal has had unbroken lineal male de-
scent without a lateral branch. At Old Seraglio
Point thirty successive Sultans held their
sumptuous state till about forty years ago,
when the chain OF palaces bordering tho Mary
mora was burned md the court was removed
TO fndiz, on the heights beyond Pera.
Beautiful for situation is Ytldiz, Palace OF the
Star. Built nobly in a park of many hundred
acres, 1t overlooks an amphitheatro OF stately
cities with domes, towers. minarets. castles,
Islands. seas, fleets, md in the fairness OF the
distance the Mysian% olyInpus-a panorama OF
vivid color and varied movement without a
peer on the globe. What st James's Palace is
to London ia Yildiz to the Turk-the centre of
interest In Constantinople. tho well guarded.
the enchantress OF many lovers"
Barracks have been added till 1t Is in reality
a citndel. and there boats the heart and plots
the brain OF Islam. Within the walled enclos-
ure arc kiosks Of marble and gold. outbuild-
ings. stables. a military camp and paade
ground, cypress groves. unshorn forests. gar
dens with every kind of singing bird: a minia-
ture city with the delights OF the country rs
,ttoun ~ -, nv u,ow,ho.,.. 49, .n..S.n.
"tte1pt oi u u unaatno.ized person TO enter the
buildings appropriated to women is punishable
by death. 1t would come Ms u lightning stroke
should nvtrv N annroach tho rnrh,daan rnorns
into hnSu which on. man "n'' en,ers~, le' uneontr foHsds
irresponsible master Of hundreds OF women.
Lmong than aro No Iamiiv distinctinns M
Hn'onS 1"oh' ".o hotatih' INSTRUCTIONS no
records. no questions Of ancestry. hereditary
titles, or names. All have started from the
same ieFel, each one mas been I" slave bought
by the mother or sisters Of the Sultan. edu-
cuted to her position, and presented to him on
inc .nita gay OF inc feast OF beiram' INC Nlsnt
of Destiny. when the Koran descended in q Sill
Ssr roll r from pa nsarsn' , Nor are .n they ,n married ahnno to
MN inc fauieha. oelns above law eannot
submit to matrimonial bondage md Since 9th.
liz 49, niraod ~ a. a,.,.d r,,,ioh 70 ~.
his name sirdeo on the sword. when Is the
have married OF tho mates we cali wives only
fonr hold tho highest rank. All have been chos-
en- for personal charm. and arc in tho bloom
of youth; by far the larger number are from
a eet sarden 81" Gr sriat" heroes np.e. stole lst their MI Brides sin in
tho dim conturics before the Hind was written.
Imagination Is bewild cred by thought OF
such un array Of beauties set in palatial splen-
doris.
pleasing him who has lifted the siivery feet Of
these daughters OF love. from tile mire and rest
down. Instead Of erinding toll, they enjoy the
sweetness ofrest; ono cotton gown is eychanGed
fS ! B b55ig shs rs sbnt AND and levels sSy sn rare s, for black Yax
Svherifss' honey Of orange Mowers. and sberbet
Q violets and TId' Sugar. Each odaiisqne has a. her
x WIFE s;n ffr SeiHIddeed cca andia eI and trained 'IsHeere ser.
wants shod with slippers OF silence, who minis
I : to to s5 s5aI il cool q p Issip med c ia., ons g Ihsir
t toy the f"' Sis iiesst fank s" and COMPEL p mHs sussst to
Ono will in the harem is supreme rs a Provi-
denee or q destiny. 70 this power, before which
Ere s uhd Sms1d are sa ey,s J aniIIii u ,t G%,eiI ESa aes3.
s aesfni Ben sas heT WHIT it.'S vfola ap!s" " !saen iu tls
S Iset aI sp Te tb r, Stacy y ana that you 0eh0la the
June ifteVWtausafes o r niW p"'a and vi" furnisheds founl
tsfns piayinr, cascades dashine, niShtingaies
nsssltns among roses in ,hioom. WeEnow how
r r6s ah u hsn aerT WITH pa az ' bln su silF, an rataSe w 1fs
Broussa satin, tapestries of India. and brcid-
cries OF Persia. There are no pictures, they
idolatry. The Prophet he rests IN glory : Wss
a hAter Of fdolS- In the day Of indignant mic
lures and statues Viii rise and flock round Il
artists. and call on the Unhappy makers to sup.
humanity is unchangeabie: tho King Of a
must have his Preferences, and na tttT r the Il
E Esnson g f s0%m mn makes So ths mo ;s. Of her sfs m brief
pou!ines, Work the same neI !ssaits IN cons'anti..
luxurious harsin may have some dull Corner
where the discarded favorite may weep neg
iected ,yh;le bsr vjctorioms rival swc"ns nv r.
triumph The TURKS are tender in tbs eStrems
tbev are Also oeniie tnward woman Snma,
times the caprices Of wives have been costly Ss
The Sultan 70 fhe emniTc SnIton Jhrnbim9
allowed his to take what they pleased from
hourrf complained: She aid not Ike s6onninnee
by daylight; and at once the SOVEREIGN issued
shops open ali night, and 10 have e' enough
taee: Another. whose name means Little Bit
OF Sugar, WHISPERED TO ibrahim that sho
wantci 10 sec him with his heard frip9aS
with gems. The Lord OF lords was adorned
thus tricked out. Enormons treasures we're
iavished on a chariot, and. as In tie DAYS of