Wichita eagle., 1888-02-18
In TURKISH HAREMS.
MONOTONOUS LIFE LED BY THE
WIVES OF THE WEALTHY.

Few Household Duties for the Very Poof
| to Perform-Induence OF Circassiau
slaves-The "vaIide Suitana"-Bad
State of Society.
The only listless and really idle women ono
meets in this country are either the wretch
/ edly poor or the inmates Of the seraglio or
some wealthy pasha's harem. The latter,
( especially the young among them, complain
bitterly of the monotony of their life. Two
beautiful and sprightly young girls-daugh-
! tiers of high government of1icial-recently
discourSed most eloquently to US Of the de-
/ lightful freedom of their life when at their
summer home ON the Bosphorus Here"
said they, ''we can ride on horseback in the
lovely country OF row over these bright
waters and are almost as free as other young
ladies'; soon, though, when we return to our
| town house, we can only go out in a close
carriage or when wrapped like mummy in
q yashmac or ferezie." These young ladies
were being educated by English and French
governesses. Sometimes, l am told, these
women rebel en- masse, and nearly discard
| the close veil or some other regulation"
! there is some scandal evolved and reported
to the sultan. Then the screws are frightened.
am told that even in the harems of the
wealthy the ''honoum" chief LADY, often
spends the morning hours busily engaged
with her domestics and slaves iii the COM
monest household duties, in order to relieve
the tedium of her life of seclusion. They
must always have the consent of the lord OF
the household before they can 60 out, even
for a short call, or to any of the sylvan re-
treats where they so delight to picnic with
their friends; but, Judging from the great
number Of yelled women We see abroad on
Friday their Sabbath, or on gala days, We
must conclude such consent is seldom with
held. Though they have always to submit
to being attended by lynx eyed eunuch,
they still look cheerful and care free, sitting
about on soft rugs, eating sweetmeats, slipping
coffee or smoking cigarettes, chatting with
their neighbors.
The very poor have rarely many household
duties to perform. Their children are not
allowed to occupy much of their time, but
are sent to the mosque school or turned irto
the street to amuse themselves with other
children of their class The actual needs of
the family are easily supplied, for a loaf or
two of the black bread of the country, the
price of which is regulated by the govern
ment and Is very cheap, and few pounds of
grapes 0r olives, also very cheap, are for
them quite sufficient daily bread and two
or three simply fashioned garments consti
tute the needful raiment. There is no set
ting to rights" of rooms other than the roll
ing up and slowing away in closets of the
pallets on which they have slept Therefore
the mistress of house is soon at liberty 10
curl up in corner of her divan with her
needlework and beloved cigarette, if the
weather is inclement, or # the day is fine can
join some group on grassy hillside, and
spend the entire day in the most frivolous
gossip, with their children playing about
them in all the freedom of unrestrained
childhood.
1t seems evident that Turkey took q viper
to her breast when she gave the Circassian
refugees foothold here, for these people
furnish much of the stuff from which the
most daring of brigands are made and who
can measure the power behind the throne"
these outlaws command, when it is 20 well
known that many fair Circassian slave has
q lover whose strength cannot be estimated.
Col. James Baker is authority for the state
ment, in a work published about ten years ago
that the Circassians in European Turkey
are estimated at 200 600, and are the terror
of their neighbors, whether Turks or Chris
tians. Their depredations 60 unchecked
through fear of reprisals. Their interest at
high quarters, through the introduction of
their beautiful girls TO the principal harems
of Constantinople and elsewhere, ia so great
that it is found difficult to get convictions
against them. They know their own power,
and unless stringent measures are taken TO
stop further immigration and to enforce the
law more strictly over those already colon
lied, they must prove great bar to progress
for many years to come" Thus we see that
even the scourge Of brigandage is in a meas
ure supported by the weaker sex.
But there are vet more potent powers BE-
hind the throne. The ''valide sultana," or
sultan's mother, is possessed OF great inhu-
ence She always ranks first in the seraglio.
A wing Of the palace nearest TO that Of her
son is act apart for her use She possesses
state apartments, has an immense train Of
slaves and every mark of respect is shown
her, nos only by her son, but by all who
would curry favor at court. 1t matters lit |
tie what disposition Turk may manifest
toward his wives and all others who surround |
him. De Is SAID 10 De always Sen1ef ana re- |
spectful TO his mother; for, says he, Il may |
lose my child, another may be born 20 me. !
my wife may die, another fills her place: but |
/ can have but one mother II is often |
found by high officers Of state that they have |
reason 10 dread the interference Of the yaiids |
suitana more than that Of the sultan himself !
Thus it is plainly to be seen how unedu- |
Gated, undeysloped women help On the disin- |
process 10 plainly TO be SEEN In the
Turkish empire What wonder that under ,
the present system we hear much Of the vice l
and corruption that reigns In high places /
How could it be otherwise where virtue is
forever crushed and true ~omanhood IL
neither appreciated nor desired. Still, j: has
been my good fortune % meet sn.ne digni-
Bed, quiet and cultured Turkish ladies',
whose whole bearing offered pleasing con-
trast 10 that Of the generality Of Moslenl
Cor San FrAnci.co
CGronicie
The Coroner's Verdict
4 man IN western town hanged ktnse9
20 a bed Poss by Lis suspende-x The csr-
oEfr's jury, which was coapossd 81 rno:hsrA
decided that the deceased earss 70 his death
A Il