Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-09
A FAIR D1rLomAr's sHkEwONEss.
How LaIla R'kis Won Her Way to thu
Heart OF the Lato sultan of Morocco.

How LaIIa R'kia Won Her Way to the
Heart OF the Lato sultan of Morocco.
The late Sultan Of Morocco is repor-
ted to have had more than 2, 600 wives,
and 1t Is therefore q little strange that
one of them should have been able to
make her way 10 the supreme place in
the affections of her polygamous lord
and master, and 10 achieve in land
whore she was a stranger vast power
and influence.
Her name is Lalla R'Kia, which means
"she brilliant charmer," name given
TO heu by the fond Muley- HaSsan in the
first days of his passion for her, when
she had Just come over the dusty and
dangerous roads from Tangier to the
mystical city OF Fee, brought by "mer-
chant OF beauty" as slave dealers are
sometimes called in Morocco.
Lalla R'Kia is Circasssin, and is
now in her thirty-lfth year. Unlike
many OF the women Of her native noun
tains, when they come to fill the harem
of the Turkish or Egyptian maggates,
she has not taken on that undue plump
ness which is thought so great a charm
in the Orient, but has remained as
willowy an graceful as when, q young
girl, her foot was fleet upon the Circas-
sian hills.
Like most Of the Circsssian slaves
brought down to the market OF Con-
stantinople she was at first heart brok-
en- at the fate of secluslOn and semi-
servitude which awaited her.
But she had bright with as well as
dazzling beauty; and a peculiar mag
netlsm; and when, one hot morning
fifteen years ago, the old slave trader
Braicha, a rich Arab, OF Tetouan, who
goes annually to Turkey in search Of
new beauties for the Moorish Arabs,
asked her II she would like 10 become
an inmate OF the Sultan OF MOrOcco's
famous palace she eagerly said Yes"
Old Braicha was so captivated by the
girls's charms and her many accom-
plishments-one of which, oddly
enough, was considerable knowledge
of music and an ability to play 4 great
many of the western airs on the piano
that he secretly resolved to keep her
for himself.
But no sooner had the Sultan set eyes
upon her than be OWNED her value,
and the modest expression Of his wish
that she should grace his harem was
quietly acQuiesed in by the old mer-
chant, who knew that refusal would
be equivalent to the loss OF his busi-
ness in Morocco thereafter
The late Sultan was disposed, II not
10 adopt European notions, at least
10 give them quiet trial In the privacy
Of his secluded palace.
1t was not long before Lalla R'Kia had
told the dusky Moor OF the beauties OF
western music aud had managed 10
have q piano brought on muleback all
the way from the coast, to be set up in
her private apartments.
The skill with which she dashed of
the variations to some old fashioned
operatic airs on this instrument Of
Franklsh invention completed the con-
Quest which she had begun TO make.
The young Abdul AziZ is really but q
child. He has not vet completed his
thirteenth year His father was the
color of new bronze statue The son
has the delicious and defeats whiteness
OF the Circassian mother.
But he is feeble and mel@ pcholy, and
II is said that he wept for tEo hours be-
fore his mother conld iD4uce him TO
make the grand entr( into the
palace courtyard on the cours
horse, caparisoned in 81 and gold
ceEaSRopial harness and ereo under