The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-01

In flats and visit with the grave cererno-
nlals by which Orientals salute strangers
i" nat Jealousl may fash in the languish-
ing dark eyes whose witchery has made their
fortune, who knows may tell.
AT the Bairam feast the rose door OF Para
dise opens ana the ladies' OF the seraglio take
place IN the long procession of carria ges.
Their ''unsunned loveliness" is closely yelled
and there is something delicate and sweet in
tut't modest yelling, like the conservation
lnpned IN the pure white bonnet If the num-
Cnlidren's faces crowd the carriage win
doWs, heads lovely as seraph or cherub
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 drapeIies which
shadow the sanctuary we might find child
less women mourning over their curse and
young mothers exulting, like Lean, at the
| hfUh OF Reuben, when size says: Now,
| therefore, my husba I'd will love me - Nashti
ana Queen Esther after her may enjoy a
transient season, but the mother of his sons
mas the lasting affection of the Eastern mon
arch. And this brings us to the second per-
son In rank of the Ottoman Empire, the
mother OF the first 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 one hun
dred and fifty servants. When she drives
her suite is thirty girls and from ten to tif-
teen 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 exquisite
boat since Cleopatra's barge floated 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 stroke with
absolute precision. as one man, every thirty
seconds. A crimson canopy of velvet, Dor
dered with gold, is upheld by four gilt col
umns, and i'll its shade reclines the Sultana
Valide on cushions of down and velvet car
pets fringed with gold A retinue of five
caiques filled with maids of honor attend
her. They are guarded by black slaves,
whose light duty it is to hold umbrellas over
the young heads screened by the white tur-
bans. The little feet on the shining water
is most picturesque sight.
The Sultana Valide Is the only inmate of
the royal harem who is privileged to receive
visits from foreigners. Under manner of
quiet dignity she carries determination
which makes high officials dread her influ-
ence and seek her favor. In time of peril
and distress she may admit deputations
from the army and people; her Judgment
in affairs is acknowledged and she has been
known to plead for her son with eloquence
and pathos. At the festival of Bairam
celebrated by the departure OF pilgrims for
Mecca, she joins the highest digni.sres and
ministers, officers civil and martial In kiss
ing the hem of the Sultan's robe. By coGrt
etiquette he must stand i'll her presence, sit
ting at her request; in return the place at
his right hand, given by Solomon to his
mother is still the raSarVa1 seat fOy. tha
mother of the Padisha. The pontoon bridge
spanning the Golden Horn, crossed daily by
900 men, is called the bridge of the Sui
tana Valide and leads to a mosque of the
same name.
Seven female officers preside over the
harem-lik. Each has her slaves and estab-
lishment, and may be often seen shopping
in the city, attended by the imperial SER
wants Seven thousand persons daily eat
the bread and salt of the Grand Signor
Ny brief space forbids enumeration of SER
vice CT wages. A few items are: 800 cooks,
400 musicians, 200 men in charge of me-
nageries and aviaries, 1,208 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 mus-
clans play on lutes and almehs dance for
their amusement. DonizeUti, brother of
the famous composer, was at one time di-
rector-in-chief of the Sultan's music. Story
telling is in favor and good reciter is in
high request. Happy the Scheherezade who
knows the tales of the genii and can amuse
the Caliph who has gone through all the
pleasures described by the singing king at
Bethlehem: And whatsoever mine eyes
desired kept not from them; | withheld
not my heart from any joy"
SUSAN E. WALLACE.