Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-10
THE TURKISH COFFEE HOUSE.
An Instructive and Entertaining Feature
Of the Midway Plaisanoe.
TufkiAh Refreshments-The Rose Water
Resort for the Arabian Bedouins.
Special Correspondents Of The Evening Star.
/,

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
CHICAGO, August 8. 1898.
The worlds fair visitor who spends half
an hour at the Turkish coffee house ON Mid
way Plaisance can get IL better idea Of
oriental life than he VINO devotes his time
and money to pa.ro1lzins the so-calJed
theaters and dance halls
Mr.. Chedid Kouraai, the proprietor Of the
Turkish coffee house, Is a concessionaire
of the better class, AMI he has established
on the plaisance a typical reproduction of
the larger coffee houses to be seen in his
native city. Damascus. Syria. Upon enter
ing the usual sight Of numerous small
tables surrounded by chairs is to be seen,
but In addition the walls and ceilings Of the
room are richly fesroonel with oriental
hangings. ornaments and draperies Of every
description, while on the settees along the
walls are costly Persian and Turkish rugs.
After being seated II one desires TO smoke
the rosewater pipe is brought. This pipe
consists Of large bottle partially filled
and connected by a long flexible tube with
the amber mouthoiece. The tobacco IN its
natural leaf is placed over the neck of the
bottle and lighted, and the smoke inhaled
through the tube has the fragrance OK the
rosewater impaired to II. After the smoke
Turkish! Turkish coffee is served. and the fun
found IN a cup Of this .iicious beverage.
At the bottom Of the cup will be found
ineavy deposit Of Srouads. but drip coffee
popular there. For the ladies' a glass Of
Turkish lemonade Is most acceptable, and
though some. may find it too sweet. still as
1t Is drawn through the straws 1t Is found
TO be cool and refreshing. Turkish candy
In small squares, tasting and resembling
somewhat the marshmallow, Is also IA
After the refreshments are dispensed
comes visit to the concert in the audience
room over the coffee house. The admission
ticket. printed In Arabic and issued at a
nominal sum. includes, in addition to the
performance. 2 cup of black coffee or some
Is deliberately decorated and comfortably
furnished with chairs and settees covered
with Persian rugs. and at one end is the
stage. also festooned with lanterns and
bright colored draperies. Seated on luxu-
rious divans around the rear of the stage are
the a,sn prima donna, the dancers and the n,usi.
most OF the music, and at a signal the weird
chanting Of the orchestra and singers an
nnounces that the performance has begun.
soon one or the women. arrayed in a bright
costume and striking her tambourine as she
advances. begins the slow. rhythmic dance.
chanting so typical Of the eastern nations,
The songs are all Of love and beauty and
the dancer endeavors by gestures and pos
verse. One by one the different singers
perform their accustomed parts. then, bow
ing and smiling on comes the prima donna.
whose performance Is more graceful and
artistic than the rest, and who is greeted
with loud applause, only to repeat her
song with renewed vigor. During the IN
spectators and the performances are re-
peated at stated intervals. beginning at 8
O'Clock IN the evening and continuing dur
Ing the remainder of the night.
owing to my acquaintance with Mr..
Kourani he kindly arranged for the enter
tainment Of our party a special perform
ance Of the Turkish wedding ceremony, in
which the prima donna took the role of the
bride. AS the music began the bride, hold
ing her hands extended in front Of her with
rings and ornaments. advanced to the
front Of the stage. The bridesmaids in gay
costumes danced from side to side Swapping
their fingers and chanting. This ceremony
continued until the completion of the song
the groom in the meantime standing near
the bride. but taking no active part in the
proceedings. Amid a final outburst Of song
the wedding party disappears and the cere-
bridal veil and all the women Of her party
wore fancifully decorated Shoes the soles
and heels of which were six inches high
The prima donna, Rougina, Is eelebratei IN
her services, In addition to her expenses
and those of her mother, who accompanies
her, a salary of $3.50 per month.
Conspicuous In the audience at the con-
cert was an Arabian prince, who was &C.
companied by a Bedouin body guard. the
prince has with him forty Of the finest Ara
bian horses brought to the fair by perinis-
sion of the sultan; also twelve dromedaries
and 160 Bedouin horsemen, selected from the
best In Arabia. 1t is his intention to have
daily exhibitions of Craftsmanship. IRE
Bedouins are men of fine physique with very
dark compilations.
frequent visitor to the coffee house Is
Dr. Haddad a talented painter Of Beyreuth,
Ing English fiuently and often acting as in
terpreter. o. B. q.