The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-24
LIFE IN HAREM TOLD BY FORMER INMATE The Story of Princess 0urouS-
 off of Paris WORD IS NOT UNDERSTOOD Until the Age of 13 the Girl Is Free, But Is Then Forced Into SecIu-
 sion-cannot &c.,
 lect Husband.

From the Louisville Courier-JournaI
 An intimate picture of life in d Turkish harem is given in an interview published in the Daily Mirror, with the Princess Ourousoff, daughter of the late Hilmy Pasha, aide-de-camp to the Sultan of Turkey, and a general in the Turkish army. The Princess spent the early years Of her womanhood in a harem in Con stantinople, from which she made her escape about four years ago to Paris. subsequently, marrying Prince Serge Our ousoff. The interviewer, Arthur Law renee, explains that the Princess native language is, of course, Turkish, but that she thinks in French and expresses her. self well in English.
 The harem? I don't think that what the word means is quite understood" said the Princess.
 NO, woman of any claim to any social position can be seen in the streets in Tur- key. The harem means the sanctum the place of seclusion, where every Turkish woman has her residence.
 Until the age of 13 girl is free. Her fife is not unlike that of an English girl, although more restricted She occupies herself with her lessons and gossip and music and the reading of many books.
 "Ier worst restriction is that she may not choose her own husband. Every healthy girl looks forward to marriage. It is the event of her life. In those early days, before she has taken the veil, there may be some man that she loves, but when the time comes her husband is chosen for her, and she is sacrificed.
 At 13 she puts on the tcharchaf. It is the veil. It is shrouo. She says good bye to the world. It is sad, because she has become religieuse without the pro- fession. It is like being a nun without the consolation of religion.
 "She used to be expected to be mar ried at about the age of 16. But now" said the Princess, there are many girls as old as p who are not married.
 "Who arranges a marriage? It is all ways the mans mother who looks for the girl. The Turk never marries for money, as do so many of the people of the west. He always marries for beauty The mar riage system is bad for the women very often, but 1t is good for the race. 
 "What will the mans mother do? She will come to your door. She will knock. She will come into the drawing room. The young girl will come in dressed to look as pretty as possible. The woman ! will look at her as if she were buying horse; or what shall I say?-a little dog! If she is not pleased she will go away. She will not-buy her.
 "Those must be awful feelings of girl who is seen ten times, and ten times re- fused.
 "Then she marries, and she may fall in love with her husband. She does not see him until she is married.
 ."Then what is her life?" continued the Princess. "She sleeps a great deal be- cause her life is so very dull. The more ipnoran nt she is the happier she is. She grows plump, for she eats much and sleeps much, and takes little exercise. Her rooms will be beautiful ana nowa- days are furnished in the western mode She is guarded day and night by eu- nuchs, who accompany them in their drives. They are armed with whips, so that they may slash at anyone who is too curious.
 eYes. she will probably have her little hirtations. But 1t is only with the eyes. Sometimes, perhaps, a little note IS thrown into the carriage, and she may bribe some slave to take back a reply.
 "So far as my own family is concerned'