The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-21
Princess Nazleh Leader in Move
ment for Emancipation
of Women.
ny LA MAnaUIsg DE FoNTENoY.

ny Ia MARaUIsB DE FONTENOI.
THERE are few persons from other
| side of tho Atlantic who have
wintered in Egypt, or even made
| n bref stay at Cairo, who have not
heard OF Princess Nazloh, tho most re-
markable woman of the reigning
| Ilhedivial family. and In her day one
| OF the most famous beauties of the
Orient.
Tho princess, who has just died NJ
an advanced age. has been the heroine
| Of many a European novel. notably of
| that by the well-known French author.
Leon de Tinseau, entitled Comment on
Devient Pachn." She was in her
younger days, and even in her middle
age. one of the most romantic figures
| of tho great world OF Constantinopls
and of Cairo, where her name, even to
the last, has remained on every lip.
| AT the time of the Worlds Fair
| OF Chicago. twenty years ago. She took
the leading part In the representation
Of Turkish and Egyptian women's work
| in that exhibition. and, IL my memory
serves me, interested herself in Il SINH
lar fashion in behalf of the 1nterna-
tional Exhibition at st. Louis. decade
| later.
Tho princess held very advanced
views for an Oriental woman, and may
be said to have been one of the lead
| ers of the movement for feminine
emancipation in the Ottoman empire
| She was never tired of denouncing the
harem system. and insisted that it was
| in no way connected with the Koran,
or ordered by the latter. The sys-
tenn, she declared. simply grew out
OF the privilege which Mahomet con-
ceded to men OF having four wives.
The prophet recommends men to limit
themselves to one wife, but permits
four. Princess Nazleh argued that
harem seclusion is owing 10 tho fact
that the husband OF several wives
cannot love them all. and that it is
doubtful whether any OF them love
him. Knowing this, and holding the
| relation towards his wives OF master
rather than husband. he fears other
men. and takes what precautions he
can, by shutting up his women at
home. and obliging them to go yelled
abroad. Princess Nazleh added that In
the harem system the man is the CHER
sufferer. He Is not loved, but IS
trcked and deceived. his women get
| ting their own qualification In spite
OF him. by stratagem and artihce.
| Princess Nazleh used to entertain eX-
tensively at Cairo, giving dinner par
ties, at which she appeared unveiled
in the most exquisite Partisan crea-
tons, and at which both men and
| frequent and welcome guests. Her
eyes were Of the brightest blue, her
hair, OF which she had a great wealth.
was rich golden in hue. her mouth
was a very pretty one. and her ele-
| gance worthy OF the Viennese great
| world.
| Daughter of Mustapha Pacha FAIL.
younger brother Of lihcdive Ismail.
from whom no received his deathblow
| in a fraternal cup of coffee. She was
brought up In much tho same man
ner as an English girl Of the aristo-
cracy, anu at an carly age was per-
mitted to free herself from the re-
strlctions OF the Mohammedan home
Prior to her marriage. and even after
wards, she could often be met in the
country behind Scutari. on the Bos-
phorus. cantering along on n thor
oughbred English hunter, in short
habit, top hat. and the mere suspicion
of veil, with an English groom III
livery riding In her wake
But the husbands of other Moham-
medan ladies ended by rising up In
arms at this and rushing Off to Abdul
Aziz. at the Dolma Bagtchee, complain
ing that the example which Princess
Nazleh was thus setting was playing
the very deuce with their own wives
and daughters, who demanded similar
liberty.
| The Sultan. a kind-hearted. progress
sive man OF enlightened ideas. had
never until then interfered with his
pretty kinswoman. but felt con-
strained by the pressure brought to
bear upon him, to insist that she
should abandon her equestrian outings;
at any rate while she was living at
| Constantinople.
Perhaps the worst day in the lifa
of Princess Nazleh was when she al
lied herself by marriage to Khan
Pacha, one time Turkish amba ssutor In
Paris, where, during the palmy days
OF the Napoleonic empire he had ac-
CURED international fame by his ex-
travagance. by his dissipation. and es-
pecially by his gigantic losses and wins
at the card table. He was old enough
| to be her father, had indeed been the
boon companion of her father, and was
broken in health and in fortune when
he married her In spite OF this. she
was fond Of him. allowed him to squan-
der not only the remnants of his own
fortune. but also considerable por-
ton of her own wealth, at the card
table, monrned him sincerely when he
died. and even went to the length Of
paying off the liabilities which lie had
left behind him, so as to clear. after O
fashion, his name.
! Wtdowhood, however, did not mar her
spirits or her Independence OF all con-
troll, and she was source of con-
siderable anxiety and trouble to Khe-
dive Tewflk. who prompted by his
| nasterful wife, and by his equally
imperious old mother-in-law, was con
stantly calling her to account for un-
conventionalities, sufficient to cause
| comment among foreigners. but abso-
= lutte CONSERVATION to straitlaccd Mo-
iammedan mon and women.
| Thus, on one occasion--it was In the
winter Of 1SS2--she attended a masked
bail at the Cairo Opera House, along