The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-21
HbBEb N WASHINGTON
Turkish Minister Brings His
Womankind Along.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WIFE
But Turkish Custom Goes, as
if There Were Forty.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WIFE

her rank to come here.
Ali Ferrouh Bey will construct a haren
for his wife and the other women of his
family who have come with her. The
windows viii be laEced SO that no one
may look in and an attendant VIII guard
the apartments and prevent any man
from entering them. The house will have
an entrance exclusively for the women.
Mrs. Ali Ferrouh will not venture out
of doors except in a closed carriage with
a veil covering her face and large cloak
hiding her figure.
She will speak to no man. She will re-
ceive the women of high official circles
in Washington and visit them, but they
must take care that none of their male
relatives see her. Not even the President
of the United States may gazo upon the
Turkish Minister'S wife.
4 senzation of novel kind has been
created in the capital by the presence of
a real Turkish lady.
She is tine wife of Ali Ferrouh Bey, the
Turkish Minister. It is the first time that
a Turkish Minister'S wife has come to
this country
harem The Turkish wife cannot live
anywhere but in the harern. Therefore
we have a harem in Washington. That
is a natural cause of excitement.
The women are excited by the prospect
Of paying visit to a harem, and the men
pei haps still more so by the thought that
they are hidden to visit it.
Ali Ferrouh Bey is q faithful follower
Of Mohamet and a rigid Observer of the
Koran. His wife is al that implies She
fulflls all our traditions of picturesque
ness and mystery concerning the Turkish
wife. She may not go about unveiled or
speak to any man but her husband.
Only in one respect does Ali Ferrcuh
Bey disappoint ones Inherited notions of
Turks, and that is that he has only one
wife If he were sincerely trying TO in
terest Americans he' would certainly have
the orthodox four.
1t is Ali Ferrouh's intertion to make
arrangements so that his wife can visit
the women of high official society in
Washington without being seen by their
male relatives, while she will receive
them under similar conditions. The Min
lister will rearrange an American house
to conform to Turkish IDEAS of do1nesti-
city. At present Mrs. All Ferrotth is sub
jected to more than the ordinary il con-
veniences of the hareGn.
The present minister came to this coun-
try two years ago, Immediately aiusr his
honeymoon, leaving his charming young
wife behind him This was a at sorrow
to him, and six months ago he went to
Il
bring her back with him to this country,
but it is understood that he hal great
difficulty in persuading the Sultan to
permit him to do this. If he had not
been a Minister it would have certainly
been impossible, because it is a grave re-
ligious offence for a Moslem woman to
go into the country Of the Giaour5. But
as the legation is the territory Of the
country it represents, the case of Mrs.
Ali Ferrouh is different.
In addition to his wife, the Minister
brought with him his nineteen-year-oid
sister. Madame Hanim, an aged govern
ess who has been in the family for many
years, and his younger brother, Hussein
Bey, who will study here.
Gossip is already furnishing a certain
amount OF information about Mrs. Ali
Ferrouh, despite the Koran, which in
tends that all women should be absolute
ly hidden from the world. she is said to
be quit handsome. She has clear, white
complexion. an alabastar skin, an oval
face, raven black hair, large, dark,
dreamy eyes and a graceful figure, I'M
spoiled by corsets. She IS devoted to her
husband, and has no desire but to be
ruled by the laws Of Mohamet She is
twenty-four years old.
At the Turkish legation, on street,
near Connecticut avenue, there is an air
which tells that something new and
strange has come over the house. The
attaches and clerks have to be very care
full lest their eyes should fail upon the
newly arrived ladies.
A Sunday Journal correspondent called
at the legation. The bell was answered
by a colored boy, back Of whom, peering
over his shoulder, was a rather statu-
esIue French maid.
rs Ali Ferrouh Bey in?"
YES" said the colored boy, who was
about TO admit the caller.
wait minute. Wait a minuter' ex-
claimed the maid. stay and will See"
and away she went up the hall stairs,
leaving the caller standing in the yesti-
bule Presently she returned
You may walk in now" she said. and
showed the correspondent into the recap-
ton room. Presently Ali Ferrouh By
came in. But the coast had first been
cleared. It is the guard Of safety that
has been put in force since the Turkish
wife has made sacred the interior cot the
legation.
The minister Is young and rather
handsome man Of strikingly fine ply
sique, as 50 many Turks are. He proved
very ariable and communicative. He
was kind enough 10 give some exp'ana-
ton concerning his domestic arrange
nents, so novel in this country.
My wiz. IS very much fatigued from
her long journey" he said. ''5ut as soon
as she is rested am sure she VIII enjoy
the lie here. You know our customs
ara very different from yours. and no
matter II we az in another country. the
rules OF the Koran must oe rigijly ad-
hered 10. These rules make il imp IS. BILE
FOR my wife 10 attend the theatre or 20
anywhere in public. However, she viii
have her receptions. 70 which the ladies
CT A2le-ica VIII be most welcome.
My vile Is twenty-tous. yeanS OF age.
and I consider her g very beautiful and
lovely woman I cannot give You a pho-
t1sraph. because she never had one tax
en-. She VIII live exactly the same lite
here as any other No=Ier, lady o. her
rank and VIII attend tae same devorie rs
and conduct he- household exactly as i