The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06
LIFE In THE ORIENT.
The Early Life and Education
Of an Eastern Princess.
YEARNINo FOR MORE LIBERTY.
A Visit to . Friends House, and the
Restrictions Attending tan
Intrigue and It's Result.


ence I'VE first make the acquaintance Of
little maiden of six years OF age, sweet,
fair-haired child, brought up in her moth
er's haren. surrounded by every luxury,
both Eastern and European; INDUCED by
the slaves, but always demure and respect
ful in presence of her mother. She was
princess in her own right. daughter to one
ofthe highest in the land. Her carriage
and bearing were suited to her rank In
fact. when l tirst saw her she was lovely.
When released from the control of her
governess she was full of fun and frolic, so
dIderent from the sober demeanor of the
culinary Turkish child. who seems to have
been born old. This little fair mite won
The affection Of everybody who came in
contact with her, she was so bright and
ret so innocent. When driving with her
sisters, accompanied by her French gov
erncss. and guarded by two eunuchs-as
her rank required-she would horrify her
sisters by bowling to people and smiling
ct them, which is shocking to Turkish eti-
quette.
In fact she kept the harem always on the
qui vipe to know what the little enfrnt ter
ribie would do next.
Time passed, and our little princess.
whom we shall call Zuleika-although that
is not her real name-grew up more beau
tiful than ever her childhood promised.
Her fair hair fell like mantle over neck
and shoulders, AMI reached her feet. Its
color had tinge of red in it, She was as
fair as lily. But her greatest charm was
In her large. liquid blue-gray eyes, full of
life and viyacity; her mouth was small,
but there was resolute expression on the
inns rare TO see on one s0 younu
Let us regard her now-iust budding
into womanhood at II years of age, but
looking Is. Her old French goyerness is
quite proud of her pupil-for the little Zu-
ieika is very clever. and speaks, reads and
writes French as if she were born French
girl. Up to this age she has never been al
lowed 10 read French novels, but the gov
erness thinks she can give her some En-
gish books which have been translated
into French, in which young girls airt,
and live our free nineteenth century life.
Ofcousse she devoured these books. and
would sit for hours quietly reading. Her
governess finds it difficult to get her
TO turn her attention any more to study;
however, she consoles herself with the
idea that she is at least cultivating her
mind by this desultory reading. But our
little Zuleika really derives little benefit
from the moral passages in these books.
The portions which strike her fancy are
those devoted to the iove-making and
limitations. She becomes dissatisfied with
her gilded cage; the conversation which
used to interest her seems insane and
stupid; the stories of the professional
story-telleT, once eagerly listened to by
Zuleika, no longer interest her. No longer
Eastern but in name, she feels an i'm
patience at all the grandeur which sur
rounds her, and longs to be her own free
mistress.
When European ladies visited her mother
she would lay in wait for them, and would
slip her tiny hand in theirs to attract their
notice. They used invariably TO compli-
ment her, and she relished intensely their
batteries. Her ambition was to look and
act like European. This took posses
sion of her, and she would ask her gov
erness constantly:
Now, do walk and act like European
princess? I wish | could do as they do
ride on horseback; we are never allowed
anything but donkey, and then shroud-
ed in that hideous sertdje. / saw those
English demoiselles riding with such
handsome young men on the Shoubra
road Oh wish were anything but an
Egyptian princessi What is the good of
being princess if you can't do what you
hke?"
You must not talk like that, Zuleika.
You must remember you have your hon.
ored fathers position to uphold"
'halesh! A zig for position l am tired
Of these four walls. When / drive on the
Shoubra road am happy"
One day Zueika came to her governess
and contided to her secret 1t was this:
shswas going to ask Nine. Eckantoff. a
Polish lady, 10 invite her to spend the day
with her, as she wished to see European
home. Now, cherie." said Zuleika, ''you
viii add your entreaties to mine to get the
consent of ma mere?" So the governess
promised 10 do her best. Nine. Eckantoff
was a erande dame. Pole by birth, very
rich and influential. She frequently Wis
ited Zuleika's mother, who was very fond
of her, and gossips said that the Polish
lady obtained favors at court for her hus-
band.
Re this as 1t may, she certainly was a
most fascinating woman, and ZIleika's
mother used to pass many pleasant hours
IN Nine. EckantoflTs society. From her
she learned the etiquette of foreign courts
and imagined herself du fat with their
manners. Zuleika's mother was the
pacha's favorite wife. and she retained his
affection by always improving herself, and
when he came To see her she ALWAYS had
some little dainty bit of scandal, or some
political piece of news, learned from her
friend, 10 give him.
One day as Nine. Eckantof was leaving
the harem, Zuleika kissed her and retained
her hand. Nine. Eckantoff look at the
girl and saw that her eyes were red with
weeping.
What is the matter, Zuleika7" said
NINE. Eckantoff.
we'll"
oh, poor little Zuleika this life is too
INDUSTRIOUS for one of your disposition,
salu NINE Eckantoff. half TO herself.
les, said the governess. who had
Si neillu her, 'LRieika is wild TO see your
,,oNsIy nome madam, and il Won can coax
MauAlle ID Princess mere 10 allow her to
come anu spend the day with Won She will
ee quite well and happy, for [ know She
has set her heart on it, saw
Nine. EcGantof hesl;ateS q r,or,sr,
and then turned back and re.eptnrej ~
room. where she found the princess whom
she had just lett. "'o'A
''oh. Altesse! have returned 70 ,st
great favor OF you, said Nine Eckantnff
have q niece who is very bright ana %.
girl living with me, so think if Won ww;iI
allow Xuleika To come tomorrow and No.,
the day with her, IL may cheer her IN and
make her forget her ailments-tor youny
cirIs Onlv ans oh t,C of