The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-19
Mrs. Lew Wallace Describes
the Sultan's SeragliO.
ENCHANTRESS OF MANY LOVERS
Daughters of Love who Spend their
DAYS on Cushions of Rose Leaves
il CJol Perfumed Oh -mbers.
Written for the SUNDAY HERALD.


branch. at Old Sersglio Point, thirty
successive Sultans held their sumptu-
Gus state till about forty years ago,
when the chain of palaces bordering
was removed TO Ylldlz, on the heights
Beyond Pera.
Beautiful for situation is Yildiz
Palace of the Star. Built nobly in a
park of many hundred acres, it over
looks an amphitheatre OF stately cities
with domes, towers, nlinarets, castles,
islands. seas. fleets, and in the fairness
of the distance. the Mysian olympus
a panorama of vivid color ana varied
movement without peer on the globe
What ST. James Palace Is to London, is
Yildiz to the Turk-the centre CT inter-
est in Constantinople, the well-guaIded,
the enchantress of Indny lovers"
Barracks have been aided till it is in
reality citadel, and there beats the
heart and plots the brain of Islam.
Within the walled enclosure are kiosks
of marble and gold, out-bulldiDgs,
stables, military camp and parade
ground, cypress groves, unshorn for
ests, gardens with every kind OF singing
birds; a miniature city with the de-
| lights of the country as well-a fortress
and sanctuary. The least attempt
of an unauthorized person 10 enter the
buildings appropriated to men Is pun
lshAble oy death. 1t would come as Il
lightning stroke, should any Try to ap-
proach the forbidden rooms into which
. he. tnI Irra
sponslble master OF hundreds Of
women.
Among them are no family distinc-
tons, no records, no questions OF an
cestry. hereditary titles. or names. All
have started from the same level each
one mas been slave bought bv the
mother or sisters of the Sultpn, educated
to her position, and presentedto him
on the third day of the Feast of BeIram,
the Night of Destiny, when the Koran
descended i'll silver roll from heaven.
Nor are they married to him. The
Pads ha, being above law, cannot sub
NIT to matrimonial bondage. Since
| Gilman. illusITious founder of the en-
pire bearing his name, gi!ded on the
sword, which is the imperial sceptre,
but two Ottoman Sultan have mar
ried. Of the mates we call wives, only
four hold the highest rank. All have
been chosen for personal charm, and
are in the bloom of youth; by far the
larger number are from Circassia, the
ancient Colchis. from whose palace
gardens Grecian heroes stole their brides
IN the dim centuries before the Had
was written.
Imagination is bewildered by thought
of such an array of beauties set in
palatial splendors.
They live for one sole purpose-the
study of pleasing him who has lifted
the slyery feet of
THESE DAUGHTERS OF LOVE
from the mire, and rested them On
cushions of rose leaves and elder down.
Instead of grinding toll, they enjoy the
sweetness of rest: one cotton gown IS
exchanged for bright raiment ana
jewels rare; for black bread and goats
milk, they have suppers for Sybarites.
honey of orange flowers, and sherbet of
violet and sugar. Each odalisque has
her kiosk, her court, grand officials,
boats lined with satin, gilded carriages,
and trained servants shod with slippers
of silence, who minister 10 them il
cool, perfumed cham bers. Their career
depends on their own tact and grace.
BY these gifts, the ragged beggar may
succeeu 70 the highest rank. and COM
pei priDcesses TO Kiss the hem of her
| garment.
One will in the harem is supreme as a
Providence or a destiny. To This
power, before which great and small
are but dust, is yielded absolute sub
mission. Says Janilla (the Exa.ted),
teaching the newly arrived LaleIl Pink
Tulip and Benefish (Wnite Violet) :
Should the prince at oonday say it IS
night, declare your feet are wet with
dew and hat ytu behold the moon and
the stars"
ordered. In June. it was completed
cades dashing, nightingales nesting
among roses in bloom. We know how
the Turks furnish. In the Summer
Palace. one room is hung with pale blue
silk, another with Broussa satin, tapes
tries of India and broideries of Persia.
There are no pictures, they encourage
profanity; no statues, they lead to
idoIatry. The prophet (he rests in
| glory) was hater of idols. In the day
of judgment pictures and statues will
rise and flock around -the artists who
produced them, and call on the IN
happy makers 20 supply their creatures
with souls.
Humanity is Interchangeable; the King
of hundred kings, the Shadow of
God upon Earth, must have his prefer
en,es, and naturally the reign1ng favor
lite makes the most of her brief season
of command Doubtless tears. clamors,
: poutings, work thessame results in Con-
stantinop'e that they do in Washing
ton, and
THE LUMINOUS HAREM
may have some dull corner where the
discarded favorite may weep neglected
while her victorious rival sweeps by in
triumph. Che Turks are tender in the
extreme to animals and children, and
we must believe they are also gentle to-
ward women. Sometimes the caprices
OF wives have been as costly as the
Sultan to the Empire. Sultan Ibrahim
allowed his to take what they pleased
FROM shops and bazaaIs without ny-
ment. One bonri complained; she did
not like shopping by daylight; and at
once the sovereign issued an order re-
ON frip %< %bn;-