Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-05
IN TURKISH HAREMS.
MONOTONOUS LIFE LED BY THE
WIVES OF THE WEALTHY.

Few Household Duties for the Very Pool
to Perform-Iniluence of CircassiaI
sIaves--The "ynlide suitana''-Bat
State of Society.
The only listless and really idle women on'
meets in this country are either tho wretch
edly poor or the inmates of tho seragiio oil
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
ters Of high government recently
discourscd most eloquently To us of the de-
| lithtful freedom of their life when at their
| summer homo on the Bosphorus. "Iiere,
| said they, I'VE can ride ON horseback in the
| lovely country or 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 so out in close
| carriage or when wrapped like a mummy in
n yashmac or ferczie.r These young ladies
were being educated by English and French
| governesscs Sometimes, | am told, these
| women rebel Ell masse, and nearly discard
| the close veil or some other 'regulation"
raiment and little notice is taken of it until
there is some scandal evolved and reported
am told that even in the harems Of the
wealthy the "honoumn chief LADY, often
spends the morning hours busily engaged
with her domestics and slaves in the COM
monest household duties, in order to relieve
the tcdium of her life of seclusion. They
must always have the consent Of the lord of
the household before they can go out, even
for 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 veiled 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 into
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 a few pounds of
grapes or olives, also very cheap, arc for
them quite sufficient daily Bread" and two
or three simply fashioned garments consti-
tuts 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 a house is soon at liberty to
curl up in u corner of her divan with her
ueedlework and beloved cigarette, if the
weather in inclement, or if the day is fine can
join some group on grassy hillside, and
spend tho entire day in the most frivolous
gossip, with their children playing about
them in all the freedom of unrcstrained
childhood.
1t seems evident that Turkey took viper
to her breast when she gave the Circassian
refugees a 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 SO well |
known that many fair Circassian slave has |
a 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 200 900, and are the terror |
of their neighbors, whether Turks or Chris
tians. Their depredations go 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, is 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
zed, 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
ire supported by the weaker sex.
But there are yet more potent powers be-
lind the throne. The 'valide sultana," or
ultan's mother, is possessed of great influ-
snce. She always ranks first in the seraglio.
A wing of the palace nearest to that of her
ION is set apart for her use. Sho possesses
tate apartments, has an immense train Of
laves, and every mark of respect is shown
Ter, not only by her son, but by all who
would curry favor at court 1t matters lit
lie what disposition Turk may manifest
oward his wives and all others who surround
lin, he is said to be always tender and re-
pectful to his mother; for says he, II may
ose my child, another may be born to me;
ny wife may die, another fills her place; but
can have but one mother" 1t is often |
ound by high officers of state that they have
eason to dread the interference Of the valide
ultana more than that of the sultan himself.
Thus it is plainly to be seen how unedu- 7
ated, undeveloped women help on the disin- !
egrating process SO plainly to be seen in the
'urkish empire. What wonder that under q
he present system we hear much Of the vice I
nd corruption that reigns in high places.
low could it be otherwise where virtue is G
brewer crushed and true wOmanhood is T
either appreciated nor desired! Still, it has |
cen my good fortune to meet some digni- e
ed, quiet and cultured Turkish ladies, k
those whole bearing offered pleasing con- O
rast to that of the generality of Moslem
'omen. .-Constantinople Cor. San Francisco
'hronice. n
Angel of the House.