The record-union., 1891-03-16
EGYPTIAN CHANGES.
Shaking Off Old Customs-In the Khe-
dives Land.

Turkish and Egyptian women are be-
ginning to insist on emancipation from
the bonds under which they have hither-
to lived. This is due to the ever-increas-
ing influence welded by European ladies
belonging to the diplomatic corps of
Constantinople and Cairo over the inmates
OF harems. Some years ago it was almost
impossible for foreigners to enter the
fenana, but now there is a frequent in
terchange of calls between European and
Mahometan ladies, and the steps taken
by the latter to claim their rights are a
direct result thereof. This is in one
sense, perhaps, to be regretted, for
although Eastern women have of late be-
come less ignorant and worthless than
they used to be, yet they are very far
from being capable OF placing themselves
on an equal with Europeans. Should
they ever prevail upon the Sultan to
grant them their liberty the entire mys-
terry and poetry of the East will disappear,
leaving 1t poor and tawdry copy of the
southern States of Europe.
In no part of Egypt are the changes af-
fected within the last half-century so
striking as in and around the capital,
which has become strange and unpleaS-
ing mixture of modernity and antiquity,
very offensive to the eyes of artists. This
admirable Haroun-al Raschid coloring of
the East scattered broadcast among Pa
risian shops and English hotels produces
a most disastrous effect, redeemed only
by old Cairo, where dreamy Arabian
legends seem still to linger in the shelter
OF some moSS-grown harem walls. This
bizarre conflict of European and Oriental
life has spread. and penetrated till it
reaches the very heart of the Egyptians.
The old customs and the old laws,
which were as immutable as those,of the
Medes and Persians, have become re-
laXed, and even the ''yaSmak," with
which Mahometan ladies used to- veil
their faces, has lost its impenetrability,
and it is scarcely more now than the or
binary ''yiolette' of a European woman
of fashion. 1t is perfectly easy to obtain
an audience from any harem lady, or
even from the Vice-Queen; and the fair
natives regard visits from their luckier
sisters as one of their chief distractions.
The present Vice-Queen of Egypt speaks
pretty good French, and is quite ''grande
dame"-so much so, indeed, that it is
difficult to realize when in her presence
that she is really harem-born and
harem-bred woman.
reception at the Nice-Queen'S is a
very brilliant affair, and from the very
moment when one reaches the Khedive's
Haremlick-a snow-white building sur
rounded by wilderness of cactus, myr-
tie, orange, oleander and blossoming
camellias, shaded by grand old palms and
muir and countless birds twitter-one feels
as if one had entered fairyland. Inside
the palace salon after salon opening into
one another please the eye by their mar
velous coloring and their costly, if some
what gaudy, furniture. A double line of
pretty AbySSinian slaves, clothed in
white Turkish trousers of silver-em-
broidered satin, and in tunics of silky
crepe profusely bespangled with gold,
stand in long rows from the entrance
door to the presence chamber. They hold
in their hands musical instruments, such
as tambourines, tarabouccas and small
reed flutes, which emit a doleful but
pleasing sound; and as each succeeding
guest enters, they bow down to the
ground.
The sovereign, seated on throne-like
couch of golden hued brocade, half rises,
extends her small, dimpled hand to her
visitors for the royal ''baise-main," and
then invites the ladies to sit down and
partake of some light refreshments, among
which the fragrant and sweet Turkish
coffee. served in jewelled gold filagree
cups, takes prominent place. Candied
rose leaves, violets and orange petals,
bonbons and fruit are handed around on
golden trays. Then cigarettes are offered,
the khediva giving the example by light
ing verbena-scented papiletto and
gracefully carrying it to her crimson lips.
Princess Emineh-Hanem is extremely
handsome. although somewhat too stout,
and her husband, Khedive Thewfik, is
passionately fond of her-so much so, in
deed, that contrary to all Turkish Gus
toms, she is his only wife. The audience
lasts often over half an hour, and is made
very pleasant by the gracious and courtly
welcome which one is always sure to re-
ceive from the Khediva, who is ever
anxious to hear news from the outer
world, and takes as much interest in a
chat about fashions and society as any or
binary mondaine.