New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-05-26
Circassian Girls.

The following fine description Of Crcassan maidens
is from Mackes interesting Life Of Schamy recently
published by Boston house, Notwithstanding the
modest freedom Of manners which prevails among
them previous to marriage, they. become extremely
coy afterwards. They are not, however, less attec
tive to their personal appearance, and the failing o.
their maidenly beauty concealed much as posi-
BILE by attention to drapery Though females are a.
bought and sedn Circassa, there is no part Of the
world where they the object of more respectful or
chivarous treatment ~
The bride Of Schamyl must have been unlike her
countrywomen generally, if she was not handsome
y They are described by travellers
as of good height having slight and plant forms like
the birch among trees with complexion either fair or
olive, the old Greek cast of features, and eyes and
hair generally dark, though some writer's in describ-
ing them sing also of -,
The eyes blue dalance,
~ " And the golden hair.
On their heads, the girls wear a bonnet not unlike
the Albanian skuCap, of scarlet some other bril-
liant color and trimmed with lace of silver Beneath
this their hair falls down their shoulders in braids
which are confined at the end by silver cord or are
tied like the tresses of the Cossack girls with bright
ribbons that nearly sweep the ground. Sometimes,
also, these paits are gracefully confined in silk net,
work.
Over the shift is worn Jacket of some gay color,
and confined in front by silver clasps or it maybe
simply leathern corseet joined together by stitches
Is A skirt open in 'front.' and confined around
the waist by scarf grde falls sufficiently short
OF the ankles TO snow the WlQe Iurhlsu lroWSeEs
which are tied above them.
Close fitting morocco slippers cover the feet which
being kept scrupulousy clean as those of the Hin
doc women if not like theirs ornamented with rings
are in doors frequently left bare while out of the
house a kind of wooden clogs is used to avoid the
dirt. The slippers are sufficiently coquetish being
made of red or green morocco and Of size to admit
the foot only in part with small high heels, and dain
ty, pointed toes, slightly turned up.
The hands, which, as well as the feet, are small
haya In fin IpaH 0f q flow
of the balsaana, and are protected in the opeT
air by mttens. The natural colors OF the face, how
ever, are not generally heightened by the pencil
although the Circassan fair are partial to the bright
est tns in their apparel being thereto invited by the
gordeous lights of landscape filled with multitude
Of flowers, and in which the very rocks and SHOWS
burn morning and evening with hues scarcely les
brilliant and variegated.
some of the blood of the Amazons who anciently
bore the pharetra, and followed hunting in thest
mountains Her style Of dress, and measured gait
together with her sharing the martial sentiments o
the society in which she lives give her still something
of the port of DIANA and make her fit to be the war
rors BRIDE But at the same time she is not lacking
in the feminine grhces.
Dressed in brocade or in rags, the Circassan gir
is represented by travellers as n yer awkward, ant
never failing to assume spontaneously the most cas-
and natural, as well as the most dgnihed attitudes
Her manners have but little of the excessive reserv
afterward adopted when she becomes wife: But $
long as she is in the market for husband she allow
herself to be seen freely by all men whether WISHING
Or not to become purchasers. She goes abroad III
yelled dances with the other sex mingles fearessl
though without effrontery among the groups of men
kisses the hand of the stranger before seating hese
| on the diyan by his side; and though truly modes
and decorous in her department she yields her chez
almost without blush to the lips Of the warrior wht
returning from the slaughter of the enemy, feels Ell
titled to claim those favors which in less fortunat
lands can only be stolen by SWANS the most dext'
| rous, and whose stars aid them. s
| The Circassian girls are sparingy nonrished, say
an ancient writer, living mostly on milk, bread {
met and pastry Delicate in her food as she is nea
in her dress, growing up in the healthy air of tn
mountains, living in a society of simple tastes an
natural habits, always treated with gallant courtes
| by race of men whose hearts are mostly moved b
love Of war and of beauty, it is not strange tina
nature should have preserved through so many gent
rations something of the type Of loyeliness whic
adorned the world sage of gold, and which in moder
times has made the Caucasian head to be regarde
by civilized man as the truest image of his Maker.