The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-05-30

SiouuJ ouu eASeeuluSJ lull, 10 dlio
the wearers to fold it well in front.
is composed of a species ofsworsted sta
generally of the brightest and gayc
colors, the favorite ones being sky blu
orange and crimson. The wealthy we,
them of very fine cloth or satin, usual
edged with broad and expensive lace
The yashmac consists of loug piece
fine white muslin, one end of which is S
bound around the head as to cover it Q
low as the eyebrows, while tho other
brought across the face, effctually cor
cealing every feature except tho eye:
then wound about the neck is finally los
beneath the folds of the feredji Durin
winter small shawls are placed unde
it upon the head to protect it from th
cold. That worn by the rich and prett,
is composed of such exceedingly fin
muslin, brought from the island of Cos
that it resembles gossamer thrown
across the face. The feet are covered
with buskins of yellow morocco, protect
ed by slippers made of the same materi
al. Gloves are never worn, but tn,
hands are folded in front to display t.
advantage the Ehiena-dyed fingers, GOV
cred with the most expensive rings
The Armenian women, especially
those belonging to the Orthodox church
very but little in appearance from the
Turkish. They have been compelled
however, in order to display them, to Sc.
lect dull and sombre colors for their fer.
edits, and black morocco for their bus
kins and slippers, while the yashmac i,
SO arranged as not to conceal the nose.
No dress could have been invented
better to satisfy the eye ofjealousy, as
the most deformed and symmetrical
look alike; yet none more suitable for
the purpose of intrigue, for so complete
ly is the face and & cure concealed that
enc might follow his own wife { ifhe had
one) without being aware of the fact
1t is indeed curious sight to see sew
eral thousands of these figures sliding
along, for they seldom lift. the slipper
from the ground.
The bazars and the baths are the ter
restrial paradises Of the Turkish women,
to. visit which is one of their great pleas
ures and privileges. They but seldom
go alone; the inmates of the same
harem usually walk together, accompa-
MED by eunuch, Whenever the master
can afford to keep one. 1t is here they
carry on their h:rtations, using only the
language of the eyes. The young and
pretty unfrequently manage to suffer
the lower part of the yashmac accident
ly to fall to display fne mouth or a
well-turned chin, or constantly arrang-
ing it whenever the hand is well shaped,
delicately dyed with henna, or covered
with costly rings. So important do they
deem the right of frequcnting the bazars,
that is not unfrcquently becomes the
subject of an article in their marriage
contract, drawn up before the Cadi to
violate which would be a cause for di-
vorce. .s --.
Perhaps there is no country where
the silken cords OF matrimony bind SO
loosely, or where divorces are more east
ly or frequently ob'ninod than in Tur-
key. Scarcely any reason need be as
signed, it being onl.; requisite for the
husband to appear before the Cadi and
publicly repudiate his wife, and it is
doubtless chiefly owing to this that wo-
man are placed in SO low a scale. Mar
riage, according to the Koran, being a
VOW ordained by Heaven, from which
none should be exempt, it is, therefore,
the great desire and aim, not only of
the woman herself, but also of her friends
and relatives, to obtain for her q hus-
band, it matters not for what time, and
consequently an " old maid" sometimes
seen in America, is but seldom met
with in Turkey. There is also species
of marriage tolerated here unknown in
Christian countries, called a mataah for
a certain period. The person wishing
to go into it goes before the Cadi and
agrees to take wife for specified time,
paying a certain amount OF money, at
the end of T. hich they can separate or
have the agreement renewed. 1t is not
then to be wondered at that where mar
riages arc so lightly made aud so easily
that not being permitted to
visit the bazars should be sufficient
cause for divorce.
Though my stay in Italy had some
what accustomed me to the vivacious
manner in which the Italia1s conducted
their business affairs, still was not pre-
pared for the great display of violence
the Leyantines make in managing theirs.
Every bargain is battle, and the as
teuished visitor looks on aghast, expect
ing every moment to see, ifnot broken
head, At least knock down. 1t is re-
ally amusing to witness the making of a
bargain. The goods displayed in small
booths in front of which on large plat
forms are squattsd the different proprie-
tors, doing nothing moro profitable than
gazing at vacancy aud smoking elibo-
Iue. lazily turning to procure the de-
sired article which the purchaser points
put. One would imagine, from the quiet
nanner in which the nreliminaries were