RANDOM READINGS.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 323, 16 June 1914, Page 7

RANDOM READINGS.

A TURKISH "AT HOME,"

/ When a Turk Las disposed of his visitors, he goes into his haremlik to dine or breakfast, . first removing his babouches. The custom of removing ©he's shoes before entering a room is Dpi a religious superstition, but comes %S the necessity for keeping carpets clean, seeing that they fulfil the purpose of chairs, tables, and sofas in other countries.

j The ladies' room may bo furnished like a Parisian boudoii ; but custom is stronger than fashion, and the Turks of both sexes like to recline or sit .cross-legged on ilio floor. Their carpets are curiously soft and thick, and those over the doors shut put all draughts and noises. Through the open windows that look out upon the garden comes a scent of roses and the hum of bees, mingled with the laughter of children who are playing on a well-trimmed lawn, under the eyes of the dark-eyed Circassian nurses.

The mistress of the Harem—the Bukul Hanum (great lady) to give her her full title—dresses much like an English lady nowadays, reads French novels, and plays the piano, though she dons her native costume upon State occasions, such as the chnlvas. Chalva means a cake, but has come to designate a party at which that dainty is eaten, just as we say "tea" for "teaparty" here. When a Turkish lady gives a chalva, her husband is excluded while the strange women are in the house. These guests begin to arrive about 6 o'clock, accompanied by their maid-servants and negroes, carrying lanterns, and bringing their children with them. Closely muffled, they divest themselves of their babouches in an anteroom, and put on delicate slippers, which they have brought with them in bags. The reception rooms are brilliantly lighted up with pink wax candles, and scented with fragrant pastilles. There is no kissing or hand-shaking between the hostess and her guests, but each lady as she comes in lifts her hand gracefully to her heart, her lips, and her brow, which means, "I am devoted to you with heart, mouth, and mind." This mode of salutation is very pretty. The greetings being ended, the company seat themselves on chairs, if there be any Frank ladies present; if not, they betake themselves on the divans and carpets, and the cake eating begins.

AN EMPRESS'S PEARL NECK-

LACE.

On the coast of Corfu a story is told which will perhaps some day pass into folklore, for it is of the stuff of which legends are made. Whether it is true or not no one' can say, but the fishermen of Corfu believe it and dream of it. When the Empress of Austria received the news of her son Rudolf's death, she was wearing a famous necklace of Oriental pearls. That night, so the story goes, the attendant whose duty it was to care for the jewels, was horrified to see that the superb pearls had lost their lustre and looked dull and dead. She spoke of the matter to her mistress, who in her sorrow did not even listen.

A month or two later the Empress had occasion to call for her pearls; and, on opening the case, found every pearl of the necklace a lustreless grey. She called the Court jewellers into consultation, but nothing could be done to restore the pearls to their former beauty.

Finally, a famous chemist of Vienna assured the Empress that if the pearls could bo left in the sea. for a long time the action of the salt water would jjring back their color and lustre. The Emprrlis went to Corfu later. While there, she went with Father Ambrosius, an old monk, who was her friend and confidant, to a wild spot on the shore of the island, and there they hid the pearls securely in a fissure under the surface of the water, and left them. There the pearls were when the Empress met her sudden and tragic death.

Father Ambrosius fell dead in the cloister when told of the death of his mistress. The pearls, so the story runs, awaits a lucky finder somewhere along the rugged coast, and are likely to be the Captain Kidd's treasury of Corfu.

Taking the story for what it is worth, the fact remains that there are on record many curious instances in which pearls apparently sympathised with the health and mood of their wearers. Pearls, too, often lose their color and lustre, for no perceptible reason, arid in many cases never regain their beauty. All through the Orient there are jewellers famous as doctors of sick pearls, and to certain of these doctors pearls of great value are frequently sent by the native rulers and merchants. The salt-water treatment is one of the most common methods of dealing with a sick pearl; so if Elizabeth's necklace is by any chance whore Corfu gossip locates it, its pearl may be finding healing while they await discovery.