New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-19

I have not been greatly impressed 1 found hotels
with lifts and electric lights. tramways six-hoOred
houses, sort Of metropolitan railway, and VINO
knows what elseI Where the Turkish dresses
and the characteristic customs that we hear or?
I only young men in Jackets aud frock coats
or bicycling costumes: and the women get their
dresses from the Rue de Ia Paix, go about less
yelled than our automobists play the plano wear
stays, and know Paul Bourget and Marcel Provost
by heart. Life is quite fat and humdrum. there is
no longer anything exciting az all! We must
mourn lost the harems. the eunUchs. the long
boats with six pairs Of oars. the golden coaches.
the silken ladders. the sacks in the Bosporus.
For really it is ali Over-if indeed they ever
And he turned toward our host an old captain
Of a frigate. who sat with his eyes fixed on the
ce--ng while ne smoked his nargiIe luxuT TO
What a question to ask?' interPosed one OF our
friends who artist. and who was annoyed
porcelains from Kutakia. this Khorassan carpet.
syra-do they tell you nothing? And this diyan
person; this delicious piece Of silk from Broussa
against WnlSh you are Tnoong y9ur Pa.Sn' e tt
o'-pearl Golfer Do you think II comes from the
Aith your ne ie eoer Where coH yoa have dis
covered such gem2 What wonderful carving and
inlaid work. See with what matches deucacy
these little mosaics have been fashioned! And the
an Emperor From wnat Sultan did you steal it,
oh. 1t is only present from Pacha- said our
ONLY But may We look inside -: md the , en-
thing OF child. did not wait for reply. and had
already found the secret OF the golden lock to the
little chest But suddenly he drew back exclalm-
Ing. oh. pardon me. did not mean to be indis-
Not at all, my dear fellow" replied the master
Of the house in = slightly embarrassed tone. and,
look inside and these other gentlemen too
Full of curiosity the guests crowded round the
Of rich silky hair in coils. Ike a golden serpent
the hanging Arab lamps falling on X In Spots Ike
crops OF pale blood -. - -. -. ,,,,
FURNISHED lights OF the golden hair which SIN
seemed d., young n ana an III. fpH OF glowing me ana the
What carmeite had the cruelty 70 use her
you must indeed have reused a desperate passion
to bring a woman TO such a sacrifice.
You have guessed al wrong, my dear feIlowsI
The woman to whom this hair belonged never
she probably never suspected tt
After gently shutting up the sandal wood box
the old man reseated himself on the purple satin
ottoman ornamented with gold embroidered verses
His eyes followed the smoke OF his nargfs
floating upward into the twilight OF the room Ike
with that calm gravity which a long life at sea
"Gentlemen You have recalled 70 my mind The
great remorse OF my life. At the end Of the Syrian
ana went to pass the time on the banks Of the
Bosporus. in that delicious nook Candil!y. where
He was a very distinguished Turk who IN old days
Quarter. ThrougH Ali Bey I made the acquaint-
ance Of Mahmoud Djeual Pacha. OF the most
Oriental srandee. He was thoroughly Turkish in
his opuIence and hospitality. and was proud, dig
banquets would have astonshed the American
Club OF MilIionairss His stables wers certainly
the most superb in the East and his haren ranked
second only 10 the Sultan's He upheld all the
ancient customs OF his race: hs had fine con-
tempt for modern progress. and ne studiously
avoided al contact with Europeans owed II 70
Abbey that ne made an exception n my favor.
for he introduced me as his friend and as a
The welcome he gave me was both dignihed
and cordial We conyersed. All Beg serving as
lsh, It was great pleasure 70 listen TO his soft
aS m measure s bsl 2 stsnbors he s5os
as one inspired. Body servants. attired in STAN
bouIine would come in with humble and depre-
'tchibouks' fued TO the brim with Lataika. tchi-
hOuks whose amber moUthpieces were sncircied
An Bey soon after got up and made M. me signsl
OF great honor-and walked a few steps toward
. Ny humble, cottage Is at Thy service. said he
20 me; each time thy steps lead thee 10 It thou
we withdrew enchanted and a little surprised
To eiaour As we crossed the PARK to reach our
caique. All Sey pointed out TO me all its mag
beneath the rustling foliage. and little fountains
fell IN fine spray; baskets OF flowers made geo
covered with coIored marble dust traced fantastic
Sayly coiored kiosks half hidden In the foliage,
and covered with wtstaria and jasmine. AS we de-
amphitheatrs to the which stretched
out before us-a sunset on the Bosporus which had
already besprinkled the sea with amethyst and
hyacinth We had come near the watersids when
paviIio1 more costly than ali the others. II was
a marvellous little Moorish palace Of ophits mar
Ss ali sS aa9d ' N
Between two tiny 'chahnlssins' ornamented with
opened on to a court fun OF such sweet cool
medistely three grotesqus Nubians appeared and
barred the threshold of the little temple They
breasts. with an air which was at once hostile and
Come away. come away said Abbey. quickly.
No doubt this is the harern.' thought l, and.
OF enchanted palaces where slept the treasures
guarded by the Djinns, dreaming too, OF Bagdad,
that city OF faryand and OF her caliphs and pict-
ured TO myself the wonders hidden away In this
:" Some day will show you his stables said AL
Be ley. -, g. -, -. -.
nothing but this pavilion STRANDED witb ro-es
and so jealousy kept private. and when remen1-
Ottoman poiiteness an exagEeration borderins On
the ridiculous. I went several times to see the
courteous Pacha: his genial manner had completely
Bey translated into French without its losing much
OF its Oriental charm. always enraptured me by its
zone morning when I was packing my trunks at
invite me 70 come Immediately TO the court OF his
most puissant chief The solemn tone OF the mes
thank me for present had sent him the night
before It was sabre from the Lebanon. a trophy
exquisite symmetry; and the blade. gray and SHIN
mertng like watered silk. decorated with an
Arab inscription IN damascened silver
When. accompanied by All Bey. I obeyed the
invitation. p1ellsl came 70 meet me. saying. what
return can l make thee for the beautiful gift thou
hast offered me, o generous Frenchmanr
He then pointed out 10 something very
wonderful: the higree inscription the old sabre
which was without doubt taken IN some combat
with a sheikh OF the desert. proved IL seemed,
that it had once armed the sacred hand OF q
caliph, some Haroun- -Raschid, or Ianstanstr OF
the mighty house OF Abbas.
Il must avOw that when knew the value OF nv
gift vaguely regretted its loss. but I answered
with assurance that II was precisely the name OF
its previous possessor that made me dare TO offer
so miserable gift TO so mighty prince.