Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-24

uine African, he loves Jewels, and on tn
hand graciously extended for kisses G
the Faithful there glitters 8 ruby secon
only to the one for which Kubis Khan OF
| fered q city and was refused. From tn
savings Of his income the Guardian OF tn
Lilies has built mosque for his lordl
sepulchre when his term Of vigilant ser
vice is ended.
| The true Oriental is unsurpassed Il
secrecy, and there is q fascination In hi
silence which moves the gossip to In
sstiste curiosity. The foreigner mus
stop at the carved and gilded portal o
the consecrated place. Even Bairam Ag
does not pass 1t. Ambassadors hsv
petitioned and princesses sued IN voin TO
entrance into the Gate of Felicity. Tn
outside world hears not the faintest echl
OF the strange, adventurous life Of,
WOMEN WHOSE LOVES,
hates, spites, tntrigues, are plays PLAYED
out with neither audience nor spectacle
to report. II Beiram Aga knows NOR,
than we do, he makes no sign ;he is secre
as the grave.
It is said that hsrem etiquette WAS reg
ulated ages ago by laws that change not
and is observed with rigid exsctness snc
ers Of children have apartments separate
as families In fats, and visit with the
grave ceremonials by which Onentels
slute strangers. What iealousies may
fash in the lapguishiug dark eyes, whose
Wltchery has made their fortune, who
knows may tell.
At the Bsiram feast the rose door oi
Paradise opens, and the ladies' of the Sc.
raglio take place in the long procession
Of carriages. Their "unsunned lowell
ness" is closely yelled, sud there Is some
thing delicate and sweet in that modest
yelling, like the conservation implied in
the pure white bonnet of the nun. Grill
nren's faces crowd the carriage windows,
heads lovely as seraph or eheruo crowned
with lilies and jasmine.
Here Is constant recurrence in mind
to the court Of Solomon and the Old
Testament women. Could we lift the
draperies which shadow the sanctuary we
might fud childless women mourning
over their curse, and young mothers ex-
ulting, like Lssb, at the birth of Reuben,
when she says: ''Now, therefore, my
husband will love me-" Vashti and
Queen Esther after her may enjoy q
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 Ottomsn
Empire, the mother Of the Hrst-born
prince. When her son comes to the
throne she has the title Sultana Valide
Queen Mother) She enjoys an immense
income, called slipper money, a separate
court and palace, with 15s servants.
When she drives
HER SUITE Is THIRTY GIRLS
and from ten to fifteen black AgSs
on Arab horses. No other lady
moves in such pomp. When she takes
her pleasure on the Bosphorus, it is in
the imperial caique, the most exquisite
beat since CleopatrA's barge fioated on
the Cy0nus. It is painted pure white,
with traceries Of gold and pink, and un-
der the perfect stroke of twelve pairs OF
oars darts like winged thing across the
waves. The rowers, dressed In white
silk shirts, white trousers, and red fez,
make stroke with absolute precision, as
one man, every thirty seconds. A GRIM
son canopy Of velvet, bordered with
gold, is upheld by four gilt columns, and
in its shade reclines the Sultana
Yslide on cushions of down and vel
vet carpets fringed with gold. A retinue
Of five caiques filed with maids Of honor
attend her. They are guarded by black
slaves, whose light duty 1t is to hold UNI
orellss over the young heads screened BY
The white turbans. The little feet on the
shining water is most picturesque
sight.
.he royal harem who is privileged to re-
-ie{k
manner Of quiet dignity she carries de- |
which makes high officials |
Tread her influence and seek er favor. |
IN time of peril and distress she mad ad- |
nit populations from the army and peo-
de; her judgment in affairs is acknowl- |
edged, and she has been known to |
plead for her son with eloquence snd |
,athcs. at the festival of BeirsD, cele- |
,rated by the departure of pilgrims for
deccs, she joins the highest dignitaries |
md ministers, officers civil and martial,
n kissing the hem Of the Sultan's robe.
BY COURT ETIQUETTE
lie must stand in her presence, sitting at |
Ter request; in return the place at his |
light hand, given by Solomon to his
mother, is still the reserved seat for the |
mother of the Padisha. The pontoon
,ripge spanning the Golden Horn, crossed |
Iaily by 100, 900 men, is called the bridge |
4 the Sultana Valide, and leads to s
mosque Of the same name.
Seven female officers preside over the |
lerem lik. Each has her slaves and es-
and may be often seen shop
ling In the city, attended by the imperial
ervants. Seven thousand persons dsily
at the bread and salt Of the Grand Sig
Tor. My brief space forbids enumera-
ion of service or wages. A few items |
re: Three hundred cooks, 800 musicians,
100 men in charge of mensgeries and |
viaries, 1900 female slaves. Properly
peaking, there is no civil list, and accurate
Igures are not easily reached. The ladies
eiled and attended, visit in their VAILED |
.ardens and palaces, hired musicians
LAY on lutes, and almehs dance for their
Donizetti, brother Of the |
amous composer, WAS at one time direc-
or-in- chief of the Sultan's music. Story
cling is in favor, and good reciter is
q high request. Happy the Scherezsde
Who knows the tales Of the genii and can |
muse the Caliph who has gone through |
Il the pleasures described by the singing
ing at Bethlehem: Sand whatsoever |
nine eyes desired l kept not from them;
withheld not my heart from any JOY"
SUSAN E.WALLACE.