The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-29
ACE 70 ana Marlc Mac. l. a

The entrance 10 this Magic Maze, IL o
sort OF garden luxuriant with palm trees
and hung With jeweled lanterns wnos'
rays llssIpate darkness Just enough to
make a rosy-colored twilight. After q
few moments Of wandering thro-E7l thi'
fantastic and poetic garden memories OF
the outside world fade from our dazed
senses. we seem TO have plunged into
| dreamiand, and as though walking IN
| sleep, steal cautiously forward TO lose our
selves In labyrinth where rows and rows
! of giided columns with the spaces between
them barred by great mirrors reproduce
| themselves and the scene again and again,
and we. bewilderedly, pass the occasional
dOOOrways. and rush against the delusiFe
refectors in our effort to find the thread
which leads the way back TO prosaic
reality.
Many other interesting features has the
Moorish palace, chief among which is
the singing OF the three Roumanian girls
who shake their tambourines aAd sing
songs that remind one as much OF the
wild melodies OF the songbrds OF tropical
woods as the gay attire OF the maiden
musicians does OF the plumage OF those
same gorgeous scrgsters.
Throughout the Piaisance the Orient
theatres end exhibitions Of people from
all over the world, II is the East and East
ern races that are everywhere 10 be seen.
Egypt Asia Minor, Syria, Bethlehem
Jerusalem. IL is strange TO hear from
the lips of these gaudily-appareiled and
half-civllized folk that they live In
pl6ces so intimately associated IN our
minds with the bible and bible times
that we hardly realize them TO be part
OF the world OF to-day. one Of the star
dancing girls Is from Thessalonica
SO many followers OF Mohammed are
here that they have a regular mosque in
the streets Of Constantinople, from whose
minaret the "Muezzin" chants, in weird
monotone. the call 10 prayer, which being
translated is allah IS most great Allah
Is god and Mohammed Is his prophet
Come to prayer! Come to security"
Upon the outside Of the mosque are PRINT
ed the hours Of worship, and IL is worthy
the consideration Of Christians who think
more than one service q week burden
that these followers OF the false prophet
have FIVE stated hours of prayer a dayi
These prayers are for men only, as IL is
not customary for women to attend the
The faithful take off their shoes and
wash their hands, faces and feet before
and only professed Mohamme-
dams can enter at all, but fairly good
view Of the interior may be had from
without, by looking through the low
windows.
I was fortunate enough to be in the |
streets Of Constantinople on Turkey |
day." the birthday Of the sultan when |
all the shops were closed and great |
festivities in progress in honor Of the ami |
1ersary. A most interesting show was a
'ombat between two picturesquely attired /
'wordsmen, which took place in an am
Dhitheatre formed by the joining Of hands
lround an open court Of long string
II holiday-ciad Turks. while a thrOng Of
people Of every cline and color looked
IN from outside Of the gorgeous ring.
The giadiarors began by striding up and
own before each other, each brandishing
sword in his right hand, and swing
1g a SHIELD on his left arm. This
ontinued for some moments, followed
y ringing strokes Of the sword first on
ne shield and then on the ground. and
lany other spirited and indescribable
ictics which they executed, each with
Is eyes on the eyes OF the other. and in
me 10 music, until their faces grew |
ark and tense with excitement.
Then they began to fence furiously (but |
ith wonderful arD waxing warmer every
loment their eyes cleaning more and
lore savagely until a point was reached |
hen II seemed inevitable that bloodshed |
ould follow and spoil the play.
At this supreme and thrilling moment
he master Of ceremonies. who sat by on
horse and watched every sword-thrust |
it'll intense interest. rode forward with
word drawn and placed the bare blade |
etween the combatants.
instantly the band began TO play a |
nd and eXhilarating strain, and the |
uel was at an end
L was glad 10 learn from the races on !
ne other side OF the globe that they have
O dlihculity IN sticking on. Time was |
hen / thought that they walked upside
own, like flies on the ceiling, and made
lany conJectures as TO how they held
n, and wasted much sympathy for the
zziness which it seemed to me must be
ne result of living head downwards.
ut / am told that they suffer no such
convenience, which establishes the fact
ore firmly than ever that at least half
TINS lie Is In getting used to thingsi
In the magical Plaisance 1 met many
sople who 1 am quite sure belong in
lie pictures in ARABIAN Nigbts"-I
cognized them by their clothes-but none
them seemed TO know me, which was
uprising, after all the happy hours we
id spent together. Doubtless Aladdin |
fought himself remarkably favored of
rtune when he found that lamp by
hose aid he could be transported TO
~ spot in the world that he might wish
visit; but, after all, how far behind
ese nineteenth century times he was,
II in Midway Plaisance we can be every
here In the world at once without the
sistance Of any lamp save the genial
nshine-which is free TO all. and of
llch no crafty magician" can rob us
nd without the need OF any GENT to
ow us the way, other than the two
arp eyes-always ours to commando