Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-09-20
AN EASTERN PRINCESS.

I this occasion Zuleika wore a dress OF
Valenciennes, over the pale blue SILK,
with bodice Of blue silk, trimmed with a
dainty trimming OF the same lace. In
/ her lovely hair she wore a simple band
OF turauois, worth princes ransom
on her neck a tiny gold chain, with a
crescent IN turQuois and diamonds. nay
reader will imagine that the little mink
expected 10 be seen, or she would not
have dressed so fine. Well, this is mis-
take. Ladies Of the harem, who attend
the opera, behind screens, dress as we do
going TO ball. You can see the dia-
monds fash through transparent net
work which covers the front OF the roy
! al boxes, in Cairo; and often / have gone
TO the boxes Of those princesses to pay
/ them q visit in the entTedcts, and found
them dressed IN full ball dress, although
no man was allowed TO look at them. 1t
/ Is a very curious sight at the opera
I house at Cairo, constructed oy lsmali
| Pacha. 10 see several Of the royal boxes
nearest the stage shrouded from public
! inspection by what seems embroidered
mosquito curtains, shutting out view
I from the outside, but allowing the fair
occupants OF the boxes to see what Is
going on in the house and on the stage.
Through the screening veil, tantaliz-
ing glimpses are given occasionally, OF
moving forms, flashing eyes, and gilt
tering gems, to the watchful outlook OF
the European occupants OF the pit and
boxes-a favored few OF whom-only
I ladies OF course-are permitted by the
. oh 20
| imprOvlsed public harems. A great
source of consolation, which Eastern
women have, Is that they regard their
position as far superior to that OF
Europeans; therefore their dignity
seems to uphold them. But ZGletka
had now seen and understood the rela-
tive positions Of Europeans and East
erns-so that she placed low estimate
on her own privileges. 1t is mistake
TO suppose that the great majority OF
Eastern women consider themselves In
any respect inferior to their Western
sisters-even although conscious OF
their own ignorance and jealous of the
superior culture and elegance or 1.-THE
infidels."
The watchfulness Of their every act
and movement, and the isolation to
which they are condemned, they con-
slider complimentary, and compassionate
the frank woman whose husband cares
so little for her as to permit strange
men to look on her face and figure and
associate with her.
Apart from the pride Of race and
faith, both OF which are very strong
with these ignorant semi-savages-the
pride of position is very great, and
equally great their scorn Of women who
perform what they regard as mental
offices and accomplishments.
The Eastern woman Of good position
neither sews nor spins, performs no
domestic duties, and sings and dances
only by proxy, in the person OF her
slaves.
Her sole duty IS to support her own
dignity and make herself more pleasing
and seductive to her lord and master
than any other OF his plural wives.
As Zuleika drove home the night of
the fete with her governesS there was
scarcely q word exchanged between
them, and her old governess, who had
been with her since she was years old,
could not understand what had hap
pened to cause her young pupil this
change of manner, for generally she
had 10 suppress Zuleika's wild enthu-
siasm.
On this occasion she remained per-
fectly quiet, as if in deep thought. Next
day the governess was surprised aud
pleased By her pupil asking If they had
not better renew their French studies.
Zuleika proposed exercises which hith-
ertO had always been distasteful to her.
So the old governess, who loved the i'm
pulSive girl as IL she were her own
child, immediately set to work and
found short stories to write, so as to
make the lessons more agreeable to the
spoiled child. All went we'll for few
lessons, when one day Zuleika insisted
on writing letter to an imaginary
friend, so as to teach herself the epis-
tolary style. The old governess
never suspected any arire pensic
behind all this, but used to
dictate letter after letter-some in the
most affectionate terms, such as one
young girl would write 10 another, or to
a male cousin. This went on for weeks
when, one day, after Zuleika had penned
a note in a most fowery style, as well
as In most atfectlonate terms, she locked
Il In her desk. On that afternoon a
slave came to the governess and, show
ing her the letter, told her that the
young princess had ordered her to take
It to It's address, which the slave was
afraid TO do.
When Madame saw the letter ad-
dressed TO Count de Lara the whole
truth flashed upon her, and she saw the
trick that Zueika was playing. A
stormy interview took place between
mistress and pupil, ending with the
resignation OF the good and conscien-
tious woman, who refused absolutely to
be a party to any such intrigue.
After the departure Of the honest
French woman Zuleika coaXed her
mother into employing one Of those un-
prlncipled foreign women who will do
anything for money and who swarm In
Cairo like flies.
From this time Zuleika was able,
thanks to her mothers unsuspiclous
character, to do just as she liked.
On one occasion she had the audacity
TO stop her carriage In front Of the
Counts house and send.n her eunuch-
much to the mans disgust-with let
ter. She would make her carriage fol-
low his horse when he rode to Shoubra,
and even would bow to and carry on a
conversation In dumshow with him from
a distance, until scandal began to wag
its tongue at the outrageous princess.
In fact, she outraged all the Turkish
customs so openly that it came to the
ears OF the Khedlye, who immediately
insisted on her marriage to one of the
highest men In his government. In due
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