The Russellville Democrat., 1893-09-21
WITH MOSLEH RITES
MISS JENNIE HAMMOND, or BELLAIRE,
 OHIO, TO WE'D A TURK.
ROMANCE ON MIDWAY.
How a Fair visiter Fell in Love With Abdul Lateef-Proposes to Give Up
 Christianity.

At last Midway has genuine romance, and there is an undercurrent of excite lnent in the Turkish village over what promises to become the sens ltion of the
 World Fair season.
 It is nothing less than a love affair of
 the most interesting character between Alb. du Lateef, swarthy, dark-eyee subject of the sultan, and Miss Jennie Hammond, blend haired young woman of Bellaire, O., who came here with her parents to visit
 the fair about three weeks ago.
 As the Turk is devoted and fanatical
 follower of the Moslem faith, who believes
 there is one God and that Mohammsd is bis
 prophet, while Miss Hammond is of course
 Christian, with little knowledge of the
 Eastern world and it's strange religious
 customs, more than ordinary interest at i taehes to their courtship.
 It was stated yesterday by those in au-
 thority in the street of ConssaatsnsP!e that
 Abdul Lateef and his fair American ina.
 morata would be married in spite of fierce
 opposition on the part of the girl s family,
 about the time the exposition comes to an
 end If the nuptials should be carried out
 as planned the ceremony will take place in
 this city about the latter part of October, and will be in strict accordance with the
 Mohammedan custom on such occasions. It is not known, however, whether Miss Hammond proposes to renounce her Chris tian belief and espouse the faith of her dusky lover before becoming his bride. The intimate friends of Abdul in the Mid way village declare tits not imperative that she give up her Christianity unless such a demand should be made by the bridegroom. And they pretend not to know what the latter will say on this point when it comes
 to the test.
 Robert Levy, of Constantinople, the Turkish concessionaire in Midway, was not in his office yesterday. He has gone to Saratoga for little season of rest. His, secretary, however, was on hand and in company with Consul Sursock, talked willingly of the love match between Abdul Lateef and Miss Hammond. From these gentlemen it was learned that Abdul, who is kind of head man or floor walker in the long, shady aisles of the bazar, first met the young woman on the third day of her visit 10 the fair, when she was view ing the strange sights of the Midway in company with her father aud mother, and he fell deadly" in love with her at first sight.
 There was no chance that day for love making, but warm glances from Abdups dark eyes were not lost on the maiden. While she was examining various trinkets of Turkish jewelry, such as bracelets, brooches, rings, etc, he managed to show his interest in her by few words of brok- sn English, which the parents thought were spoken in jest, and asked her to be sure and come back to the Turkish village The invitation, it seems, was accepted in earnest.
 Many visits followed. So constantly were the young woman steps turned to- ward the Turkish village on each days visit to the fair that her parents, who were slow to suspect such strange in- fatuation on the part of their daughter, could hardly believe their own senses when the truth dawned upon them. No sooner did they satisfy themselves that there was something more than a passing fancy in the attachment than they took prompt steps to put an end to it.
 With reproachful words they strove to disenchant their daughter. They appealed to her sense of pride and to her religious convictions. At first she seemed to yield to their persuasions, but from what fol lowed it is seen that she was not as deeply impressed with their pleadings as sine pre- tended to be.
 Last week the parents, Mir. and Mrs. Thomas Hammond, were compelled to re- turn to Ohio without their daughter. She begged that she might remain in Chicago a week or two longer az the guest of family of acquaintances on Perry avenue, Engle- wood. She said she wanted to see more of the great exposition, and was successful in making her parents believe that she would not again go to the Turkish village.
 From what Abdul and his friends said yesterday it is doubtful whether Miss Hammond will ever return to her Ohio home. The romantic courtship has pro gressed, it is said, to the point where Abdul has proposed and has been accepted. He is so happy over his prospective bliss that he consumes almost as many cigar cites daily as all the rest of the village combined. He talks of his approaching among his companions. And sighs like any love stricken Romeo After dark, when the Midway crowd begins to thin out and the bazars grow silent and solemn as the tombs of kings on the far of desert, Abdul and his cronies sit in their lodges and talk of the great triumph of winning a fair American bride and car rying her of to the glories of the East. They do not doubt in the least that the bride elect will become a convert to the Moslem faith and shout with the rest, There is one God, and Mohammed is his prophet"
 Already preparations are making for the formal betrothal of the lovers in accord anee with Mohammedan rites As Miss is not at her own home, ard is acting without the consent of her parents, are to be made for the sign ing of the marriage contract and the settle ment of her dowry at one of the Worlds Fair hotels not far from Jackson Park.
 Thither Abdul will proceed on the day accompanied by Sursock, the Turkish consul, Charles Henrotin, consul general of Turkey for the Northwest, and Sheik or Iman of the village. The latter acts in the capacity of priest. Then the will be formally made.
 Abdul, who is said to be well to do in Turkey, will settle upon his bride-elect a sum of money, besides number of eamels and sheep. 0ne-half the dowry must be paid in money when the marriage contract Is signed, the rest after the marriage has been performed. This ceremony being ,ver, the bridegroom that is to be and the officials will withdraw, leaving the maiden md her friends.
 A few days later the friends of Abdul will take him away from his house or odging, which he has prepared for his pride, on some pretext or other and others will escort the bride to the village and in- tall her therein. When Abdul returns le will pretend to be surprised nd this will end the ceremony proper. Of course here will be fireworks and festivities after ward in honor of the event.
 By this marriage Miss Hammond, who l 8 quite goo1-looking and not much over Q years old, will take upon herself vows lever to appear in public without yelling 1 Ter face. This is the Mohammedan law, | lot given as a command of God, but as a ule of Mohammed, his prophet, which is