Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-26
Life of Women in the East.

The following description, taken from a
work entitled the Egyptian Sepulchers and
Syrian shrines, written by two sisters, the
Misses Beaufort, is interesting:
The gayest sight we saw was the Sweet
Waters of Asia, to which Lady Bulwer kind
ly took US, on the great day of the year-the
Friday after KOurbsn Bairam. This is the
summer Hyde park of COnstantinople-the
Sweet Waters of Europe being only in fash
ion during the winter season. There is no
beauty in the spot, save that of a few fine
trees, beneath whose shade the women sit
the whole day. The place was excessively
crowded, and one could not have better
opportunity OF studying Turkish women;
they did not seem to be enormously unlike
the pictures drawn of them by those of our
modern poets who describe them as fair and
mo est pearls, sitting like snOw-drops en-
clo-ed in one of Wards patent sealed cases,
the damp dews of the glass answering to the
Jealousies through which the almond shaped
eyes CLEAN in half-veiled light.
Here the gay t1aunting flowers of the Bos-
phorlne harems were sitting in a closely
packed mass upon the green sward, under
the shade OF the oak and elm, the colors
Jumbled into each other, like the pattern of
u brilliant Partisan carpet, thrown up upon
groundwork OF their white wells, almost
dazzling in its confused brightness, while
the harsh, bird like, ceaseless chatter of the
ladies' tongues, was almost relieved by the
occasional cry of spoiled child or the
squeal of a swaddled baby. Each group of
two or three women had their own mattress,
9ootteh (clay jar) of water, and an embroider-
ed handkerchief, containing their comestibles
for the day-chiefly raw cucumbers, of
which they eat from morning till highland
most of them were smoking nargilens. The
richer ladies were driving round and round
the small meadow seated in gilded painted
tetfsas, something like our royal State coach,
onl- two or three of which had curtains
drawn to conceal the inmates.
Some of the Sultan's family were there,
each lady with a couple of slaves on the
back seat of the carriage, dressed as gaily.
if not as richly, as herself; many of the
slaves are petted up almost as much as their
mistresses, and their slavedOm is Osmetimes
the extreme luxury. Since the last few years
the yasmak has ceased to be a "snare," and
has become only .'delusion''-ODce it con-
cealed the features of the wearer, now it only
sets off and enhances their beauty
''Like the indistnct, golden, and vapOrous fleece,
Which surrounded and hid the CeeStialS IN Greece
From the glanCes of men,
the single fold OF gosamer gauze across the
mouth and chin, acting far less jealousy on
the fair faces of the Cnnstantinople ladies'
than the ''violettes" or the shady riding hats
of our own country.
There were some beauties among them, and
some of those were remarkable for IntellI-
gence more than others, reminded me OF
sweet, gentle faces at home; but these were
few, for, in general, they look sadly Insane.
And yet we were assured on the best author
ity that they do not now by any means lead
the entirely vacant lives they are accustom-
ed to believe they do; there is scarcely ha-
rem belonging to tolerable rich person,
where the ladies do not read French and play
on the piano forte, besides occupying them
selves with many kinds of embroidery, aud
some even sing and draw; one pasha's vile
was mentioned to us who had lately played
the whole "Trovatore" by heart to our in-
formant. But these accomplishments are all
learned from French governesSes and feHaes
de chap,bre, with whom they are literally sup
piled; and with these accomplishments they
learn the morals, Or rather Numerals, OF their
teachers, who are invariably very disrepu-
table class.
Progress" has indeed began even in the
Turkish harems, but is the progress of vice
| oaiy; formerly, if they had not intelligence
| enough to be useful and good, they were in
happy ignorance of many of the vices TO
which they are now addicted. Perhaps the
sight of European women does them more
harm than good, for when they see Us going
and coming and rejoicing in our liberty,
they fancy that we must use that liberty Tor
only the same objects they would; they can
conceive OF no other kind OF restraint upon
ourselves than that of brick walls and strong
locks, aud they long for the freedom which
could enable them TO obtain the paradise oil
passing the whole day in endless coquetry,
flirting and admiration.