Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1846-12-04
ACCOUNT OF A JEWISH WEDDING
EY MRS. POSTASS

With pleasure ! acquiesce in The propo
sal Of an American lady, TO accompany her
on wedding Wei, to the family Of fair
: 5ses;.-e,' ,hn laughter Of Bagdai mer-
chan, in the fort. Leaving our residence
for this purpose together, We threaded the
crowded aud narrow ways of portion OF
the populou. bazaars, until then unknown
10 me; and as the palkets neared each
other, and caught occasional gsimpses OF
my yelled companion, her gorgeous tiara,
and flashing jewels, the strange locality
and The novelty Of tie expedition bronsn:
the inimilable titles Of the Arabian Nights
strongly to remembrance and a'mos.
imagine myself attending the splendid
wife Of ilaroun al Raschid. through her
ancient city Of fabric Arrived at our
destination, we were introduced into
large upper apartment, where several tur-
baned infants lay sleeping OH Arab mats.
attended by Jewish women having small
chowres 10 protect their repose.
After short detention, distant door
opened, and The bride with her mother and
sisters, gave us a most courteous welcome.
As he appearance and attire of the young
er women nearly resembled each other,
shall con.en, myself with attempting TO
describe the person of the lady, for whom
our v,si, was mos; particularly intended.
The bride was certainly not more than
fourteen years OF age; yet, noiwi'hs'and-
ing ner extreme youth, Were was no lack
of feminine expression. i'll her fair and p'a-
cid counenance. Her eyes were hazel:
and her eof, features differed from the
common JEWS physiognomy, which how
ever handsome in youth, frequently ac'
ouires harsh dislincslveness at mature
age. |, is customary for the Jewish wo'
men to marry at an carly period and the
elder sister of the bride, girl about SIN
teen. was. | found, the mother of two O
the sleeping infants, who had frs! attract
ed my attention.
The costume Of the fair Jewess brough
to nv remembrance. yet, with 'ndliier
ence,' Mr.. Lanes admirable sketch OF tina
adop,ed by the dancing girls of Cairo. !
consisted of fine white muslin under
dress. plated in exquisiiely small fold
from The ,hroa, to the waist, and falling t
the embroidered yellow slippers. shroud
ed her pretty fee.. A satin 'unic OF ~
rinian purple, sloped away in the bosom
was clasped a. the wais! by single stud
the sleeves falling loose and open from ia
middle Of the arm; fringed with doubt
row of gold buttons. A shawl, OF the IN
es, loom of Cashmere, encircled the vast
and costly ornaments. worn alter the usu
al manner, encountered where they eouI
! no, adorn. 70 complete the costume.
/, small red velve, cap fitted closely TO tn
c head. bound round the brows with sea
: Of mos, vivid hues. and handkerchief q
: neudipe from il to the back. passed loose
5 ~ under the chin; very trying arrangs
4 ment even to the most lovely face WI
due exception to this single portion OF n
l. attire. all was tasteful and well arranged
), flowing and antique; fashion III The ca
is no, a mu,able goddess: consequent,
: its form " as probably the same Win ma,
n which the fair Esther, the advocate OF n
ut peoples rights, appeared before legal
)" the regal palace Of Shushan.
According to an eminensly dlshgur''