Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-30
AT A TURKISH wEDDrxo
Three American Girls BsdAe~ -
Guests in Constantinople.


From the New York Evening Post,
For fully two hours we sat cro.slar~.6 9.
the couch before word came that the hr.6e
was approaching. Then we all crowded ont
INTO the hall and up one flight OF Stair %
me room especially prepared for the recep-
oion OF the bride This room was gorgeous
y furnished in European style. with n
orlght red carpet. chairs upholstered IN
scarlet and gold satin. and with window
hangings of the same material Between
the two windows opposite the door a large
s AIM stood beneath bower Of artificial
rose bushes, profusely blossoming with red
ana yellow tissue paper roses The othsr
cnairs Were ranged against the Wrall on
three sides OF the room.
great tumult and clatter Of voices an
nounced the arrival Of the bride Az The
party was heard ascending the Stair ali
the women, who had removed their wells ON
coming into the house. hastily threw them
over their heads again. First came the sis
ter OF the groom tthe real hostess), then the
brides relatives (only women, OF course).
ana then the groom. a finelooking young
man N dark blue military uniform, holding
the bride by the elbow. At sight OF her al
the women broke out In exclama tsons of
pious admiration. And certainly her cos
tune was gorgeous enough to excite won
DER at least. She was dressed In a long,
trained gown OF pink satin, embroidered
with sflve- roses. Her tightly curled hair
was crowned with white ostrich piumes.
fastened with a spray OF diamonds and q
veil Of silk and tinsel fell to the end OF her
train. From her headdress, on either side
or her race. dangled long steamers OF stl-
ve- tinsel threads.
attention from the face OF the bride. which
was made most conspicuous by being
adorned with big clusters OF brilliants stuck
with gum arabic on the forehead, either
cheek ana chin. 1 need not add that the
effect was grotesque.
The groom escorted her into the room Of
state, and the guests were pressing In after
them. when a relative OF the bride quickly
closed the door and held IL for a few min
utes until IL was opened by the young man.
The moment he reappeared the women
threw their wells over their heads again and
literally pushed him down stairs with an
speed, exclaiming: Hurry. hurryI" II vas
an undignified retreat. but as II was an In
rovation to allow the bridegroom even this
much participation In the ceremony. pro-
priety made II necessary for him 20 with
They told us that he would go 70 his part
OF the house TO make merry with his mas
culine friends.
AS soon as he had vanished below ws IN
nocked in TO look at the bride. She was
carefully arranged I'm the chair under the
tissue-paper roses Her downcast eyes werO
fixed upon her folded, white-gloyed hands.
where rings sparkled on every finger. and
as we sat solemnly about the room In Q
silent admiring circle, with eyes liked upon
this rigid Misunderstanding fgure. I felt
some heather idol An extra pair OF arms
would have made the illusion quite COM
plete But after a few minutes had elapsed
the bride proved herself a human being by
fainting away. OF course this caused great
tumult and confusion. The women all
talked at once, and rushed wildly about like
so many hens until at last the bride was
carried into another room to recover her
breath. II was not long before she was
back in the chair OF state. as rigid as ever
Later in the day. and after partaking OF
a meal that had been prepared for us. we
went back TO drink a last cup OF coffee In
the presence of the bride and TO chat a lit
tie with our hostess before taking leave.
Several of the brides relatives were just
going, and each OF them kissed her on
either cheek carefully. not TO dislodge
the diamonds) and whispered something IN
her ear TO which she replied with eyes still
downcast. Poor thing: they told us she
would have to sit IN state for three sue
cessive days before the wedding could b
considered at an end.
At last with many salaams ana ex-
changes OF compliments. we took leave OF
all the assembly. Our hostess shook hands
with us-out of respect TO our custom-and
thanked us deliberately for the honor we
had conferred upon them by our presence
at the ceremony. And the smiling throng
of slaves followed us to the street door,
reiterating. Good bye! come again. until
our carriage ratified away over the cobble-
stones of STEAMBOAT.