 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
1 April 1880 — Constantinople | |
Thursday. 1st April [1880]. Alice 19th birthday. Jerry had to be punished for swearing so we sent him on board the Antelope with a cavass. I had a painting lesson & painted in head of Circassian slave—i.e. Miss Jessie Williams! After lunch I dressed & at ¼ to 3 Henry, Alice & I drove to Yildiz followed by St John & Sir A. Sandison. We drove right into the garden. At the gate we met Munir Bey & he got into our carriage & we went to a kiosque in the garden where the Sultan expected us. The weather was dull & damp—not actually rainy. We found the Sultan in a fur lined coat & with cloth shoes over his boots & he said he had been ailing & complained of neuralgia. The gentlemen smoked & we had some small talk & abt 4.30 a gouter was announced & in the next room in a kind of balcony was laid out a lunch on a buffet under the window. H.M. had chairs brought & they only just went into the narrow space. The Sultan sat quite at one end—I next him & then Alice—Henry, Mr St John & Sir Alfred. H.M. insisted on himself helping me to everything so I had to eat a good deal more than I wanted– We had a special Circassian dish—smoked & salted turkey wh I did not appreciate. We finished with delicious strawberries of wh he helped me twice to my satisfaction. We had tea in gold cups wh would not therefore cool. After this refection we returned to the little salon where there was more small talk. H.M. said when the fine weather came he wd give a fête at the Sweet Waters. I told him we wd not let him forget it. We spoke of the races & he at once said he wd also have races & named Mr St John V. President. He sent for his Circassian ADC & made him show off 2 horses he had & then he let us go home first making Alice a present of a lovely diamond tiara & saying many kind things to her. He gave us 2 huge bouquets of violets & camelias & we were glad to go home– We only got [home] in time to dress for dinner. Mr Sartoris & Mr Leveson Gower & his friends Mr Kirklington & Mr Tufnill came in the eveng. I & Mrs Sartoris played dominoes against Henry & A. Burr & were beaten– | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |