Til FIBIB Os THE raiwii r
VOLUME 11.
frirrfffc.
A Visit to the Harem.
I Qjthc Pacha of W.d. ii.o t <f the principal
and most populous t ovms in Bclgaria.
A. doctor who was on board had,
I it seems, some interest with this
powerful Pacha, and exerted it on
this occasion, to obtain permission
! for the lady to visit the sultana in
1 harem. Accordingly she pro-
I ceeded from the palace, accom
panied by the doctor, through a
court, in the midst of which a foun
tain was playing, to what seemed
to be a separate building ; and there
the latter stopped, not even daring
to cross the threshold, telling the la
dy at the same time that two ne
groes, who presented themselves,
were to be her guides :-**■
“ I did not half like being left
alone in this strange-looking place,
and would have remonstrated
against his leaving me, but he
looked perfectly terrified when 1
proposed it, and disappeared the
moment the door was opened.—
The two slaves walked before me
ia silence, their eyes bent on the
ground, through several passages,
till we reached the foot of a stair,
where they in their turn consigned
me to two women who were wai
ting for me. One of them was the
interpreter, a remarkably pretty
woman, though immensely fat; and
the other was, without exception,
the most hideous old woman 1 ever
beheld, whom I rightly guessed to
be the duenna of the harem. They
received me with the highest delight
and as though I were conferring a
great honor upon them,- fervently
kissing my hands and the hem of
my dress, in return for which 1
could only wish that they might live
athousand years, and never see a
‘bad hour*. Seizing me by the
hands, they dragged me in triumph
up the stairs and through several
rooms to the audience-chamber of
her Highness the Sultana. Like that
ofthe pacha, it was furnished with
a long divan, over which were
spread two of the most splendid
cashmere shawls I ever saw ; sever
al cushions were ranged on the
floor, and the windows were all her
metically closed by the fatal screens
of which we had heard so much.
They are a sort of wooden lattice,
but the open spaces are so very
small that one can scarcely discern
anything without.
“The women made me sit down ;
and when I placed myself in the
usual European manner, they begg
ed mein a deprecating tone, not to
remain in that constrained position,
but to put myself quite at my ease
as if I were in my own house.
How far 1 was at my ease, installed
cl la Tarque on an immense pile of
cushions, Ileave to be imagined bv
any one who ever tried to remain
five minutes in that posture. The
interpreter now left me alone with
the old woman, who crouched down
on a cushion at my feet,and with the
help of a few words of Turkish
with which I was acquainted, she
managed to give me quite as much
information as I wished for, on the
domestic life of Eirdeen Pasha’s
large family.
“We were interrupted by the ar
rival of some fifteen or sixteen
young slaves, who came running
into the room, laughing and talk
ing like a party of school girls, each
one pausing at the door to make
me the usual salutation, and then
clustering together in groups to gaze
at me with the most eager interest.
They all wore the same dress, and
certainly it looked on them most
singularly graceful, as they stood in
a sort of languishing, indolent atti
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tude, with their arms folded, and
their long almond-shaped eyes half
closed. It consisted of a loose silk
jacket, reaching to the waist, anoth
er underneath of a different color,
falling below the knee, and finally,
a pair ofenormouslv wide trousers,
either wholly red, or a mixture of
gay colors, which almost covered
their little yellow slippers. A silk
handkerchief and various olher or
naments were twisted in their hair,
with quite as much genuine coque
try as is to be found in more civili
zed countries. Os all the number
only three struck me as having any
great claim to beauty : but certain
ly creatures more lovely than they
were could nowhere have been seen.
Two of them were Circassians,
with long fair hair,and soft brown
eyes; the other was, I think, a Geor
gian very dark with beautiful feat
ures, and the most haughty ex
pression of countenance. It was
evident lhat she was held in great
respect, as the mother of a fine little
boy whom she had in her arms. All
of them had their nails dyed with
lhat odious henna, with which they
disfigure their hands and feet.
“Presently there was a strange
shuffling noise heard without, a pro
digious rustling of silk and satin,
and th 2 interpreter hurrying in,an
nounced the sultana. The slaves
fell back, and ranged themselves ir.
order. I rose up, and her highness
entered, preceded by two negro
boys, and followed by half-a-dozen
women. She was a tall, dignified
w C 5
looking person, of some five-and
thirty, and far from haudsome.
Nothing could be more splendid
than her dress, or more perfectly
ungraceful. She wore a pair of
light-blue silk trousers, so excessive
ly large and wide, that it was with
the greatest difficulty she could
walk ; over these, a narrow robe of
red cashmere, covered with gold
embroidery, with a border of flow
ers, also worked in gold, at least six
inches wide. This garment was
about five yards long, and open at
the two sides as far as the knee, so
that it swept on the ground in all
directions. Her waist was bound
by a cashmere scarf, of great value;
and from her shoulders hung an
ample pe’isse, of brown satin, fined
with the most beautiful zibeline
fur, Her head-dress was a silk
handkerchief, embroidered with
gold ; and to complete her costume,
she was literally covered with dia
monds.
“She received me in the most
amiable manner, though with great
stateliness and diginity ; and when
1 begged the interpreter to tell her
highness bow greatly I felt the honor
she had done me in inviting me to
visit her, her features relaxed into
a smile, and dragging herself and
her load of finery to the divan, she
placed herself upon it, and desired
me to sit beside her. I obeyed,
and had then to recommence all
the compliment and salutations 1
had gone through at the pasha’s,
with still greater energy ; for 1 could
see plainly that both herself and
her slaves, who stood in a semicir
cle round us, were very tenacious of
her dignity, and that they watched
most critically every movement I
made.
“I was determined, therefore, to
omit nothing that should give them
a high idea of my ‘savoir vivre,’ ac
cording to their own notions, and
began by once more gravely accep
ting a pipe. At the pasha’s, I had
managed merely to hold it in my
hand, occasionally touching it with
my lips, without really using it;
but I soon saw that, with some
twenty pairs of eyes fixed jealously
upon me, I must smoke here— posi-
SAVANNAH, GA.. SATURDAY, JULY 6, 1850.
tively and actually smoke—or be
considered a violator of all the laws
of good breeding. The tobacco
was so mild and fragrant, that the
penance was not so great as might
have been expected ; but I could
scarcely help laughing at the ludi
crous position T was placed in, seat
ed in state on a large square cush
ion, smoking a long pipe, the other
end of which was supported by a
kneeling slaves, and bowing so
lemnly to the sultana between
almost every whiff.
“Coffee, sweetmeats, and sherbet
(the most delighiful of all pleasant
draughts,) were brought to me in
constant succession bv the two little
negroes and a prettv voting girl,
whose duly it was to present me the
rirhlv-emhroidered napkin, the cor
ner of which T was expected to
mnkp use of as it lav on her should
er. as she knelt before me. These
refreshments wfre offered to me in
beautiful crystal vases, little gold
cup, and silver travs, of which, for
mv misfortune, ihev seemed to po
sers a large stipplv, as T was oblig
ed to go through a never-ending
course of dainties, in order that they
might have an opportunity of dis
playing thpm all.
“One arduous duty T felt it was
quite necessary I should perform,
and this was to bestow as much ad
miration on the sultana’s dress as T
knew she would expect me to feel ;
I therefore exhausted all mv elo
quence in praise of it; to which she
listened with a pleased smile, and
then to my surprise, rose up and
left the room. I was afraid I had
offeneded her; but a few minutes
after she returned, in anew costume
equally splendid and unbecoming,
and I once more had to express tnv
enthusiasm and delight, which
seemed greatly to gratify her. She
then returned the compliment, by
minutely inspecting mv own dress;
and the slaves, forgetting all cere
mony in their curiosity, crowded
eagerly round me.
“My bonnet sadly puzzled them ;
and when to please them, I took it
off, they were most dreadfully
scandalized to see me with my hair
uncovered, and could scarcely be
lieve that 1 was not ashamed to sit
all day without a veil or handker
chief; they could nut conceive, eith
er, why 1 should wear gloves, un
less it were to hide the want of hen
na, with which they offered to sup
pl\ me.—They then proceeded to
ask me the most extraordinary ques
tions —many of which 1 really found
it very difficult to answer. My
whole existence was as incompre
hensible to this poor princess, vege
tating from day today within her
four wa 11s, as that ofa bird in the
a r must be to a mole burrowing in
the earth. Her life consisted, as
she me, of sleeping, eating,
dressing, and bathing. She never
walked further than from one room
to another ; and lean answer for
her not having an idea beyond the
narrow limits of her prison. It is
a strange and most unnatural state
to which these poor women are
brought, nor do I wonder that the
Turks, whose own detestable ego
tism alone causes it, should declare
that they have no souls.
Her highness now sent for her
children, to show them to me, which
proved that I was rapidly advan
cing in her good graces ; and, as I
luckily knew well that I must not
look at them without pronouncing
the wish lhat they might live forever,
in case I should have an evil eye,
she was well disposed to receive all
my praises of them, and to allow
me to caress them. She had four
fine little children and the eldest of
them, a boy of Bix years old, was
so perfect a miniature of his father,
that it was quite ludicrous. He
was dressed exactly in the same
way. wearing even a little sword;
and he came in bow ing with so pre
cisely the same dignified manner,
that [ really should as soon have
thought of offering bons-bons to the
pasha himself, as to thU imposing
little personage.
“My at’ention to the children
quite won the heart of the sultana,
and she desired the interpreter to
tt*ll me that we were ln-ncoforih to
be ‘sisters; ’ and I was obliged to
receive this addition to my family
connections with becoming delight;
she also wished me to be informed
thatshe had once seen a Christian at
Constantinople, and that she was
not at all like me. I thought this
very likely ; but I was growing very
anxious to terminate my visit, which
had lasted, with its interminable
ceremonies, nearly two hours.—
The sultana was very unwilling to
let me go ; but when I insisted, for
l thought the patience of my com
panions must be quite exhausted,
she once more rose and left the
room ; in a few minutes the inter
preter returned, and kneeling down
kissed my hand, and then passed a
most beautiful diamond ring on mv
finger, which she said the sultana
begged me to keep, though it was
quite unworthy of her ‘sisters.’ I
was much shocked at the idea of
taking it, for it was a ring of very
great value ; and though I ought to
have known that in Turkey it was
an insult to refuse a present, I
could not help remonstrating.
“The sultana came in herself to
bid me farewell and I endeavored
to return it to her, but she frowned
in a way which really frightened me,
and commanded the slaves to tell
me that doubtless it was not good
enough for me, arrd that since 1
wished for something better, a more
valuable present should be found.
This settled the question, of course
and I put on the ring, anti went to
take leave. She had sealed herself
and received my parting compli
ment in great state , her iast speech
was to beg that I would tell the
people of England alwa3 r s to recol
lect that if they came to Widdin, it
would suffice lhat they were my
countrymen to ensure their having
a friend in Eiredeen pasha. I then
touched her hand, and passed out
of the room without turning m3”
back to her, whilst the slaves kiss
ed my hands again and again.”
The Useful and Ornamental Character
of Learning.
“ Who can estimate the difference
between civilization and savageism
—between the refinement of a Eu
ropean city and the crepuscular
light of an African horde—between
the American nation, as it now
stands, and the aboriginal inhabi
tants of this continent, as the3”
gazed with wonder at the appear
ance of Columbus ? What is there
great or good, elegant or useful, for
which mankind are not indebted to
the influence of learning? It has
reared up cities, and founded em
pires. It has conquered the earth,
the sea, and the air, and subjected
them all to die will of man. It has
filled the earth not only with com
forts, but with luxuries, not only
with needful things, but with an
endless variety of pleasures. It
has perfected, equally, the art of
war, and the arts of Deace. Itregu
lates the movements of armies, and
controls the destinies of nations.
It navigates the ocean, spans the
cataract, and reclaims the forest.—
It elevates valleys and depresses
hills. It introduces nations to teach
other, and imparts to all the pecu
liar products and commodities of
each. It unfolds the of
nature, and teaches man to * look
through nature up to nature’s God.*
It enchains the lightning, converge’
with the stars, and traces comets in
their fearful course. It subjects the
elements to this power, and rides,*
like a conqueror, over earth and
sea, by the magic power of resist
less steam. It is seen in the ele
gant mansion, and the noble ship,
in the commanding fortress, and the
lofty spire. It is seen in the breath
ing canvass and the speaking
marble.
“It is seen in the wisdom of phi
losophy, the usefulness of history,
and the elegance of poetr)\ It calls
up the spirits of the mighty dead,
and makes us acquainted with the
master-minds of every age and
nation. It travels with the traveller
and accompanies the adventurous
explorer in his vovage of discoverv.
It instructs us in the customs aiui
religion, the laws and polity, of
every people upon earth. It devel
ops the arcana of the human mind,
anil the wonderful structure of the
human frame. It restores health,
and prolongs existence. It ascer
tains the cause of disease, applies
a remedy to every ill, and vindi
cates the divinity of the healing
art. It expounds the tenets and
enforces the sanctions of religion.
It is seen in the power of eloquence
over the passions of the multitude,
as it now rouses them to fury, and
now subdues them into calmness.
It is felt in the magic influence of
poetry, as it animates to war or
melts to love, as it nerves the pat
riot in his country’s cause, or 4 takes
the captive soul, and laps it in
Elysium.’ But who can describe
the power, or the domain of learn
ing! Extending over all nature,
its power is every thing in the ma
terial world, and in the human
heart. It is the peculiar and dis
tinguishing attribute of man. It is
the pride of youth, and the com
panion of old age, the grace of
prosperity, and the consolation of
misfortune. It conducts man with
dignity through the checquered
scenes of life, and teaches him how
he may enter, finally, through the
gloomy portals of the grave, into
the blissful mansions of eternal
rest.
“ Such, and so great, are the uses,
and advantages of knowledge : of
which it may be truly said, that like
the decorated pillars of a temple,
it constitutes equally the strength
and beauty of the great structure
of society.”— Hon, Henry L, Pinck
ney.
Economy is due to our Employers.
“ Waste not, want not,” is a good
old proverb. “He that is faithful
in little is faithful also in much.”—
A person who takes no care of the
materials committed to his bands by
his employer, will never duly hus
band his own property. Economy
and wastefulnessare habits that will
influence us in ali things, both when
we are engaged about our own sub
stance or that of another. To waste
another's goods is the same as to
rob him. The loss in both cases is
equal, and the principles whence
they spring very much alike. The
man who takes care of his employ
er’s goods is sure to look after his
own, and thus is on the road to
prosperity. It would be difficult to
calculate the immense loss of pro
perly that every year occurs from
carelessness and want of economy.
Some persons are worth nearly half
their wages more than others, be
cause they never injure or waste
any thing. The employer being
wealthy, or the stock abundant, is
no excuse for carelessness. A Joss
is a loss,and a robbery is a robbery,
whether taken from the heap of the
miser or the smaller store of the
indigent. “Gather up the frag
ments, that nothing may be lo t,” is
a divine command. Heaven allows
nothing to be destroyed. There
has not been a single drop of water
wasted from the creation until now.
The decomposed elements of last
autumn are the aliment of our pres
entspring. Economy, rigid econo
my, is one of the laws of nature:
and we shall not realize “the good
time coming” until we have a care
ful and economical world. Let
this spirit prevail, and not only will
the master be saved from loss, but,
in many instances, the servant will
rescue himself from the union.
The Acted Charade.
Avery fashionable game, and
one played by grown people as well
as children, is a charade put into
action, like a little drama. You
chose a word of two or more sylla
bles, of which each syllable is a
word in itself; and the actors must
so perform their parts that the au
dience may be able to spell the
word by the import of the several
scenes. Thus if you select the
word “Innocent,” the first scene
maybe an Inn; the second some
excitement which causes a frequent
repetition of the exclamation “O!”
the third may draw the attention to
the word “cent” —either the Ameri
can fraction of a dollar, or the En
glish per cent.; and the forth must
give the word “Innocent.” In the
Acted Charade the business and
bustle must never flag; everybody
must play with spirit; and there
should be one or two clever per
formers to sustain the principal
parts. As to the plot or story of
the piece, the simpler that it is the
better. A few minutes of consul
tation will determine what it is to
be; and then each person engaged
must dash through his part in the
best way he can, saying anyihing
ihat comes uppermost. I have
often seen a good deal of natural
humor thrown into scenes of this
kind ; and even when some of the
performers have no talent at all—
why, we laugh at their awkward
ness, and that answers the purpose
as well.
Respect to Mr. Calhoun.—M r. Cal*
houu’s deatli was feelingly intro
duced at the meeting of the N. Y.
Historical Society on Tuesday
evening by Dr. Stevens, who was
his classmate at Yale. Among oth
er things he said—
Asa medical man, I take the lib
erty to suggest his opinion. Mr.
Calhoun’s death—l speak not of the
occasion but of the cause— was an
intellectual death ; an overworked
mind, dwelling too long, too anxi
ously on one object. His one
thought was on his country, the
strength of his intellect was ever
running, in one narrow channel,
which deepened itself until its
banks caved.
The hate Extraordinary Trance.—
The daughter of James Cromer, of
Farrington, England, spoke on
Tuesday the 14th, for the first time
for upwards of 13 years : her first
inquiry was for her aunt Killen, and
when her aunt came trie girl imme
diately repeated the Lord’s Prayer.
Extreme weakness prevented her
from articulating many words in
succession; cramps and convul
sions are supposed to have unlock
ed her jaw for the time. She ex
perienced a great deal of pain for
many days; the jaw is again set as
firm as before. Ihe girl seemed to
apprehend that death would sooo
terminate her existence.
NUMBER 18
