Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-22


A woman whose n.nls Tor sesefsi
years was IA Zaaziosr, where, as Vile
OF United States consul che enjoyed
Special privileges, tells OF Der sisit 20
the ehief suilana OF the late sui'al's
household.
His family included lao sultanss,
with one, a fall-elooded ATsh. leading
all the otners and invested Win sPeelai
privileges. To her the consals vile
was permitted 10 pay q visit, being Tue
second white Woman ia many years IL
not Ia ali time, TO do so.
81 realty iell," said the woman re-
satlng the incident, "a little nervous
about penetrating tins closely guarded
place, even on invitation, and begged
the sultan, VINO was always on Trend
IN terms with my husband. 10 permit
the wife Of the German consul 10 De
my companion.
This request was graeiously granted
and IN fall evening dress and deeAeu
with all the jewels We owned, Ne paid
the visit. | Wore beautiful but most
savage necklace which the sultan had
sent me not long before-a neckiet OF
goidi from winch depended TO my waist
fringe OF fine gold chains, sloped TO
NJ over the shoulders, priceless, but, as
/ have said, barbaric 10 a degree.
when We reaehed the Ialace our
husbands had. of course, TO leave us.
and alone we entered, except Tor TIE
four servants who preceded Us, ana
second four who followed.
''At every few steps u servant or the
palace stepped out aud poured a crop
or two of altar of roses on our hand
kerchietsi before we got into the pres
ence mine was saturated WITH the
heavy perfume, and was almost over
wheimed with lis, to me, nckening
fragrance.
"The sultana was seated in the midst
of an almost intern,inable row OF chai-
dren, which tianKec her on each side.
These were not hers, but the sultan's
by other wives, she being childless. As
ne is very proud of his children, they
were thus displayed, and tspoke well
for the good disposition OF the chiei
favorite that she was willing to show
these jewels OF her rivals.
"She sat in q large. rather bare room.
with many windows on every SIDE. In
every window was at least one head, IN
some more, which belonged to the
other sultanas, who thus assisted at the
interview. The array OF repuisive saw
age countenances, though intended to
be friendly, made me doubly glad that
| had not gone alone.
"The sultana received us as gracious
ly as her code of politeness permitted
but 1t was easy to see that greedy curl
Osity was the only feeling which AMI
mated the poor creature. This related
| chiefly to our clothes. upon which she
was woman enough to pOunce at once
l really thought should not get ou
with all mine on. so aggressive WAS hel
desire to study every garment.
"Our appearance pleased her. 80 W.
were informed through the interpreter
| and that was about all there wac to the
| interview, except that the eager inter
est the chief sultana was able to ap
pease by handling and examining
shone without such ameliOratlon from
| the ardent faces at the windows. These
leaned forward fairly hungry to ge
closer to this pair OF curious white
| sultanas.'"
FOUNDER OF THE BON MARcHE.
! Forty years ago the son OF hattel
| IN Normany named Bouclcaut arrived
i U6Ilo Will u Cdpltol Va TOsOVVs IA Al
wife's dowry amounted to but $500
But she had keen intelligence, and af
ter few months spent IN close Obser
walton, she persuaded him to buy lit
tie retail shop on the Rue de Sevres
and to carry out in 1t three OF he
ideas. These ideas were: First, tina
each employe in the shop should b,
paid percentage On his sales; second
that all articles which did not pleas,
the purchaser should be exchanged, i
uniniured; and third, that each articI,
should be distinctly marked with (
fixed price. These methods were ther
entirely new IN Paris. They brough
rapid and enormous success to tn,
house, which now 10 known all ovel
the word, and transacts q business o
many millions of dollars annually
Nine. Boucicaut, by the death of he
husband and son, was left In sole con
troll of this vast business, which sh,
mainly had built up. She contrlved ,
plan by which all her worthy employee
became sharers in the profits of TIT
firm. She built hospitals and lodgn,
houses for them and gave pensions t
the infirm and aged. 1.-THE lady of tht
Bon Msrche," says Hamerton, "studiet
the art of dong good as if 1t had beef
q science." When she died the trading
and laboring classes of Paris paid he
the homage which their ancestors CAV,
to the saints.