The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-05-25
The suLTAN,s HAREM.
Conspicuous PersonaEes and Officials orthe
EStabIishinent.

Conspicuous PersonaEes and Officials of the
Embellishments.
The Suliana Yalide is the only inmate
Of the royal harem who is privileged to
receive visits from foreigners. Under
a manner of quiet dignity she carries
determination, which makes high Off
sials dread her influence and seek her
favor. In time of peril and distress she
may admit deputations from the army
and people; her judgment in affairs is
acknowledged. and she has been known
to plead for her son with eloquence and
pathos. At the festival of Bairan, cell
ebrated by the departure of pilgrims
for Mecca, she joins the highest digni-
taries and ministers. officers, civil and
martial. in kissing the hem of the Sui
tan's robe. By court etiquette he must
stand in her presence, sitting at her re-
.uest; in return, the place at his right
nand, given by Solomon to his mother,
is still the reserved seat for the mother
of the Padisha. The pontoon bridge
spanning the Golden Horn, crossed
daily BY 100000 men, is called the
Bridge of the Sultana Validc. and leads
to a mosque of the same name.
A conspicuous person about the pal
ace is the Bairam Aga, keeper of The
maidens. a jet-blacb Nubian, probably
from the Soudan He wears a gor-
geous uniform of scarlet and gold, has
the air of authority, and on his ample
breast displays a dozen imperial, royal
and Christian orders of which he is
knight. He ranks with Prime Minis
ters and Field Marshals, disputes pre-
cedence with ambassa adors, and is
eourted for his influence. A genuine
African, he loves jewels, and on the
hand gracicusly extended for Kisses of
the Faithful there gltters a ruby second
only 10 the one for which Kubla Khan
offered city and was refused. From
the savings of his income the Guardian
of the Lilies has built mosque for his
lordly sepulcher when his term of yigi-
liant service IS ended.
The true Oriental is unsurpassed in
secrecy, and there is a fascination in
his sil ence which moves the gossip to
insatiate curiosity. The foreigner must
stop at the carved and gilded portal Of
the consecratcd place. Even Bairam
A2d Att5 ilOL DSt9S H. AHlDdSStNtOTS
have pctitioned and Princesses sued in
vain for entrance into the gate of fe-
| licity. The outside world hears not the
| faintest echo of the strange, adventurous
life of women whose loves. hates, spites,
intrigues, are plays played out with
neither audience nor spectator TO report
If Bairam Aga knows more than we do,
he makes no sign; he is secret as the
grave.
Seven female officers preside over the
haremlik. Each has her slaves and
establishment and may be often seen
shopping in the city, attended by the
imperial servants. Seven thousand per-
sons daily eat the bread and salt at the
Grand Signor. My brief space forbids
enumeration of service or wages. A
few items are: 300cooks, 400 musicians,
200 men in charge of menageries and
ayiaries, 1.200 female slaves. Properly
speaking, there is no civil list, and ac-
curate figures are not easily reached
The ladies, yelled and attended, visit
in their walled gardens and palaces.
hired musicians play on lutes and
almehs dance for their amusement
Donizetti, brother of the famous COM
poser, was at one time director-in-chief
of the Sultan's music. Susan E. Val
lace, tn Plstiadelplsta Press.