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A HAREM IN ASIA MINOR, VISITING AN ORIENTAL PRINCESS. A FEW OUTLINES OF THE INNER LIFE OF THIS INTERESTING- AND OFTEN MISUN- DERSTOOD PEOPLE—ENTIRE SEPARATION OF THE SEXES AT MEALS AS AT OTHER TIMES. By JOLLIE M. de LEON. (Author of Harem Life.") Lingering at Cairo after the winter migra- tion of tourists fhas winged its way to cooler dimes, I find time hanging very heavily on my hands. For with the first blast of the hot winds from the desert (Shamseen) the crowd of visitors pour out as rapidly as it had poured in, and leaves the city a deserted wilderness of shop3 and hotels, and dullness reigns supreme. Hence I fall back on my reminiscences and experiences to chase away the lingering hours of the long summer dav. So much misapprehension exists as to the inner life of these unchangeable Orientals (especially the women) that in justice to a people who I have learned to like I propose brieily to sketch the salient outlines of that life, which I have carefully studied, and now proceed to pourtray as truthfully as I may. The shortest way to do this is to recall my own recollections of a long and intimate inter- course with the higher class of Eastern women, whose homes and harems are not accessible to ordinary travellers. I myself have occasionally asked permission to take strangers with me, and it has been graciously accorded. It is only to oil and intimate acquaintances, among foreign women, that the veil of the harem is even partially withdrawn, but of their inner life they permit the stranger to see nothing. Any lady, well recommended, going to Cairo, is admitted to the formal receptions of the khedivesse; but these have been so Earopeanised that soarcely a trace of Orientalism remains. The Eastern system rests on the entire isolation of the women from all social inter- course with the men. A Turkish house is divided into two separate portions. You enter through a large porte cochere into a spacious court yard. Facing you is a large building; on one side are the apartments of the men, called the sclamelik, and on the other those of the women, the harem, with separate dpors to eaoh. At ttMO entrance of the harem are always stationed black eunuchs, armed to the teeth, who forbid access to all visitors except privi- leged persons. No man, except the master of the house is permitted to enter. Even the Sultan himself may not violate the sanctity of the harem of the meanest of his subjects. What we regard as domestio life, in the hourly association of the men and women of a family, does not exist with them. A man eats, drinks, and sleeps in his own side of the house, and his visits to the harem are most ceremonious. Very little of his time is passed in the society of his family, and their lives are very much apart. Although by the law of Islam a man is allowed four legal wives, but few avail themselves of the privilege, contenting themselves with one wife at a time. Yet the facility of divorce is so great that a man may have several wives in succession; although he is bound by law to provide for his divorced t wife and all the children Lorn beneath his roof. ) Only a very rich man can afford the expen- sive luxury of plural wives, separate apart- ments being allotted to each, as well as a retmue of slaves. To give an idea of the real Turkish life, unadulterated by intercourse with Europeans, let us pay a friendly visit to a Turkisk house at Broussa, the second city in population and importance to be found in t Asia Minor, Smyrna, which is half foreign, or rather Greek, being the first. f Let us first pay a visit to the wife of the I governor of Broussa, who is a small queen in her own way, isolated from Constantinople by sea, and still more by the small inter-com- munication. Our visit was fixed for after mid-day, and we jolted over the great stones in a primitive carriage, built by Bulgarian workmen, emigris for faith sake, of whom large numbers have ( swarmed in to Broussa, and have had free r grants of land from the Turkish Government. My friend, the English Vice-Consul, sent his cawass, or guard, dressed in his gorgeous uniform, with scimitar and pistols, to accom- pany me, and give dignity to my visit. For the Eastern people are great stioklers for forms, and their manners most courteous and dignified. Even among the women joking and familiarity do not prevail. Even the very young ohildren in harems are as solemn as little owls. They seem to be born and grow up without any cheerfulness: and as Mrs. Malaprop says, It pleases Heaven to decrease it on further acquaintance," as they grow up. Our stately cawass, with the strut of an irate turkey gobbler in full feather, preceded us, under the porte cochere, to the entrance door of the theatre, where stood three of the table guards of the harem-most important- looking personages. After a short conference between our cawass and the head eunuch, a message was sent in announcing our arrival by appointment. -i With this open sesame the jealously- guarded door flew open to admit us. Our cawass, as a man, could not pass through that door his place was taken by the head eunuch, who solemnly led us through long, bare passages and long suites of apart- ments richly furnished in Oriental fashion, with divans and pearl-inlaid cowries, or little stands, on which to place trays for refresh- ments, but without chairs or tables, which are a Western innovation. In the furthest room we found the gover- nor's wife, who was by birth a princess, seated, or, rather, coiled up, in Oriental fashion on a short, silken divan, with only room for four people. This was the state divan the others being long ones, running all round the walls of the room. About a dozen ladies in waiting on visitors were seated at a respectful distance, while a number of slave girls stood with their baoks to the wall, like so many statues, never mov- ing or smiling, nor showing any emoticn whatsoever, There were several very good- looking young girls among them, many fair Circassians, and also black Nubians. As we entered, the princess rose from the divan, as did all the other ladies, and gave us the Eastern salutation, by touching their hearts, lips, and foreheads, which we returned. The princess then motioned us to seats on her divan, the interpreters to the next one. Easterns are great people for giving eaoh his proper place, according to his position. The princess spoke French, and we were not obliged to oonverse through our interpreter, -which was so stupid. The prinoesa was a bright little woman, with a fair skin and natural reddish hair, made more so by the use of henna. Her blue eyes looked out from dark eyebrows apd lashes—also dyed with some eastern dye; then her eyes were kohled, but done in such perfection that it was diffi- cult to discover where nature stopped and art began. Her hair was very long and thick she wore it in two long plaits down her back, fastened at the end with clasps of diamonds and sapphires of great value. At intervals through.these tresses glimmered a precious stone or gold coin, but only very few. On her head she wore a small embroidered cap to match her dreas, which was purely Oriental. The saintvans, or trousers, were of deli- cate mauve silk brocade, with a long train in the back, which looped up, so as to hide the form of the trousers the chemisette was of gauze, of the same colour, embroi- dered in white silk, open at the throat, showing a lovely, white, well shaped neck. A white under bodice con- cealed slightly her form, which was uncompressed by stays. In our society her dress would not be considered modest, but with them they only consider showing their faces to men immodest. They have no sense of shame about exposing their persons. Over this she wore a small jacket of violet velvet, trimmed with silver ball fringe-round her waist was a girdle of precious stones, like a stomacher. Her tiny feet were slipped into shoes of the eame shade as her jacket, em- broidered in silver. She wore wonderful jewels- and not too many but those she wore were of the most costly kind. Her hands were small and well shaped, very white, only the nail of her little finger of the right hand was stained with henna. The princess was'more lively than Turkish women generally are. She asked me all sorts of questions. If my friend who was with me was married? If she bad children? these being always the first two questions asked in a Turkish harem, the single state not being considered so honourable as with us. This is a survival of the old Eastern feeling, so fully exemplified in the Old Testament. About five minutes after we had been seated, six young slave girls came in the two first carrying something like a large box, covered with a richly embroidered cover of red satin with heavy gold fringe. They stood just outside the door, the other slaves advancing, lifted the cloth and re- vealed to view a handsome brass tray, with coffee-pot and cups. Two slaves poured out the coffee into egg-shell cups of the thinnest china, and placed them in zarfs, or inlaid gold holders and handed the first cups simultaneously to the princess and my- self. We were sipping our coffee, when four others came with long ohibouques (pipes) and, placing the bowl under them, retired. The mouthpieces were worth a small fortune in themselves, same were of amber encrusted with diamonds, others with black amber (which is most rare and valuable). The other ladies had chibouques, with mouthpieces of less value, but all were handsome. A curious trait of the Turkish ladies is their taciturnity. They talk very little in the presence of those they consider their superiors. But at their Sunday clabs (the Friday baths) they chatter like magpies and rehearse Sheridan's Sohool for Scandal" in the choicest Turkish. While visiting I have frequently seen them sit silent for hours at a time, looking placid, apparently thinking of nothing at all. When addressed by the lady of the house they answered in monosyllables, smiling sweetly. But they never seem to know when it is time to go. They pay interminable visits. When they decide to go they rise up, cross the room, then stoop down and kiss either the hand or the hem of the garment of their hostess, The lady of the house only conducts her superiors in rank or age to the door. They treat their aged relations with great reverence. The princess saw me looking at her nail, so she called one of the slaves and told her something in Turkish. She soon returned with a small box, and before I knew what she intended she had clapped a small pad of henna on my nail and bound it up. Now keep that on until this evening and you will have your nail like mine. It will not wear off for some time, so you will think of me." Of course she did this as a compliment, but I am afraid I did not appreciate it. One thing which is very noticeable in harems is the scrupulous cleanliness of everything. I have never seen more beau- tifully kept houses. The Turkish women are also very neat in their persons, using the bath readily every day at home and at the public baths on Friday, where they stay for hours, in the hands of their bath woman. Neither mistress nor slave ever enter the house in the shoes they wear in the streets- consequently, the houses are spotless. It is a great mistake for Western people to look upon their Eastern brethren as savages, for in many ways they are more refined than their foreign critics. For instance, politeness prevails among them, from the high pasha down to the lowest class. Every man you meet on the road salutes you, instead of passing you with a stoney stare. On the streets the poorest go through elaborate salutations. You rarely see men quarreling and never kicking and cuffing each other. They only curse eaoh other's grand- father—are never impolitely personal. The refinement of the women in manner is still more remarkable, considering they are un- eduoated. Their private conversation among them- selves, I am told, is of a character to shock ears polite." In all my intercourse with them 1 have always found them very pleasant. The princess turned to me and asked me if I would care to see the Turkish dances. I replied, Very much." She gave an order, and immediately a dozen pretty young girls in Eastern costume came in very demurely, bowed low to the princess, stood still in the middle of the room until the strains of wild native musio electrified them into movements. They commenoed very slowly, gradually warming up into violent motion of their limbs and bodies. They finally threw such expression into the dance, that the idea of the poetry of motion" was fully realised. Half of them were dressed as boys, and all of them were scarcely more than children. The girls were in pink, the boys in blue. Their hair, which they wore very long, wa3 either black or red—their complexions were fair. The music of the barabuka is very wild and plaintive. They kept perfect time their bodies seemed to be without bones; they twisted them into such wonderful con- tortions. The danoe over, two of the princess' little sons, of six and four years of age respec- tively, appeared and stood at the door, where they made the Turkish salutation. They then orossed their little hands over their stomachs, just like the way the men stand in the presence of the Sultan. They were dressed like little men in a Stambouli costume, red foz cap included. They never smiled, but when their mother beckoned them to come to her they marohed in, kiased her hand, and solemnly returned to the door, where they stood until dismissed. We now stood up to make our adieux, and took conge of the princess, who, in flattering Oriental style, addressed us of the pleasure our visit had given her, and expressed the hope we would come again. A few days later I received an invitation to dinner, which I may desoribe in a subse- quent letter. We were accompanied on our way out by several young girls, who smilingly escorted us to the front door, some of them taking hold of our hands and others patting us on the shoulder to indicate good feeling. While waiting in the outer room they gave us some delicious sherbet out of gold goblets richly chased. At the door the eunuch banded us over to our faithful cawass. We got in our carriage and drove home, well content with our recep- tion and treatment by the governor's wife.

A Wife Worth Having. The old ship Vincent seemed to be one of those craft that, according to the theory of sailors, are doomed to ill fate. James Mar- shall, a young man from Newport, n. I., had been her captain for five years, and during that time she-had been twice "knocked down"; once had she carried away her fore- mast, and at the time of which we write the old ship was docked at Liverpool undergoing repairs from a serious damage she had re- ceived during a heavy gale in St. George's Channel, but in all these mishaps the owners htd been forced to acknowledge that the young captain was entirely free from blame, while, on the other hand, he had made better time" in his trips than any other master had ever been able to get out of her. The last damage which the Vincent received proved to be the occasion of the dawning of a new era in the life of Captain Marshall, for, while waiting in Liverpool for his ship to be repaired, he fell in with a blooming New England girl named Emma Hamsey, the eldest daughter of the agent who did the business for the Vinoent's owners, and ere long they discovered that between them there existed a peculiar feeling of mutual love. Captain Marshall popped the delicate question, Emma consulted with her papa, and at length she consented to become Mrs. Marshall. It was a happy day for all parties when the marriage took place, for, from the known characters of the bridegroom and his beautiful bride, all felt sure that the match would prove one of peace and content. The Vincent was once more ready for the sea. Her cargo was all on board, and shipped for Boston, and Emma had resolved to accom- pany her husband to the United States. For a number of days the weather was pleasant, and the wind was fair, while Captain Mar- shall felt himself supremely happy in the del igh tf ul' company of his wife. The old sailors shook their heads as they saw the gentle Emma pacing the deck, and they very mysteriously asserted that such pleasures could not always last," and so in- deed, it proved for at the close of a pleasant day, when they were within three or four days'sail of their destined port, things began to look anything but agreeable. Away to the south'rd and east'rd the horizon began to assume a sort of inky blackness, with here and there a ghost-like, livid spot, while on all hands the heavens bad changed their ethereal blue for a cast of deeper and more fearful import. Captain Marshall felt as he had never felt before on the approach of a storm. For him- self, for his ship, he had no thought then. There was one on board who engrossed his every sympathy—for his young wife he felt a degree of intense anxiety that was painful, but he forgot not his duty, and with comparative calmness he set about it. The courses were hauled up and snugly furled, the lighter sails taken in and the lofty yards and topgallant masta sent on deck, and the three topsails close reefed, Long before the sun went down the undu- lating ocean had assumed almost the black- ness of night, and not many moments elapsed after the spars had been secured upon the deck ere the storm burst upon the ship. It was a regular south-easter, and those who have enoountered one of these storms in the gulf know something 6f their power. Higher and higher rose the mighty tempest, until at length it was found necessary to take in the topsails and trust to the fore and main storm staysails and a balance reefed spanker. In this way the ship lay to till morning, the gale increasing every hour. Captain Marshall trusted that when the sun rose on the next day the storm would abate, but in this he was disappointed, for a part of the forenoon he was actually obliged to scud before it. It was not until two stay- sails had been torn from their bolt rope that he fully explained his anticipations and the extent of his fears to his wife. Emma," said he, 1 wish I had not brought you with me." Why so P" she asked, as she gazed up into her husband's face with apparent astonish- ment. Why so ? Do you not comprehend our danger p" "But the ship does not leak, does it ?" re- turned Emma with remarkable ooolness. No." Then let us not fear the storm. I was born upon the Atlantic, and I feel that I can yet trust to my native element." The captain was astonished at this trait in his wife's character, and clasping her in his arms he felt his own soul swelling with a new life. Emma," he said, as he gazed more affec- tionately than ever into her face, my heaviest fears are past. For you alone have I feared the most; now I can oalmly tell you wherein lies our danger. This storm has driven us far out of our course, and twice have we been scudding before it. I fear that the coast of Maine cannot be far to the lee- ward, and of that coast I know nothing save what I may gather from my chart. For us to lay to is next to impossible. The rising sea has rendered our staysails useless, and I have been obliged to set the close reefed maintopsail, but she cannot hold it long." My husband," returned Emma, though you may know nothing of the coast of Maine, yet there are but few spots along her rugged shores that are not as playgrounds to me. My father was for years a surveyor of her islands and harbours, and I was his constant companion. To me her cliffs and inlets present nothing that can alarm me." Hardly had she ceased speaking when a sharp crack like the report of a pistol sounded from aloft, followed by a tearing and crashing that started the captain to his feet. The maintopsail has gone 1" he exclaimed, and immediately he sprang upon the deck. Again the ship was put before the gale, and for several moments Captain Marshall was undeoided what to do. While in this quandary he felt a hand laid upon his shoulder, and on turning he beheld his wife. She had a "sou'wester" upon her head, and a peajacket buttoned closely about her. What is the matter, James ?"she said. The husband explained his perplexity. A strange look of fearlessness and confi- dence rested upon that fair woman's face, and looking for a moment at the compass she said: We head due northwest. Station a trudTy look-out in the foretop, and let the ship stand on Captain Marshall felt at that moment as though an angel had been sent to pilot him to a haven of rest. Whence arose the feeling he knew not, but instinctively he obeyed. Fearful and loud roared the mighty storm, on dashed the riven ship, but all fearless and composed stood the heroic woman upon the quarter deck, and the hardy seamen as they gazed upon her felt that what daunted not a woman should not daunt them. Land, ho!" came from the foretop. In three minutes more, as the ship rose I upon the bosom of a giant sea, the land waa made out upon the deck, bearing about two points on the larboard bow. Emma caught sight of it, and, seizing a glass at the next swell,she discovered a lighthouse upon its sum- mit, Then she turned her glass over the star- board beam, and in a moment she exclaimed: "There are the Bantam Ledges. The land on the larboard bow is Seguin, and beyond I can see Cape Small Point. James," she con- tinued, as she gazed into her husband's face with a look all made up of conscious poweV", if you will drop your foretopsail I will take you into the Kennebec For a moment Captain Marshall hardly credited the evidence of his own senses, but one look into the calm, radiant features of his wife determined him, and in five minutes the foretopsail was sheeted home. Emma Marshall seized the spanker outhaul and sprang upon the wheelhouse, and calm as the falling of the summer's due fell her orders to the man at the wheel. The island Seguin was cleared in safety, the ship bowled fear- lessly by the foam-dashed rocks, and ere long her bows cleft the smoother waters of the noble Kennebec. All danger was past. Though the storm still raged, yet the old Vincent rode at anchor, and the howling tempest could harm her no more. Confidence was restored to the hardy crew. Emma Marshall descended from her station and sought her cabin. Her rough habiliments were thrown aside, and ere long she re- appeared m all the modesty and beauty of her native grace. Captain Marshall pressed her to his bosom, and at that moment the hardy seamen waved their hats high above their un- covered heads, while a prolonged shout of joy and gratitude went- forth from their relieved souls. They had been saved from the terrible coast storm, and from the bottom or their hearts they confessed Emma Marshall was a wife worth having.- Yankee Blade. 11

HANGMEN'S METHODS. Speaking to the representative of a London evening pnper, an old pressman contrasted tilo methods of lianging adopted by Calcruft wi those of Bt-riy. Tlie comparison, as will was to the disadvantage of the fi rmer. f old pressman "In 1859 I stood wilhina iO>t 01 Calcraft when he executed two men in a pro- vincial town. The drop was a small platform, and from the bdge on which the cul- prits stool to the ground there was a fall of only three feet. When the flap the feet of the tiller of the two men—the ends of his toes-touched the floor, and whether it was the twist (,f the rope or the efforl s the wretched victim made to rest first on one foot and then on the other, I cannot ay, but he went spinning souad and round in a ghastly pirou< tte of death." "A tact?" "Ye.. The other cu'prit bing sllor: er, Hi feet were free of the plulorm, but they neat ly touched it. Then be?an the death-writhings of men dying from strangulation-slieer strangul ition—for they were both being deliberately suffocated, and in the presence, too, of some 30,000 spectators. The contortions of the sufferers were appalhn, One of the men drew his feet up slowly till his knees were at right ankles with his b tdy, and then threw them back with a sudden jerk that made the scaffold creak again. The strugglill victimS were so near to eiich other that in tticir dying con- tortions their legs became firmly interlo^kad, and so fiercely spasmodic was the wrestling of the contoried limbs that I distinctly he'\rd the joints crack as they tightened one upon the other. All this time Calcraft stood Ciilmly surveying the tf suit of his handiwork. Waiting till the locked limbs had grown more quiescent—perhaps fot five minutes—he approached, and separating with difficulty the intertwined legs of the dying men, deliberately bora his weight on the body of the wretch whose to,>8 touched the grouud, and remained in that position till all was over. The veins in the neck of this ipartictliax culprit were swollen like thick cord, and just where the eyelitof the noose had tightened uudec the ear the rope had pinched up the flesh, makIng a wound in which you might lay your finger, and from which the blood trickled down the man* body on to the platform.' "And that was an old-fashioned ex(,cuti,,n 1 "It was. Now, if Calcraft had had a litt.e "searching of mind' in these matters he would have given a longer drop, but I think I have shoWO that lie did something more than 'just put a rops round a fellow-creature's neck and draw the bait. Apparently—yes." "Marwood onCe told nip, immediately Ilfter tIn execution, that he never adjusted he noose f-r tlifl eyelet to tall under the ear, but under the CIllO. The leverage, he said, cnused by the jawbone, threw the head back, didoca ing the ntCj instant ly, nnd de ith was painless. There would never be any fear of laceration, lie added, if tins were done, anef if the noo-se were dra wn tightly l'p to the neck before drawing the bolt." "Where and when did MMrwood tell you this ? It would be gratuitous information for Berry." Marwoid explained it to me in Uik Gaol, fit the execution nf James Gibb-, for the St. Melon's murder, in 1874. He said the IlOrDS of a hangman's dilemma were the 'Jong' anli the 'short' drop, and that while he himselt always gave a long fall, Gilcrafr, whom lie succeeded, was afraid of it and gave a short drop. Calcraft always went in fear of 'j10 laceration, added Marwood; but it is not the length of the drop that lacerate?, it is the clumsy way the rope is put round the neck. If loo^ly put it is sure to grip some of the muscle ,,J 1-icerate them. If dtawn tightly up, and kept 111 place, it never dots—and if the eyelet is made to fall under the chin, the neck is disloca'ed at eveo a short drop, and death is instantaneous. So spake Marwood, who seemed to tike an infellige11 interest in his ghastly trade, and his views on t!10 subject are well worth the attention of the Hoaid Office."

GREAT SUKPBISE has been expressed by profes- sional gentlemen in the medical world througliolit the kingdom at the wonderful cures effected by Wee fl. Cooper's Rheuo in cases of long-standing rheuDutistn, where all hopes of a cure had long before been aban* doned. The great success attending the sales of Rheuo may be accounted for by the fact that it is not offerti tl cure every complatnt under the sun, but rheumatism Only- in old and young. Taken internally, at regular vals, it quickly subdues the pains, and gradually, bu surely, restores the sufferer to a healthy state. and Co., 7, High-street, Cardiff; T. Cordey, Newport; ana the Cash Supply Company, Pontypr>o • are the Local Agents, and one 2s 9d bottle will cur« cases. Also in bottles Is 1 |d and 4s 6d. Sent from 599, Commerclal-road. London. E. JjOO' LIVER COMPLAINTS—Dr. King's Dandelion Quinine Liver Pills, without Mercury, 'Lints remedy; remove all Liver an' stomach OpnftPi»» <•' Biliousness, Headache, Sickic ,('Pains'^266 urn, Indigestion, Constipate. PARRT AND ROCKE'S Welsh l'arns are best.