The Oriental Harem

One of the conditious upon which a woman enters the harem is thftt she givo up all family ties and connections with the outside world. While polygamy is permitted in Turkey, not more than five per cent. of his Majesty's Moslem subjects havo harems. General Wallace depicted in a humorous vein the curiosity of American woinen to visit the harems. ïhey al¦ways have a great desire to see the poor creatures at home, and to deviso gomo means to raise them from tlieir degraded condition. After a visit many of these ladies cliange their mtnda about the fearful fate of the Turkish women. The Turkish ladies asscmble in a Jcommon reception room richly furnished. They are attended by a throng of slaves, white and black, who do thèir every bidding. Tho mistresses of these harems wear costumes which the speaker, after apologizing for his deficiency on the subject of feminine apparel, undertook to describe. Their elothing is of the richest material. Of the general intelligence of these women their American sisters who have seen them do not speak in fiattering termo. The conversation between the Turkish women and their visitors nearly always runs about this way: "Wherc are you from?" inquire the luxurious wives of the Mahomnicdaiid. "From America." "Where is America?" "It's over the ocean." "Do you ever go out there without wearing veils? Áren't you ashained bef ore the menP" 'We don't pay any attention to tho men." It is the general opinión that ladiefl of the harem are orisoners. Thi.-. ia merelyadelusion. lívery Turkish wotnan has her own quarters and her own slaves to wait upon her. She can take a ride whenever she wishes, and .slio wears what she picases without any interference. The Turkish headdrèss Is, with due deference to the styles of Paris and New York, the most beeoming of any in the world. lt makes the noiuciiooir numou tundsome and tliu handsome angelic. The Turkish woman are, next to our own American women, the most beautiful I hare ever seen. Glimpses of them can be cau;lit on Fridays. the Turkish Sunday,"or from their carriae. Ttte} oer iuoii own shopping. It is theirs to buy as they please and their husbands to pay for t. It is incorrect to say that títere is no home-life among the Turks. Laying aside the tie of husband and wife, there remains that almost as dear- parent and child. The residents of the harem, which means a sacred or secret place, are passionately devoted to their children, upon whoiu they can show -er all the tenderness of a woinan's nature.