24.00 USD
Born Margaret Morgan, in New York, circa 1885, Margaret Fehim Pasha, by the age of 22, had attained what was perhaps the secret dream of many a young girl of that era, and was traveling the world as a circus bareback rider.
As the story appeared in the Pittsburgh Press, in May of 1906, Miss Morgan had, only two months before, been traveling with the circus ( like a proper young lady, accompanied by her parents) in the vicinity of Constantinople (what is today Istanbul).
A royal personage, a pasha, in elegant costume, and with an impressive entourage, reserved a special box from which he could enjoy her performance night after night. Eventually, he made advances to her by messenger which she refused. Then, he approached her parents with a proposal of marriage (all very proper).
Apparently believing his declarations of love to be sincere, she accepted, and in early 1906, amidst due pomp and ceremony, and by the rites of Islam, the two were married in his fabulous palace.
Whirlwind romance? Oh, yes indeed. But there were a few lumps congealing in the pudding of ecstasy. In the first place, Miss Morgan may have been unaware that Fehim Pasha, a close relative and trusted adviser to Abdul, sultan of all the Turkoman Empire, was also the dreaded chief of the secret police to whom countless tortures, murders, rapes and robberies had been attributed.
Secondly, he had apparently introduced himself as a bachelor, when in fact he was already married...to two wives!
So, despite the fact that, according to the article, Margaret Fehim Pasha was surrounded by every luxury, with 200 slaves who fed her delicacies, perfumed her, bathed her, dressed her, etc., all was not bliss.
And, apparently it was not long after their marriage that the Sultan became aware of the fact that the Princess Fehim Pasha was not of the faith! He considered the marriage an offence to Islam, a scandal, and insisted his nephew give up his new wife.
Shortly thereafter, while Fehim Pasha sat by, idly smoking a cigarette, Miss Margaret was arrested and thrown into prison, where she langushed for a couple of days before being tossed across the border into Bulgaria, completely destitute, and had to beg rides for 400 miles before reuniting with Mom and Dad.
If this story sounds like the basis for the plots of about a hundred silent films of the period, well...it probably was! And how did the story end for our unhappy couple?
Margaret Fehim Pasha (spelled Margarethe Fehim Pascha on this German card) received a settlement of 5000 dollars from her ex-husband, resumed her act in the circus at an increase in salary of 500 percent, and was internationally famous overnight.
It was only a few years later, that as a result of the constant scandals reflecting on the sultan's court, caused by Fehim Pasha's undisguised corruption, crimes and acts of cruelty, that he was banished from Constantinople to a distant protectorate, and when he continued with the same behavior he'd engaged in while under his uncle's protection, he went too far one day, and was beaten to death by an enraged mob.
So, although her experience was undoubtedly terrifying and humiliating for the adventurous young lady, she was very fortunate that the marriage ended when it did, and without her coming to any serious harm.
We're presently hunting for further information on the life of this circus performer. At the time this photo was taken, WWI was already looming on the horizon, and that great conflagration was so destructive to so many lives that people in the headlines shortly before it broke out, were often untraceable by its end.
A beautiful portrait, with just the right amount of silvering to lend it a little magic, and recalling a very colorful footnote in circus history! Please examine our high res scans for detail.
The item you are considering for purchase is, unless otherwise noted, a vintage postcard of approximately 5 and 1/2, by 3 and 1/2 inches. Postage is for fully insured, first class, shipping in a secure photo mailer (to avoid any damage to your purchase in the mails), and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more. We do not charge for insurance or shipping materials, and as of the date of this listing are still charging below our overall cost on shipping.
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