Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-25

den for any one except their attendants
10 enter there, they put on the yashmak,
or national vail, which entirely obscures
the face. No, they are not thick-lipped
as rule. Their lips are fuller than
ours but they are beautifully arched and
far from detracting from their general
appearance.
"LIrrLR DusKY-sK1NNED CHILDREN
ran around us and showed an interest
in the strangers almost equal to that OF
their captive mothers. They were pretty
little things, those children, and they
we're not burdened with garments, beng
for the most part almost nude. The
mothers Of the palace do not believe IN
confnlng the bodies OF their little ones
"a we do with a lot OF clothes, but let
them grow as nature would have them.
Indeed, they apply the same rule to
themselves; for they wear all their
dresses loosely. and were surprised to
see how we girded ourselves within tight
fitting garments. l don't think that the
average American waist is anything near
as voluminous IA that OF tho Turkish
ladies'.
And she glanced at her own snng-ftting
gown, which revealed an amp'e develop
mont Of bust. tapering down TO waist
Of graceful proportions.
A MEL N TIE HAEEM.
"While we were in tie harem We
were served with refreshments. Oi
course We had all eaten Of Turkish
dishes before, Lut mover did we partske
of dish 40 luscious and at the same
time so appetiziug MS that served to us
in the inner harm. 1t IS food prepared
crpecially for the Sultan. and is sad TO
he unknown outside the precincts OF
the royal household. On golden tray
they set before Us o number OF small
cakes or waters, which melted III our
mouths. leaving n delicious fragrance
on the palate. ! learned that they were
made Of fine kind OF flour and pow
dered rosaleaves mixed together ma
sweetcned in the way the Turks alone
know how 70 sweoten things Their
CONNECTIONS are the finest in the world,
and beside them the great American ca
mmcl must hang its saccharinc head IN
shame. The cakes taste Just ike q roso
leaf aud are eaten with coffee. The cot
fec was served in cups OF the most
exquisite workmanship, set IN tur-
Quoises as big as your eye. They were
/ thinner than the finest Sevres l ever
cav. and. 10 tell tine truth, we were
all clad 10 hand them back again, after
drinking. for we were afraid lest We
MIGHT drop them, and they were 80 eX-
cccdinQly fragile that it seemed as
though the contact with our fingers
would inevitably break them. That
was repast which none OF US will ever
forget
q" How long were you there altogether,
Mrs Carter /? was asked.
Three weeks.
"What ? In the harem "
ooh, goodness No. ! mean we were
three weeks in Constantinople We were
in the harem altogether about four hours,
/ think.
JEWELS OF INCALCULABLE WORTH
BY the way, | should not forget to tell
Won Of the jewels these favortes OF the
sultan have, and which lie about III q
way that shows the utmost confidence in
the honesty of tine attendants. They
showed us great pearls as big as
eggs. I couldn't believe they were
genuine at fret, do you know T?
But they were. And there were
Undermined goblets full Of turquoises,
rnbies, diamonds, and emeralds Of the
most beautiful contrasting hues, and you
could lift them up handful at time.
Oh it made us open our eyes to see
such gems, for one can see them no.
where else, | believe. Some OF the girls
had round their necks strings of pearls.
eight on ten of which were large enough
to make q necklace. They must have
been worth an incalculabe sum.
MY visit to the harem was one OF the
pleasantest episodes OF my travels, and
/ have been in many countries, y she
added. "But after all there are none
Of them to be enyied. Ones own land
is the best no matter what attractions
are TO bo found elsewhere under the