Hide Article Text (OCR)
Each Turkish house has two distinct parts, called respectively the selamtlk and the harem. In the former the divans are covered with snow-white covers, and small Inlaid tables set near them, whereon the happy bridegroom and his friends may place the bowls of their chibouks or keep their little cups of black coffee. In the harem thlt;* same preparations are made, with a few little tables, for some of the women still cling to the habit of smoklng-In fact, they find It of great assistance In passing the time. So the universal cigarettes, or the chibouk or the narghlleh are to be found In almost every harem.Beside coffee a large variety of sweetmeats and sherbets Is prepured and arrangements made for the festivity on a grand scale, for no nation understands so well how to entertain a guest and load him with civilities aa does the Turkish race. For the amusement of those present at the wedding there are always Jugglers of various kinds, expert story tellers, whose wonderful fairy tales are heard with avidity, and many wise sayings and pithy proverbs with which the Turkish language abounds are put before the hearers.Punch and Judy In Turkish attire and a new language perform thetr timeworn antics amidst shrieks of laughter. Meanwhile the bride takes little part In the merriment, for she 13 seated on u low* and gorgeous divan, dressed in her bridal robes, with a large veil of gold and silver thread mingling with her hair as It falls down her back. She sits there surrounded by her nearest relatives. while all come to admire her or her dress and Jewels, a8 the case may be. and to congratulate her mother and the rest of the family upon the happy occasion.On the other side of the house a morn Informal and pleasant time will be had. at least the bridegroom enjoys It more as he goes around among the guests. Aided by the bride’s father he makes them welcome, w-hlle tney make the appropriate congratulations In the most flowery style at their command.This Is the chief part of the wedding, for there Is practically no ceremony as we understand It. the essential part consisting of a formal and solemn contract between the parties. A girl’s dowry forms an Important part of the marriage arrangements. Each girl besides the money which she brings to her husband Is supposed to have us large an outfit as her means will permit. and the outfit is made as ornamental and elaborute as possible, for the bride wishes to show her husband how skilled she Is in needlework.Needlework Is considered a great accomplishment. and for a time has been tfie only one the Turkish girl could have, hence the exquisite embroideries which come from the orient are unequaled in beauty and the skill shown In their workmanship.After the ceremony the couple go to their own house, or more frequently live with the groorti’s parents. No mother-in-law question can arise, however, for the bride Is supposed to be obedient to her husband’s parents, and to dispute her mother-in-law m superiority would be as much an act of folly and would astonish people os much as un attempt to disobey her own mother.Therf Is one wholesome lesson which chlldrefi In Turkey teach us, that of strict Obedience to parental authority. Both among the Mahometan and Christian population a parent's authority Is considered supreme, and a touching deference la shown toward It by the children themselves, who almost Invariably consult their parents’ Inclination, long after reaching years; of discretion. They havc»- a respect for tbelr eldersmen with revolvers gathered In the passageways, until things began to look pretty blue for the young map.At last the final man. armed to the teeth. Joined the boarders, and as he did so the poor excited traveller gave a crv of relief.’’Put down your firearms, called the last comer, and stop your shrieks. You were looking for Dick, weren’t you? He’s gone to Europe. The whole house hero has changed hands. I'm the only one of the old crowd left. Good Lord, It’s well I’m here! You’d have spent one night In Jail, at least, if I’d not been.There, shouted the besieged man, flinging the key at the scantily robed landlady, there’s the key of this blank, blank, blankety blanaed shanty, and may I never again see the key of this or any other boarding place shanty as long as I live.’ —lt;New York Herald.SHE COULDN'T OH WOULDN’T.Telltale Pantomlmo of a Stricken Gentleman in a Broadway Car.When this gentleman got aboard of aBroadway car at 4Hd st he must have been one of the cheerfulest creatures In New York. He was excellently well dressed, was about 35 years of age. and had evidently passed a good deal of the summer In the free wind and the hot sun.He waved a hand blithely to some malo friends standing at the curb, and then, with a smile that lit up his face like a hellographlc signal, put the same hand In his pocket and drew out a letter. It was large and square, and as he opened It the odor of orris root filled the car as though some one had taken out the stopper of a big Jar of sachet powder;The note was evidently not a long one, for he had read It and torn It into a hundred pieces while the conductor was ringing In hla fare. Then the hellograh-lc signal wus cut off and even the fleeting summer’s ruddiness seemed to fade. Every line of his face that h^d gone upcame down, his collar grew loose, and his nerveless cuff slipped down over his hanging hands.And every one In the street car knew that she couldn’t or wouldn’t.-(New York 8un.On His Knee. Mayhap.They sat at nppoylte ends of *ho sofa.••Be mine, he pl*ud*dI am not In a position to entertain such a proposal.” she answered, eoldly.He was not the sort of man to require the Impact of a tabernacle failing un his head ere he would tumble, and he shortly effected a '-(.arrangement of positions mutually satisfactory, and of a nature to facilitate the .natter in hand.—(Detroit Tribune.The Present Was the Future.Primus—Humph! Before you were irrled did you never sit in thtf twilit with your sweetheart and dream the future?iecundus- No. I sat with her some, i I don’t remember the nightmares.— ruth. ______rook Advantaee of the Opportunity.he wlfo—How did you dare, sir. to Id me before Mrs Caller?Tie husband—Well, you know. Marla, aren’t scold you whon we are by our-vcs.—(Texas Siftings.A Question in Theology.Mama—Yes. my child, we shall know each other in heaven.Fannie—But, mama, can we make believe we are out when they call?— (Texas Siftings.
Newspaper Details
, ,
Mon, Jan 01, 0001
Page 0
Full Page
Clipped by
University O.
