The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-06-09

in the husbands hands, but cases are
now becoming happily rarer. In one
small place in which lived woman
was buried alive, and the populaee APP
peared to think it q just punishment.
1t is the Shahs royal preroSative to in
Spect every mans harem, and visit
from the Asylum of the Universe" is
great event in the lives of the inmates,
for if any one of them finds favor with
the monarch she is transferred to his
keeping, which is considered promotion
in her eyes.
When I first knew her, the Khan's
wife reigned alone as mistress of the
Anderun, though shortly afterWard her
husband made up the full complement
allowed by the Prophet. She had come
from the household of Nasr- ed Din, hut
had not long enjoyed royal favor, and
therefore had been bestowed on the
first person worthy of such a mark or
honor She was better educated than
any other Persian woman of my ac-
quaintance, even speaking little
French, and possessed a good figure,
but plain face, which last was probably
the reason of her dismissal Conducted
by servant through the large rooms of
the Khan's palace, l was delivered into
the custody of a Seedee slave girl, who
received me at the Anderun door, and,
pulling aside heavy curtain, showed
me into the presence of the Khanum
herself. She was seated in divan of
plump silk~covered cushions near the
window, and rose to receive me, reveal
ing the indoor dress of a Persian lady,
which at first sight is somewhat start
ling. A green silk Jacket, much embroi-
dered, slashed under the arms, and
with hanging sleeves, opened in front
over thin muslin vest; loose gtdle
of tillgree, studded with turquoises, en-
circled her lips, and from this depended
a silken skirt bouffante, and short as a
ballet girls (the late Shah issued dec
laration that women's skirts should
end at the knee); while her shapely
legs, innocent of covering, terminated
in boots of thinnest yellow kid Out of
doors, where | had occasionally seen
her in her carriage, she presented a
very different appearance; the short
skirts were stuffed into baggy trousers
and her whole person enveloped in
chadar of indigo blue, striped With
gold, which covered every part except
her eyes. Her face was, of course,
painted according to the canons of Per-
sian beauty, which declare that wo-
mans face must he white and red and
her eyebrows as single line, and her
hands were stained orange with khena.
She rose to meet pe, and with many
pretty compliments motioned me to
seat on the cushion beside her, and
passed me her kalian (water pipe) of
Bohemian glass; / inquired how she
liked Bushire, and gesture of her
hand expressed contempt for her pres
ent abode. The Khanum (myselD
should see Tehran; that was the place
wherein to live with it's gardens,
mosques and magnificent baths. And
l." she continued, waxing eloquent over
departed glories, lived in the royal
palace; / had slaves and horses, jewels
too, and as for my apartments, his
Cooking round the large room with dis
dam, by comparison, is the stable of
she camel. In an evil hour an enemy
came, dust and ashes fell upon my
head, / was no longer of any account,
and I am here"
Have you any children?" / knew
the Khan had two sons, tiny grave
eyed mortals, who took their airing
near the tennis ground. A bitter look
came over the painted countenance
'No, had boy, beautiful as Mel
noun strong limbed as Russian, but
he died, and nowI have no sons"
The bitterness was applicable; a
childless wife is of small account in the
harem, and is easily divorced Still
she was not without hope, and ex-
planned the methods of using certain
charms, invaluable in such cases. A
piece of delicate embroidery lay on a
carpet near, and asked If 1t were the
Khanum's doing. Her doing! No, in
deed, needlework was for slaves. Was
it true that in Firingistan women per-
formed all manner Of hard labor, even
as the peasants in this country? The
guitar also belonged to one of her wo-
men, and If 1t pleased me I could hear
her sing. Had I any jewels? She ex
amined my solitary ring with interest,
and learning that it was not my only
possession, wondered that I did rot
wear the others. Jewels enhanced the
value of women in mems eyes. They
were also a consolation in old age.
The Khanum's religious convictions
We're vague as those of other 1rani wo-
men. Allah was great and Omar ac-
cursed; she daily repeated the Kebleh
(profession of faith) and worshipped at
the shrines of holy men. When she
died her embalmed body would make
the pilgrimage to Kerberla and be bur-
led by the tomb of the sainted Husaln.
A future state did not come within the
range of her philosophy The large
room had long doors or windows open
ing on the veranda. whence flight of
steps led to the roof, the meeting place
in hot weather; it was scantily fur
nished, but the matted floor was nearly
covered with valuable carpets; soft
heaps of cushions, with ancient-looking
chests, seemed the only furniture, and
the walls were hung with curious cot
ton draperies printed with pictures.
histories of celebrated characters, to-
gether with few gaudy colored oleo-
graphs.
Refreshments were served by a very
pretty girl--sweets, cakes and. coffee,
muddy, brownand sugary, in tiny glass
cups. decorated with a portrait of the
Shah. Then my clothes and handk,r-
chief were sprinkled with altar of roses,
which smell haunted me for weeks.
| On my leaving. the Khanum expressed
a thousand regrets. Might she be my
| sacrifice. she said, but my presence had
| ilIumined her life, and bending low she
| laid my hand against her forehead. AT