Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-03-26
-.,r r,Rs.woasHIPpERS


,,.. Of an Emf ertainment Given ~
paerp'''a Parsee Nobleman.
,.ns nc race Of people is less
fera@ or more interesting to tnevtu-
kuo"n "a traveller than the Parsees or
s a.l. W vI of India They are
tsalghtful hosts. and, as !. was my
oe "a fortune to form the acquaintance
goo %. Framgee De,nshaw Petit. who
o. tnjgbted for gift OF 100000 to
- educational institution l VIII en-
p sor 10 describe an entertainment J
u ea, at his palace. Sir Framgee
'' ''sD IN patriarchal magnificcnce, and
W. w. his whole family is seated at la
thev number fifty-fve. We were
.oived In the grand drawing-room,
barge as fair-sized church. and
N 'anted TO the ladies. We found them
.s,tv intelligent and vivacious. and
p't + no exaggeration to say that they
.amnarsd quite favorably with thei--
an,c.., sisters. The ladies were at
IL ,raceful native costumes. The
,.s,s consisted of q waist, such
/, worn by Europeans, with long
s.r, Of embroidered silk, or Grape.
.s,,ed sqrre, wrapped several times
.ound the waist and falling in broad
t0ds about the limbs in lieu OF a skirt.
|nno and of the sarre was brought over
M head and dropped gracefully In
,.ont constituting a very effective
id dress. Their jewels were mag
.iscent No crowned head OF Europe
possesses their equal. and such an ar
M Of diamonds, pearls. sapphires,
.na emeralds can scarcely be mag
Ined One of the guests wore eight
strucs Of pearls, which far exceled the
.eebrated necklace Of Queen Mar
p,erite of Italy. The state costume
Il the men is white, but on ordinary
occasions they appear attired in the
conventional evening dress. One Pc
culiarity of their costume ID not, how
erer to be met in London drawing
room They never uncover their
heads, and a high, conical Persian
|bst, or, at meals, a skull cap, always
completes their dress.
On the occasion l am describing an
orchestra played selections from
italian operas, and. after conversing
awhile upon topics OF universal inter-
est our host made a sign to the serv-
bnts, who brought lii baskets filled
With large bouqueos of Eastern flowers.
Each lady selected one, sprinkled it
WITH rose water from a tall silver vase,
presented it to the gentleman who was
10 escort her to dinner, and then, talk
kng his ARM she led the way to where
\ table was spread, overlooking the
bea
There we were RECALLED with tea,
Fofee. cakes, fruits and twenty-five
kinds Of delicious native sweets, which
bad been collected in honor of our
eoming. 1t was an event not to be
forgotten. The waving palms and
tropical flowers, the splash nof the
waves, mingling with the soft strains
pf music, the beautiful women with
fheir flashing jewels and graceful
Press were typical of the languid,
Dreamy East, and carried one uncon-
kcously back to the da.s of Haroun
hl-Rashid.
When tea was over we were taken
for delightful drive in handsome
tlropean turnouts, and then to dine at
mother Parsee house. The ceremony
Eas long and stately, all the dishes
we're native, but the wines were Euro
pean, and this dinner, with that excep-
lon, was representative of native
Planners before they had received the
European touch. The ladies whom we
escorted gave us bouquets, as in the
afternoon, and the host hung chaplets
" white Jasamines about our necks
Pnd wrists. The menu cards bore
guided crests, and they gave us bon
pons wrapped in gold leaf to carry
way 1t was dream OF the East, but
|ne perfectly-appointed table, sur
FUNDED by intelligent men and grace
VI women, made it hard to believe
lat the members of this refined So
Fl'ty were the Fire-W orshipers we had
cea brought up to despise as heather.
w. b. Chatfield, in America.