Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-11-23
PERSIAN LADIES.

The dress of Persian lady:consists of
pail Of immensely wide trousers, like. a
couple of petticoats tackled together, made
Of elk or cotton, and fastening round the
middle by a runhing string-a very short
chemise' Of gaiize, reaching only to the
waist-a jacket reaching to the hips, hav.
ings open sleeves, which may be buttoned
close if required-a small sk6ll-cap on the
head-and sometimes handkerchief
thrown over the head and descending to
the shoulders and back. a variety Of
ornaments are worn but not in the profu-
sion which Indian women are partial .sto !;
these consist of rings. bracelets, necklaces,
and earrings of different sorts; and usu
ally All aigrette springing from band en-.
circllng the head. Their hair is arranged
in large side-locks, and long plated tress-
es hanging down behind. They paint
their eyelids Mt the edges 8ith kind of
collyrium, made Of ore of antimony; and
smear the eye brows with kind Of black
paint.
The life led by the Persian ladies IS list
less and indolent, and to any civilized
woman would be insipid to degree
Their duties consist in the superintend. I.
ence of household affairs and the atten;l--
ance TO the care Of their children and
their amusements consist IN visiting their
female aeanaintances, and receiving their
visits inSTeturn; witnessing the perior>
nance Of female dancers, singers and sto
ry.tellers; playing in the gardens of their
houses, riding in their takhteriuan ,, or
horse litters, smoking, or eating sweet
meats. Their visit the public baths on
certain days Of the week when men do
not 60 thi:her; and perhaps their greatest
enjoyment is to meet atthese resoIts, to
bathe together. smoke and talk scandal
The eyes Of Persian beauty should
be like those of an antelope, large and
dark; her eyebrows rather close together
and nearlysresembling in shape an unbent
bow; her figure should be erect, tall, and
stately as the ''cypress tree;" for Persians
hate "dumpy woman" as much as Lord
Byron did.
Europeaps are mistaken in entertaining
the general notion that Oriental wives nre
mere slaves or pieces Of furniture that
they are i'll treated by their liege lords :
cooped up in prison-like larems, and de.
MED every luxury and enjoyment. On
the contrary, the husband is usually very
indulgentato his wife; consults and takes
her advice on matters of evetS description,
and is not unIrequently completely ruled
by her; for, no doubt, the oble arts of
henpecking. coaxing and worrying, are
fully as we'll understood, and as often
practiced, by ladies in this country, as by
their fair sisters. in any quarter of the
globe. Out ofsdoors the lady enjoys
most unlimited liberty. She may attend
the baths and mosques, at times when the
men are not there. whenever she pleases;
she may e. and visit her parents and fe.
male acquaintances, staying at their houses
for some days if she choosessswithout Civ.
ing her husband any previous warning OF
her Intentions; and she may have her
own visitors At home, and entertain them,
in any way she likes, while her better
half cannotinterfere or even. show him
sell.
In. point of education, women. of this
country are very far behind tlidse,ef: civ
ifIzed lands; but It is mistake to sup>
pose that none ofsthem can read or write,
for many can doBoth. They are mostly
terrible intri3dktei, and having no small
share OF evil passions, pride, and ambition,
they incite their lords. to every kind of
mischief, but rarely exert any really bene.
fetal sway over them. That the most
creditable and honorable qualities of men
are greatly promot. and :fostered 10y the
humanizing influence which wel.edusa>
ted women maintain in society--as exem
phfed IN Christian .lands--is All arGn.
ment which Persian has not learned to
comprehend or appreciate.
- -
DoBns' FtRsr .Mor1oN.' .'-Dobbs during
l'is first session asa member; of the Legis-
tature,wasscaught without aT.peecb. He
was remarkable for, ,his modesty, and lis
| thirst for red eye.'