Women's Life in Tnrkish Harems

Southland Times, Issue 19471, 26 November 1904, Page 3 (Supplement)

Women's Life in Tnrkish Harems

nurcuta Romantic interest attaches to the narrative of the arrival in Franco of a fugitive niece of the Sultan, of Turkey and of her marriage with the Russian Prince Urusoff, iv London last July. The whole story is related, writes the Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, by a Nice correspondent of the journal, who is responsible lor it. Ho saw the couple at Monte Carlo recently, and talked to them. 'The niece of the Commander of the Faithful is described as tho Princess Sheref llilmy Guiridy Zade, daughter of the late Hilma Pasha, a general of division and aide-de-camp of the Sultan, and divorced wife of Prince Samy. The Princess succeeded in escaping to Paris, where she met her present husband in one of the fashionable hotels. Her presence here was unknown to anybody, but the news of the marriage in London reached the Sultan's agents, and when transmitted to Constantinople caused great commotion there. Princess Urusoff is now ailing, but she received tho French journalist in spite of her bad health, and began by complaining to him that the English newspapers have given fantastic versions 'of the circumstances of her flight from Constantinople. It is not true that her departure waa a sudden, unpremeditated affair. Sho had long nursed the project, and on 12th May last she left the harem disguised as a woman of low degree. The clothes were given to her by their former wearer, who obtained a passport for the Princes®. Accompanied by her Levantine maid, Madame Tatouri, who is still with her, the Princess took berths on board the French steamer Niger, bound for Marseilles. She explained her position to tho captain, and was promised his protection. While tho steamer was at Smyrna the Princess was afraid to show herself, but after that port was loft she dressed herself in European garb nnd assumed a Paris hat of the travelling style. Asked about her former husband, Prince Samy. the Princess said that she had nothing whatever against him, but she was the victim of abominable intrigues, which sho would not relate. She and Prince Samy loved each other, but tho intrigues ensued in 'other quarters, and even the Sultan, her uncle, was affected by them. The Princess, who speaks French thoroughly, told her that she adores France. In youth she was known as " tho little thing with the French heart." While in the harem she read French authors right and left, and after having perused Bourget, Guy de Maupassant, and Pierre Loti, she fastened chiefly on Marcel Prevost.'s books. Frequently she wanted to write to M. Prevost, who seemed to best; understand the heart and soul of woman. The novels were procured stealthily for the Princess by a slave. Sometimes she" received the visits of foreign personages, with whom she convei'sed. By stealth, too, the Princess and some of her friends had costumes from the great Paris makers, and in these they walked about the harem, being prohibited from wearing the dresses outside. The Princess was eloquent in denouncing the resti'ictions placed on her sex in Ottoman lands. Women arc not permitted to go to theatre and concerts, and they very frequently have to bear with husbands of inferior intelligence. The fair fugitive hopes to be back soon in Paris, which sho regards as the finest of cities.