Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-06-16

RoMAxcE o.. RRALiTY-7a6 ATabian WonaaE.
we have all heard and read. and some Of Us
sung, occasionally, Of the beauty and fair pro-
portions Of the daughters of "Arabys the bless
ed. = The following is from the pen Of the editor
Of the Utica On. - Hsrald, now travelling in
Egypt: !,
It's clear sha'n't lose my heart In Egypt. l
have been here now two months, and -haven't
seen a dozen pretty faces yet. The Arab WOMAN
as seen in the street, is the incarnation OF ogti-
ness II she is Young, her face IS sensual and
british IL she Is old, she Is ineliably, lndlscrio
ably hideous. With skin like tanned leather )
with face, hands and feet, tattooed Of q brown
blue color; with hOrFid brass pendants hanging
IKE chains from each ear, and sometimes ring
half as large round as a tea-cup, hanging from
the nose; with hands and feet and legs and bo-
soms bare budding amid mass Of rags scarce
sufficient to conceal the lOins ;-cOncetye you
can n more g-like spectacle. There she squalls
like a toad in the dust, beside her mud built hut
dandIing blear-eyed baby on her knees her
ogre-like face half hid behind a snout-like veil:
swaying her baby backwards aud forwards. ana
Inunbling some sing song jargOn to herself IN .
tone half way between 4 wall and howl. As
YOU approach, the snOut'like veil IS drawn closer
over the face, single british eye glOwers upon
you from behind the'mass OF rags, a dlry manu- !.
Is stretched imploringly forth, and the cry OF
.tBacksheesh HOwadiee, "nssailS your ear. You
drop few paraa into the extended palm, and
shuddefinQIy hurry away from the grim pres
ence Again: She stands upon the bank OF the
river. with huge Jar balanced upon the top OF
her head, a ragged blanket drawn diagonaily
over the tower half Of her face the feet and legs
bare, the S9ulless face lit up with stupid leeF-
a brnt, siarding on its mind legs
POnr wretthi She has sad enough time OF
il. From the cradle to the grave her life Is one
great degradation. There is no glenn of sunny
hope or dreamy fancy to light up the stern prose
of her being. She has no social status no rights
no destiny, hut to do and suffer. Her lord iooks
upon her as me does upon his OK aud his asA--
She IL bought with tie rest Of the furniture
bareained and disposed of like any common
chattel Her husband seOrns to consider her as
his companion. He never permits her ~ eat NJ
the same table with him, %, accompany MIN on
any excursion of pleasure, TO share hts eohh-
dence to direct or counsel ham in any manner.
If ne is rich he pampers heT5aS toy; II he Is
pOor. he makes her his slave 6ld his drudge
AS long as she pleaSes him, he SlOnOTs her with
the shelter of his home; the moment he tires Oh
her, he sends her adrift aud fills ger place by u
Younger and perchance lairer SpOtse. lie new
er inquiries Of his neighbOr for the health OF has
wife; and &c her name is ever whispered, 1t o. as
the ..euarded lady" or the concealed jewel."
Having no respect for her, he has no confidence
in her affections or her virtue. He guards her
as the tiger guards his prey. II Shs ottehds
against chastity, he cOolly resorts to tbs dagger
Cor the Nile He makes no fuss over the affair.
No blazing announcements Of startling devei-
npments" appears in the morning papers, no
gossining wiSeacres discuss the scandal; no ''ac-
ton for damages" relieves the dizziness of the
i.I.ong Tcrnls"-the frail beauty disGPPears and
no questions are asked.