The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-07-17
JEWISH FEMALES.
DY MISS PARDnR.

Never, during my residence in the East had
Hooked on any costume which oquaed in rich
ness, and, their head dresses excepted. in ele-
gance, the dress OF these Jewish females. II
was scene Of The Arabian Nights in action
and for few moments was lost in admiration.
The mistress of the house stood Immediately in
front of the sofa on which we were seated: she
was tall stately woman, who looked not as
though ste belonged to o bowed and rejected
race: she had the eagle eye, the prominent nose,
and the high pale forehead of her nation, with
a glance as fiery as it was keen.
Such as have described her, she was at,ired
in full dress Of white silk, confined little be-
low the waist by broad grdle oc wrought
gold. clasped with gems; both the girdIe and the
clasps being between FIVE and six inches in
width. Above this robe she wore pelisse of
dove-colored cachemere, lined and overlaid
with the most costly sables, and worth several
hundred pounds; the sleeves wore large and
loose, and fell back, to reveal the magnificent
bracelets which encircled her arms, and the Jew
elled rings that flashed upon her fingers. Her
turban, Of the usual enormous size worn BY all
Jewish women, was formed ofthe painted hand
keTchief of the country, but so covered with
gems that its pattern was undistinguishable
while, from beneath it, deep fringe of pearls,
dropped with emeralds of immense size and
value, fell over her brow, down each side of
her face, and ultimately upon her shoulders.
Behind her were grouped her three daughters
in-law. in dresses nearly similar, save that. not
being widows, they did not wear the heavy PEI
lsse; and that the gold and pearl embroidered
sleeves and bosoms Of their silken robes were
consequently visible. The prcttest woman of
the party was her own and only daughter, who
had beer sommoned from the haOue of her hus-
band on the previous day, to welcome the re-
turn of her younger brother from Europe, where
he had passed FIVE years. She was nearly four
teen, with an expression half pensive and hall
playful; something which seemed 10 indicate
that her nature was too sad for smiles, and too
gay for tears; as though the young bright spirit
had been chilled and wlthered ere it had fell its
freshness, and that it still struggled to free itsel
from the thrall.
Her dress was gorgeous; the costly garniture
of gold and jewels, which almost made her bod
y appear TO be one mass Of light, was continued
to the knee of her tunic, where It parted to iorn
deep hem, that entirely surrounded the skir
Of the garment. The jewelled fringe of he
turban was supported on either temple by larg'
Ispray OF briLllants, and fell upon a border o
black floss silk, that rested on her fair yoIn,
brow. Her arms were as white as snow, ant
seemed almost as dazzling as the gems whicl
bound them, while her slender waist was com.
pressed by golden grdle similar IN fashion
but richer in design, than Of her mother.
In their girthood. the Jewish females TAX
great pride in the adnrnment of their hair, bu
from the moment of their marriage il is scrup
nlousy hidden, so scrupulousy, indeed, tha
they wear a second handkerchief attached to tn
turban behind, which falls 10 the ground in or.
der TO conceal the roots of the hair that the tur
ban may fail to cover.
A sweet little girl Of about nine years of age
the affianced wife of one of the brothers, wa
introduced, in order to show me the difference
of head.dress, and assurediy her coifflre was
most elaborate affair. She must have worn, q
least fifty braids, each secured at the end by
!! knot of pearls and ribbon, while her little chul
by hands were literally covered with jewelIet
rings, and her feet, like those Of the elder fe
males, simply thrust into richly embroidered
slippers.
The courtesy and hospitality of the who'll
family were extreme. They appeared delighted
at the unusual circumstance of receiving Chri
tians, who appreciated their kindly intentions
and when promised, in compliance with lhei
earnest request, that would repeat my visit,
had no intention to fail in the pledge.