The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-19
made spectacle of himself thus tricked

ished on a chariot, and, as in the days
! or Solomon, silver was nothing ac-
counted of. But these whims are in the
| records of two hundred years ago when
| the milk-white hand of a queen tight
ened the bow-string for the Grand
Vlzisr. the Cabin of two thousand and
seven hundred shawls reigned over two
COZ tlnents and two seas, and the oda-
lisque Of hundred silver carriages
ruled the imperial Divans.
A conspicuous person about the
palace is the Beiram Aga. Keeper of the
Maidens, a jet-black Nubian, probably
from the Soudan. He wears gorge
Gus uniform of scarlet and gold, has
the air of authority, and on his ample
breast displays dozen imperial, royal,
and Christian orders of which he is
knight. He ranks with prime-mlnis-
tiers and teld-marshals, disputes pre-
cedence with ambassadors. and is
courted for his influence. A genuine
African, he loves Jewels. and on the
hand graciously extended for kisses of
the faithful there glitters 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 sepulchre when his term of vigi-
liant service is ended.
The true Oriental is unsurpassed III
secrecy, AID there is fascination IN
his silence which moves the gossip to
insatiate curiosity. The foreigner must
stop at the carved and gilded portal of
the consecrated place. Even Beiram
Aga does not pass it. Ambassadors
have petitioned and princesses sued in
vain for entrance into the Gate of
Felicity The outside world hears not
the falntest echo of the strange adven
turous life of
WOMEN WHOSE LOVES,
hates. spites, intrigues, are plays played
out with neither audience nor specta-
tor to report. If Beiram Aga knows
more than we do, he makes no sign !;
he is secret as the grave.
It is said that harem etiquette was
regulated ages ago by laws that change
not. and is observed with rigid exact
ness and minute observance of detail
The mothers of children have apart
ments separate, as families n fats, and
visit with the grave ceremonials BY
which Orientals salute strangers. What
jealousies may fash in the languishing
dark eyes, whose witchery has made
their fortune, who knows may tell.
At the Belram feast the rose door Of
Paradise opens, and the ladies' of the
seraglio take place in the long process
sion of carriages. Their "unsuDned
loneliness" is closely yelled, aid there
is something delicate and sweet N that
modest yelling, like the conservation
implied in the pure white bonnet Of the
nun. Children's faces crowd the car
riaee windows, eads lovely as seraph
or cherub crowned with lilies and Jas
mine.
Here is a constant recurrence in mind
to the court of Solomon and the Old
Testament women. Gould we lift IL e
draperies which shadow the sanctuary
we might find childless women mourn
ing over their curse, and young me- theirs
eXulting, like Leah, az the birth of
Reuoen. when she says: Now there
fore, my husband will love me-" Vashti
and Queen Esther after her may enioy
transient season, but the mother of
his sons alone has the lasting affection
of the Eastern monarch. And this
brings US 10 the second person in rank
of the Ottoman Empire, the mother of
the tirst-oorn prince. When her son
comes TO the throne she has the title
S@itana VaIide Queen Mother She en-
joys an immense income, called slipper
money. separate court and palace,
with one hundred and fifty servants.
When she drives
HER SUITE is THTLTY GIRLS
and from ten to fifteen black Agas
mounted 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 ex-
quisite boat since Cleopatra's barge
hoated on the Cydnus. 1t 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.
dressed in white silk shirts, white
trousers, and red fez, make a stroke
with absolute precisi, n, as one man,
every thirty seconds. A crimson can
opy of velvet, bordeIed with gold Is
upheld by four gilt columns, and ia it's
shade reclines the Sultana Valide on
cushions of down and velvet carpets
fringed with gold. retinue of five
caiques flied with maids of honor at
tend her. They are guarded by black
slaves, whose hight duty it is to hold
uHOIeltdS OVER me young D"dUS screen
ed by the white ,urbans 7 he little 6eet
on the shining water is the most pectur.
esque sight.
The Sui ana Valide is the only in
mate of the royal barren who is priv
legged to receive visits from reigners
Under manner of quiet dignity, she
carries determination, which makes
high officials dread her influence anG
seek her favor. In time of peril and
distress, she may admit Geputatious
from the army and people; her iudg-
ment in affairs is acknowledged, and
she has been known to plead for hel
son with eloquence and pathos. Al
the festival of Beiram, celebrated BY
the departure of pilgrims for Mecca
she joins TIE highest dignitaries and
ministers, officers, civil and martial, in
kissing the hem of the Sultan's robe.
Ely COURT ETIQUETTE
he must stand in her presence, sitting
at her request; in return the place al
his right hand, 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 100 600 men, is