The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-16

In the back, which iooped up, so as to hide
the form OF the trousers; the chemisefte
was of gauze of the same color, embroid-
cred in white silk, open at the
throat, showing lovely, white, well
shaped neck. A white under bodice
concealed slightly her form, which was
uncompressed by stays. In our society
her dress would not be considered modest.
but with them they only consider showing
their faces TO men immodest They have
no sense OF shame about exposing their
persons. Over this she wore small Jacket
OF violet velvet, trimmed with silyer ball
fringe-ronnd her waist was a girdIe of
precious stones, like stomacher Her
tiny feet were slipped into shoes of the
same shade as her jacket, embroidered in
silver. She wore wonderful jewels-and
not too many: but those she wore were of
the most costly kind Her hands were
small and well shaped, very white, only
the nail OF her little finger of the right
hand was stained with henna.
Inc princess was more lively thar Turk-
ish women generally are. She asked me
all sorts of questions. If my friend who
was with me was married? IL she had
children? Those being always the first
two questions asked in Turkish harem.
the single state not being considered so
honorable as with u.s. This is a survival
OF the old Eastern feeling. so fully exem-
plified in the Old Testament
About tye minutes after we had been
seated, six young slave girls came in; the
Two hrst carrying something like large
box, covered with richly embroidered
cover OF red satin with heavy gold fringe
They stood just inside the door, the other
slaves advancing. lifted the cloth and re-
veated 10 view a handsome brass tray
with coffee pot and cups. Two slaves
poured out the coffee into eggshell cups of
the thinnest china, placed them in zarfs.
or lnlaid gold holders, and handed the
first cups simultaneously 20 the princess
and myself. We were slipping our coffee,
when four others came with long Chi
bouques tpipes), and, placing the bowl
under them, retired. The mouth-pieces
were worth small fortune in themselves.
Some were of amber, encrusted with dia-
monds; others with black amber (which is
most rare and valuable). The other ladies'
had chibouques with mouth-pieces
OF less value, but all were hand
some A curious trait of the Turk
ish ladies is their taciturnity. They
talk very little in the presence of those
they consider their superiors. But at their
Sunday clubs (the Friday baths) they
chatter like magpies and rehearse Sheri-
School for Scandal, in the choicest
Turkish. While visiting have frequently
seen them sit silent for hours at a time
nothing at all. When addressed by the
lady of the house they answered in mono
syllables, smiling sweetly. But they never
seem to know when it is time TO go; they
pay interminable visits. When they de-
eide to go they rise up, cross the ROOM
then stoop down and kiss either the hand
or the hem of the garment of their hostess.
The lady of the house only conducts her
superiors in rank or age TO the door. They
treat their aged relations with great rever-
ence.
The princess saw me looking at her nail,
enc hn tad r.ff has lo s<1FI
something in Turkish. She soon returned
with a small box, and before / knew what
she intended she had clapped a small pad
of henna on my nail and bound it up.
Now keep that on until this evening and
| you will have your nail like mine. 1t will
not wear off for some time, so you will
think of me-"
OF course she did this as compliment,
but | am afraid I did not appreciate it,
One thing which is very noticeable in
harems is the scrupulous cleanliness of
everything. / have never seen more beau
tifully kept houses. The Turkish women
are also very neat in their persons. using
the bath readily every day at home and az
the public baths on Friday, where they
stay for hours in the hands of their bath
woman. Neither mistress nor slave ever
enter the house in the shoes they wear in
the street-censequently the houses are
spotless.
1t is great mistake for Western people
to look upon their Eastern brethren as
savages, for in many ways they are more
refined than their foreign critics. For in
stance, politeness prevails among them.
from the high pasha down TO the lowest
class. Every man you meet on the road
salutes you, instead of passing you with
stony stare.
On the streets the poorest go through
elaborate salutations. You rarely see men
quarreling and never kicking and cutting
n0h nfl h. H.
grandfather-are never impolitely per-
sonal. The refinement of the women in
manner is still more remarkable, consider
ing they are uneducated.
Their private conversation among them
selves. am told, is of character to shock
Tears polite" In all my intercourse with
them | have always found them very
pleasant.
The princess turned to me and asked me
If | would care 10 see the Turkish dances
| replied. Very much" She gave an or
der, and Immediately a dozen pretty
young girls in Eastern costume came IN
very demurely, bowed low to the princess,
stood still in the middle of the room until
the strains of wild native music electrified
them into movement. They commenced
very slowly, gradually warming up into
violent motion of their limbs and bodies.
They finally threw such expression into
the dance that the idea of ''the poetry of
motion" was fully realized.
Half of them were dressed as boys, and
all of them were scarcely more than child
rem. The girls were in pink, the boys in
blue. Their hair, which they wore very
long. was either black or red-their COM
plexions were fair. The music of the bara-
buka is very wild and plaintive. They
kept perfect time; their bodies seemed 10
be without bones, they twisted ther- into
such wonderful contortlons.
The dance over. two OF the princess lit
tie sons, of 8 and years of age respect
lively, appeared and stood at the door
where they made the Turkish salutation.
They then crossed their little hands over
their stomachs, just like the way the men
stand in the presence OF the sultan. They
were dressed like little men in a StambouI
costume, red fez cap included. They
never smiled. but when their mother
beckoned them 10 come 10 her, they
marched in, kissed her hand and solemnly
returned TO the door. where they stood
until dismissed.
We now stood up TO make our adleus,
and took congo OF the princess, who IN hat
tering Oriental style, addressed us OF the
pleasures our visit had given her, and ex-
pressed the hope We would come again.
4 few days later | received an invitation
10 dinner. which | may describe IN a sub
seQuent letter. We were accompanied on
our way out by several young girls, who
smilingly escorted us to the front door,
and others patiing us ON the shoulder ID
indicate good feeling.
While waiting in the outer room they
gave us some delicious sherbet out of gold
goblets richly chased.
Al the door the eunuch handed ls over