The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-06
4 SYRIAN MARRIAGE.
NY LEIGH YOUNGE.

crvstallzed thousands OF years ago. Tue
u-ages of to-day are those OF eiRhieen
hundred wears ago, and by keeping
one 5 eyes and ears open, new lignt Is
thrown upon many of the Scripture
scenes.
II WAS in Damascus. the Pearl OF the
Fast. as the Oriental writers call the
parent city of tho world, that we were
hidden to the marriage feast OF the
daughter of one of the wealthy jewish
merchants. Tue streets in Damascus
ara all narrow and dirty. but they have
one charm shared by no other city IN
the world. Right through the heart oil
the town. in open canals, aqueducts'
and fountains, runs the clear sparkling |
water of the ALBANIA river Not slug
o,,.h oreen and moss-coyeTed like the
Holland canals that intersect the cities
If tho low countries, but fresh, cool,
and rippIing. recalling to every Eng |
lisL speaking person the blIthe brook
song of the poet-laureate. and truly
NAV come in the refrain. for countless
generations Of men have come and have
gone. and still forever the river flows
IN. making a paradise of the Old city.
The entrance Of the houses give small
nromise of what is within. But the
haired wooden door On the ailey-way
once opened, you straighiway forget
what was behind in the vision OF ioveii'
ness spread out before you. The ties
Of the square marble-paved court shope
like Jewels, while hundreds Of coioreu
lamps lit up the sprays Of periu'neu
o.ater that rose in Jets from the great
fountain in the centre. Nightingaies
sang in the branches of the tall palms.
with which the court was fringed. Ala
baster couches heaped with soft cushions
invited one to repose. and white-robed
lave girls fitted about bearing trays
/ filled with cups of sherbet cooled win
,nov from the mountains Of the Leba
non. an enchanted palace, it seemed
From the balcony above came the
sound Of music. feasting and merri-
ment, and up the broad staircase we
we're ushered through the balcony and
m into a large room filled with ele-
yantlv dressed ladies. Such quantity
Of rich stuffs and such an array OF
flashing Jewels have never seen: dia-
mopds. rubies. pearls and emeralds spar
x ed on neck arms. head ard ankles; II
WAS an Arabian Nights entertainment
In and out among the guests passed
pretty, dark eyed slave girls bearing
.uriousl, plated silver fi'agree baskets
neaped up with cigarettes.
The LADY Of the house advanced as we
entered. and received us with the emu
i've greeting one always meets IN the
East. Her house was ours, she told
rs. for as long as we chose TO remain
IN if. and she and her household were
,ur slaves. The greeting was In Ara
bic. which the friend who accompanied
us interpreted for us, While we tried
vaInly to emulate the pretty gracel I'll
bows of our hostess. On dais at the
lower end Of the room sat the lltslt
fourteen-y ear-old bride, in her white
, satin. gold-laced gown, the train OF
gauze embroidered with gold. swep'
the floor. while her illusion veil wa
fastened on her head with a magnih
cent diamond aigrette. As we bowet
over the little jewelled hand, she RAISED
her ewes to see the strangers. and gave
g ns the shvest. sweetest look from thei
! brown depths till was almost tempted
: to stoop and kiss her.
A soon ns we were seated, one OF tn
c octagopal tables Of dark wood inlai'
: with mother Of pearl-scamlas they cal
: tbem-was placed before us, upol
i which was fancy ash-receiver, and
e GIRL offered US basket of cigarette
i and a case Of wax matches. When W
d declined they looked amazed and W
i saw that every one IN the room, but tn
% bride. was putting smoke from betwee
= her rosy lips. Then they brought Il
% coffee in the tiny finyans, which ar
Z the coffee cups of the East; 1t Is tho
{ with grounds. black. strong and has
d very peculiar odor and at first an vi
'e pleasant taste, but one soon become
= accustomed to it. at least | die
e and learned to like it very wei
T. As some of the ladies spoke Frenc
ie we managed to carry on conversatio
Il with them, and with questions aud Al
swers on each side the hours spe
A. quickly on. OF one custom we hear
- for the first time: on the ground floor
10 the house was the oil-room. where
nt supply of oil is always kept. ADD whel
10 at the time of a wedding in the famil.
d all who wished to take part IN the pr
10 cession could fill their lamps. IL
90 room was open all the evening, unit
,r lust before the marriage ceremony. al
:. then the door is locked. and those WI
ne have delayed too long must either
TO without, or 20 elsewhere for their su
be ply.
rs. Just before midnight we heard I
ne sound of drums and tambourines in |
al street. and then the cry OF the heral
en- Behold. the bridegroom cometh !"
We There are no windows on the sire
as. but the ladies' thronged to the 3alco
III TO look over. The great outer door "
I'M flung open and with singing and vi
he laughter. a group of little girls I'll
il into the street to welcome the bril-
me groom to the house.
in HIS nearest relatives accompanl
him in, while the torch-bearers Q