Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-05-27

EOUREDDIN. KEMAL. |
who is the oldest son of Osman Pasha,
was married to the sultan's eldest
daughter. The young man whose mar
riage has just been celebrated is Renal,
whose rank up to the present time has
been that of hey, or captain. He will
hereafter be called Kemaleddin Djamad.
The last word signifies that he is now
adopted into the imperial family.
By these two alliances the sultan has
found two handsome, brave sons-in- law
and strengthens his position with the
army and people. Ghazi Osman will al
ways be the idol of the army i'll Turkey,
and with him for faithful friend,
bound by sHch close family ties, the sui.
tan is measurably safe so far as the
watchfulness and devotion of Ghazi Os-
man can compass it, 1t has been assert
ed that the sultan, after the fall Of
Plevna, wishing to show his noble gen
eral special honor, betrothed his two
daughters then just born, to Osman's
two sons but it should be remembered
that Abdul Aziz was sultan then. Os-
man Pasha has one more son, but he is
almost an idiot, which in that country
is the cause of his being treated with
the utmost tenderness and solicitation
as one of God s own children.
A Turkish wedding even in ordinary
ranks is complex affair. In the i'm
perial family it is far more so and it
lasts eight days. The first is when the
sheik- islam blesses the pair and asks
them if they consent to the marriage
The bride is in one room and the groom
in another, the sheill standing in the
doorway. The shereefs, who represent
the ruling family at Mecca, and the
head ulemas are present, but only in the
selamlik or mems apartments at the
palace of Yildiz. Prayers and little
advice are offered for the benefit of the
young couple. There is no service before
an altar nor i'll mosque. After the
recent wedding state dinners were given
for one week, the last ending in general
publication. This was for the civil and
military functionaries and officers of
the government. The second was for the
foreign diplomats, ambassadors and
their suits. On the evening after the
last dinner, which was to the personal
young friends Of the groom, the hus-
band beholds the face of his bride for
the first time. At no time are there any
women present at the dinners where
there are men, During the time these
public fetes are taking place there is q
succession of ceremonies and functions
in the harem. Money is spent like wa
ter. The poor receive abundant gifts.
nj % no oh,
sultana, is the principal figure at q
Turkish wedding, The bride is little
shy lay figure dressed in the most fan
tastic array and covered with jewels
and painted as thickly as red and white
can be laid on. She is seated on a
| thronelike chair, where she sits silent
and weary all those days and watches
her girl friends and her married friends
eat and drink and smoke. She is not ex-
pected to want to eat. Her role is to
look lovely and be silent.
The last day she partakes of leg of
mutton, which signifies that she has
done with the sweetmeats of life and
| now must take up with a humdrum
married existence. A dowry is not ex-
acted from the bride in a Turkish mar
riage, but generally it is a matter Of
pride to send retinue of slaves and
servants behind the carriage or sedan
chair when she leaves her home for that
of her father-in-l for as general
rule the young couple go to his home.
Trays filled with rich stuffs and jewels
are carried on the heads of the servants
through the streets and make "a fine ap'
pearance.
The wife of Noureddin Djamad lives
in the konak of Osman Pasha at Besohik
tasch, and it is probable that the new
bride, Maine, will also live there
Sometimes the sultan gives the husband
of his daughter fine konak all fitted
up. This was done at great expense
when Mehemet Ali Pasha of Egypt mar
ried one. They are generally economical
gifts on the sultan's part, as they have
probably been confscated from some
high official in disgrace.