The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-22
Felicity. The outside world hears not the
iaintest echo Of the strange, adventurous

1Uc OUTSIDE WOflu ucdTS HUI tuc
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. II Beiram Aga knows more than
We do, he makes no sign; he Is secret as the
grave.
1t is said that harem etiquette was re-
gulated ages ago by laws that change not,
and is observed with rigid exactness and
minute observance of detail. The mothers
of children have apartments separate, as
families in fats, and visit with the grave
ceremonials by which Orientals salute
strangers. What jealousies may flash in
the languishing dark eyes, whose witchery
has made their fortune, who knows may
tell.
at the Belram feast the rosedoor of
Paradise opens, and the ladies OF the serag
lilo take place in the long procession of
carriages. Their 'unsunned loveliness" is
closely yelled, and there is something deli
cate and sweet in that modest yelling, like
the conservation implied in the pure white
bonnet Of the nun. Children faces crowd
the carriage windows, heads lovely as Sc.
raph or cherub crowned with Lilies and
| jasmine.
Here is a constant recurrence in mind to
the court of Solomon and the Old Testa-
| ment women. Could We lift the draperies
| which shadow the sanctuary we might fad
| childless women mourning over their curse,
and young mothers exulting, like Leah,
at the birth of Reuben, when che says:
Nov, therefore, my husband will love
| me-" Vashti end Queen Esther after her
| may enjoy transient season, but the
mother Of his sons alone has the lasting
affection of the Eastern monarch. And
| this brings us to the second person in rank
| of the Ottoman Empire, the mother of the
| fiIst-born prince. When her son comes to
| the throne she has the title SultanR Valide
| Queen MotherE She enjoys an immense
income, called slipper money, separate
court and palace, with one hundred and
fifty servants. When she drives
HER SUITE is THIRTY GIRLS
and from ten to fifteen black Agss mount
ed on Arab horses. No other lady moves
| in such pomp. When she takes her pleas
ure on the Bosphorus, it is in the imperial
| caique, the most exquisite boat since Cleo
| pstra's barge hoated on the Cydnus. IL is
| painted pure white, with traceries OF gold
| and pink, and under the perfect stroke of
twelve pairs OF oars darts like winged
| thing across the waves. The rowers, dress
ed In white silk shirts, white trousers and
red fez, make stroke with absolute pre-
eision, as one man, every thirty seconds.
| A crimson canopy OF velvet, bordered with
| gold, is upheld by four gilt columns, and
| in its shade reclines the Sultana Valide on
| cushions of down and velvet carpets firing
! ed with gold. A retinue Of i've oaiques
| filled with maids of honor attend her.
| They sre guarded By black slaves, whose
| light duty Ii is to hold umbrellas over the
| young heads screened by the white turbans.
| The little feet on the shining water is q
/ most picturesque sight.
The Sultana Valide is the only inmate
| Of the royal harem who is privileged 70 re-
| ceive visits from foreigners. Under man
| Der of quiet Dignity she carries determine
| ton, which makes high officials dread her
| influence and seek her favor. In time of
| peril and distress she may admit deputa-
items from the army and people; her judg-
ment in affairs is acknowledged. and she
has been known to plead for her son with
eloquence and pathos. At the festival OF
| BeiTam, celebrated ny the departure of pill
| grims for Mecca, she joins tie highest dig
nitsries and ministers, officers civil a9d
MARTIAL in kissing the hem of the Sultan's
robe.
BY COURT ETIQUETTE
he must stand in her presence, sitting at
| her request; in return the place at his
| right hand, given by Solomon to his moth
er, is still The reserved seat for the mother
/ of the Padisha.
The pontoon bridge spanning the Golden
Horn, crossed daily by one hundred thou
! sand men, Is called the bridge OF the Sal
tana Valide, and leads to mosque OF the
same name.
Sewn female officers preside over the ha.
| rem-lik. Each has her slaves and establish
ment, and may be often seen shopping 10
the city, attended by the i'm perial servants.
Seven thousand persons daily eat the bread
and salt of the Grand Slgnor. Ny briei
space forbids enumeration of service OF
wages. a few items are: three hundred
cooks, four hundred musicians, two hun.
dred men in. charge of menageries and
aviaues twelve hundred female slaves.
Properly speaking, there is no civil list,
and accurate 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 oil
the famous composer, was at one time di
rector-in.chief of the Sultans music. Story
telling is in favor. and good reciter is in
high request. Happy the Scherezade who
knows the tales of the genii and can amuse
the Caliph who has gone through all the
pleasures described by the singing king al
Bethlehem: "And whatsoever mine eyes
desired kept not from them; withheld
not my heart from any joy.n
| WaTrArr