Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-03-04
WHEN A TURKISH GIRL WEEDS
Bride Seen by Bridegroom for First
Time at Marriage.


had a strange peep into Turkish life
in visit paid to a harem on the oc-
casion Of q wedding between the son Of
a sheik and the daughter of Pasha.
writes correspondent Of the Queen My
interpreter was a French governess
who in her vocation had made many
friends in harems and seen much Of
Oriental customs.
| We drove about 10 o'clock from my
hotel at Pera to the quarter OF Con-
stantinople known as Kabatash, and
left our carriage at big door in yell
low washed wall. The door opened into
a charming garden, and although high
yellow washed walls shut US in on ev-
cry side the prison-like effect was nit
igated by the masses Of lovely flowers
which grew there, chrysanthemums,
magnolias, geraniums and jessamine.
Narrow walks, paved with black and
white pebbles, led to the seraglio, which
stood on the shores Of the Bosphorus,
was large and square, and had a not
unpicturesque loggia on one side. A
crooked and dilapidated fountain pour
Il ed its waters into q moss grown basin.
and cat sat blinking in the sunlight.
The room We entered was eminently
commonplace, with crudely frescoed
walls and imitation marble pillars. In
the saloon the walls were of dull slate
color hung with bad oil paintings in
common gilt frames. Flimsy gilt chairs
stood about, and the windows were
draped in peacock plush, heavily fes-
tooned.
Our hostess, the Pasha's wife, receiv-
ed US most kindly, and her manners
were graceful and charming; but my
expectations Of "caftans Of gold bro
cade" and waistcoats Of gold and silver
were doomed to disappointment. The
Turkish ladies wore Partisan evening
gowns, very magnificent In material
and Of the latest fashion, and their IT,
aras and necklaces Of diamonds were
lcuriously European. Having no figures
to speak of, the effect Of Paris dresses
on shapeless forms was very funny.
While we ladies were amusing our
selves as best we could, the shiek's son
was being married all by himself. At
the conclusion Of the ceremony he was
brought to the harem by enuchs and
led into room, where he lifted the
brides heavy lace veil and saw her for
the first time This performance over
(and 1t must have been a pleasing one
in this case, as the bride was lovely
girl), the bridegroom quickly returned
to the Pasha's party, and we filed past
the bride to offer our congratulations
and good wishes.
She sat on q dais hung with blue sa-
tin, and was gorgeously dressed in rich
white satin, covered with raised gold
embroidery. Her masses Of black hair
were dressed in the latest Paris mode,
and she wore diamond crown. A lace
veil hung over her train, and behind
. each ear depended a golden rope Of
plated gauze, much in the fashion Of
lMarguerite's plaits in Faust" I was
indiscreet enough to ask a friend OF
hers If the appearance Of the newly
made husband had pleased his bride. I
was told in answer that to express an
cred in Turkey as not according to the
practice Of elegant females"
The brides bedroom we visited next
and here no illusions were shattered
for the furniture was Of dark wood, in
laid with mother Of pearl, and the bed
was hung with pale blue satin, en-
broidered in gold thread. The wedding
presents and the two trousseaux were
on view-gold coffee services, silver
ewers and basins, silver coffee cups
shirts, dainty lingerie and new dresses
displayed on manequins ranged around
the room. ..
Breakfast was served downstairs on
long tables, laid much In the European
L VIC DC6oh Jul iiiCol WIN q
thick soup, which was cold and nause-
ous Then came Bosphorus fish, stew
ed in spices; ragout, cooked In toma-
to sauce, and stewed beans After these
followed cream. an apple jelly, (not at
all bad), pilaf Of sweetened rice, col
ored with saffron and tasting Of gravy,
and little black beans. No wine was
offered, but every one drank water and
ate melon. As we left the room a slave
bearing a silver pot with a long spout
sprinkled us with rose water and then
coffee and cigarettes were handed
round.
| I thought Turkish ladies handsome In
a purely animal way. They have glor-
ious eyes and hair, creamy skins and
good features; but their faces are dull
and apathetic, and they show little
signs Of intelligence. They smoked and
ate sweets and nursed their babies,
and gossiped, examining each others
finery with more interest than they
showed in anything else except the
bride and the stranger within their
gates.