Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-11-02

| u llS YIN " us 'N3%h ~ ~ 49, 49, -
by the Inmates Of the most secret insti-
tuition I'm the world is from a book by
NJ. George Dorys, The Private Lie o.
the Sultan Not only has Abdul Hamld
III endeayored to have the book suppressed
In all the countries of Europe where IL APP
peared, but he has also sentenced the au-
thor of II TO death, "A sentence when Is
not likely 10 be carried out, as M. Dorys
left Constantinople before the book was
published, and Is now In Paris. lie Is a
ron OF the late prince of Samos, who was
one of the sultan's ministers, ana therc-
fore has had excellent opportunities Tor
knowing the secrets Of the sultan's court
Few, nowadays, are those Pashas
who, as much by tradition as personal
prediction. indulge in the b~arbarous
luxury OF q harem. 1t goes without the
saying that first among these prlvl-
legged beings Is the commander OF the
faithful, Abdul Hamid H., who, in fact,
owns q living collection of the most
precious specimens of Oriental beauty.
The curiosity aroused by this mys-
terious word harem, the fugitive vision
1t eyokes Of a fairy-like and unknown
world, unfortunately is apt to make
the western mind forget all there is
cruel and revolving In this wholesale
sequestration of young, beautitul ana
ardent women whose charm, reshnes
and lives even belong absolutely to
one master-a melancholy and de-
formed Old monomanic.
The closest confinement which rem
ders impossible all communication
with the outside world, q Illuminating
part TO play, unquestioning obedience
to the most fantastic whims OF a reared
and detested deSpot--such are the sad
conditions in which the 800 unfortun-
ates OF the seraglio pass their lives.
The Yildiz Harem is their entire uni
verse. They have been brought there
as children, they are guarded there
like q wretChed and valuable herd OF
cattle, and they live and die there,
knowing nothing OF the world outside
OF their prison, without the slightest
notion OF what life really Is.
The harem contingent is recruited
almost exclusively among the several
varieties OF the Circassian race, the
most beautiful in the east, but 1t In
cludes, also, specimens OF the Syrian
| and Roumeliot races. Chosen for their
precocious graee, the o~dalisques are al
most all bought at a tender age by
special agents Of the palace under the
orders of the Yessirdji -Bachi Grand
Master of the Slaves), Hussein Eff
fendi. often, too, the governors Of the
provinces, displaying a zeal that is
disapproved of nowadays by all civil
liZed Turks abduct beautiful young
girls from their parents, or purchase
them TO present them to the Sultan;
and the cousin and aunts of the sover-
eign also exert every effort to find for
him rare beauties and display a friend
ly rivalry In seeking the pearl most
worthy to present 10 him during the
Bairam festival.
When they cross the threshold Of the
palace the new recruit admitted to
the imperial harem must abandon and
forget everything-their parents, their
relatives, their homes, their very
names. Existence begins anew for
them. A special training In all the arts
of pleasing is given 10 each newcomer
by the Bach-Kalfa (Head Slave) under
the supreme control of the Valide Sui
tana.
This course of instruction is quite
special and Is intended solely to de-
'lOp in the young beauties of the Sc
- in every art calculated to please
most blase senses. Grace in de-
vi. lment, walk and gesture, melodious
singing, attractive dancing, poetic and
picturesque speech, eloquent gentleness
OF eXpression-everything, in short
that art can d to the natural charm
Of woman, is taught by Oriental eX-
perience to innocent beauty In the
academy Of love.
Generally this special instruction lasts
two years and is terminated by a sol
emn examination, presided over by the
Valide Sultana. Each of her pretty
pupils must her be proficient In the
manner of waiting upon the Sultan and
serving him with his ~favorite bever-
ages. She must be familiar with his
preferences, his antipathies, his cap
rices and his manias before she Is per-
mitted to consider herself a member
OF the harem. Even then 1t may be
long before she attracts the imperial
notice. She has 800 companions In the
harem, possessing the same beauty
having the same ambition, and among
her rivals there are several favorites
Moreover, outside rivals may enter the
lists.
1t sometimes happens that the Pa
dishah takes a caprice for some slave
of the Sultanas, Is relatives or the
princesses, his daughters. One night
when Abdul Hamil gave a dance and
ballet in his harem he noticed among
the dancers a young slave named
Meste Alem. in the service of the
Princess Zekkie, his eldest daughter
The next day two OF the Sultan's
eunuchs arrived in haste at the Prime
ess's palace and informed her that they
came to fetch the girl, Meste Alem
who was to be the object of a sigma
ho7AT.
Great was the emotion of the young
Circa ssian girl, who had little dreamed
OF ever rising to such dignity. Hel
mistress FASTENED 10 make her take the
traditional bath, and ~rrounde BY
her slaves superintendent the toilette
herself. Perfumed and adorned with
sumptuous ornaments, the bride-elect
thinking she was dreaming, got into &
superb carriage n escorted by
eunuchs on horseback arrived at Yildiz
where Immediately the Valide SultanS
summoned her to her presence anC
gave her the customary instructions
However, Notwithstanding the precl
pitation with which they had brough
her to the palace, 1t was only on thu
fourth day that Meste Alem was ush'
cred into the presence of the master.
Whether his caprice had passed o.
the young girl appeared less beautiful
or he no longer her In he
new attire, he frowned on seeing her
n said in an abrupt and angry tone
That's not the one send her away"
Trembling, burning with shame am
hurt to the Utmost recesses of he
dawning pride, raised n s.
high to fall again so low and in sue
a brutal manner, the poor girl was TAX
en- back TO the Princess Zekkie Sh
became melancholy, pined away an
soon died.
According to the religious law n
Musulman may marry more than fou
legitimate wives. In addition to thes
four wives he may ave as man
slaves, djarie, as his permit
concubines whose children are as legitl
mate as those Of the wives. Accordin