Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-01-10

~ ieHetn you malt be-
lore a flight of broad marble steps lead
ing up to high archway, through the
curtains OF which come the ripple of fe-
male voices and the silver tinkle of girl-
ish laughter. Beside the steps stand
like bronzc statues two gigantic black
slaves, gorgeous in white and crimson.
with drawn swords gleausng in their
huge bony hands. But at the sight of
the master and the "Farinchi kha.
noom toreign LADY, the sabrcs are low.
cred IN salute, the curtains fall back and
you are ushercd into the midst of n scene
which appears to have come bodily on,
of the Arabian Nights
Before you lies large aud lofty room.
the shadowy interior of which looks de-
hghtfully cool and shaded, after the
bllsterlng glare outside The rich Per
sian carpets leave enough of the floor un-
covered to let YOU admire to the full one
OF those miracles OF ornamental Mosaic
which are still the wonder Of all who
visit the Tai Mahal or the Alhambra.
From the vaultcd roof hang splendid
silver lamps Of the Kind familiar to
those who have seen the mosques Of Tun-
is and Cairo. Tall vases filled with
gorgeous flowers stand ranged along
either side of the entrance, and above
the silken hangings tba, clothc the low
cr walls rows Of stately arches rise in all
the splendor OF their fretwork, lighting
up with one great rainbow the dim and
dreamy twilight Of that enchanted
palace.
At the far end of the apartment is o
small. high rooted alcovc, raised some
what above the rest oI the room, from
/ which It Is separated by movable silver
halu>tradc somewhat like a large turn
stllc. This recess is lighted by swing
ing lamp Of embossed gold, filled with
| pcrfumcd oil, the soft light Of which is
flashed back in a thousand snarklcs from
tho countless tiny mirrors that cover like
scales the whole surface of the wall.
In the alcovc sit oI reclinc upor soft
cushions about IA dozen women tsomc OF
them rot yet past girlhood,, representing
All types, from the sleek, tiger like
beauty Of the Circassian to the heavy
cxpressionle.s features of the Yves
African Jaloof. At first sight they loob
like an airy cloud Of white drapery, ant
only by degrees 10 you TAX. in the dc
tails Of the long white veil swathe'
round the forehead and floating dowi
the back, the loose, wide -slecvcd en-
broidered Jacket over thin whit
bodice, the broad ieweled girdie. th'
trousers Of tesh-oolorcd silk and tn
dainty little pointed slippers, stiff wit
gold lace and richly embroidered wit
seed pearls.
Just at first they are rather shy Of YOU
but this soon wears off, and when free
from the overawing presence Of thci
portly lord and master they crowd aroun
) YOU and chatter to you like children, cx
hibitnc with childish pleasure the jewels
chains and bracelets which hang on the
, smooth necks and round arms AS thickl
> | as tinsel on Christmas doll. The fHl
y thing to b. done Is to give you son
> green tea, which replaces coffee
h Morocco The sprig Of mint that fioa
h in it is almost as great an addition as ti
), lemon Juice used in Russia while the a
,s companying swcctmcats Of almond past
Il mixed with sugar and orange fowe
bruised into honey, arc equally noveIti
= less cups, set like flowerpots in siIv
!, stands, would make any collectors mou
10 water.
Rs When you haze drank yout three GU
,the regulation number IL Morocco I
o, the ladies offer you long pipe Of Ea
ia crn tobacco favored with resc water, al
70 express great surprise at your rius
Thcu theH begin to csiticise your dress
which they examine with marked int
a
IS, and disguised amazemcnt while a,
ing you all sorts Of questions aud ,vh
tn TING come. for you - depart y
you hardly know which - w
der AZ mpst-she extreme ignorar
Of voar new frIends Or their insa.ia
curiosity - Br.-oi1ya C,tsz<a.
.s. r..~uatt's pshy cIofrns