The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-24
Life Of Women in the East.

The following description, taken from a
work entitled the Egyptian Sepuichres and
syrian Shrines," write by two sisters. the
Misses Beaufort. is interesting
The gayest sight we saw was the Sweet
Waters of Asia, to which Lady Bulwer
xindIy took us, on the great day of the year
he Friday after kourban Bairam This Is
he summer Hyde Park Of Constan tinople-
he Sweet Waters of Europe being only ia
fashion 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 exc assively
gro wded, and one could not have b.tter op-
uortunity OF studying Turkish women; they
lid not seem to be enormously unlike the pic.
lures drawn OF them by those of our modern
poets, who de cribe them rs fair and modest
pearls, sitting like snowdrops enclosed in one
IN Wards patent sealed lSes, the damp dews
Jealouses through which the almond sna pc d
eyes CLEAN in half-yailed light.
Here the gay ftannting flowers Of the Ros-
phorine naIems were sitting in n closely
packsd mass EpOD the greensward. under the
shade of the oak and the elm, the colOrs jun
bled into each other, like the pattern If n
brilliant Partisan carpet, thrown up upon
L ground work of their white wells, almosI
he Zzling in its confused brightness, while the
marsh, bird-like, cease1eSs Chatter Of the /.
lies tongues was almost relieved b. the oc-
casional cry OF a spoiled chiiA or the squeak
IF a swaddled baby. Each group of two or
three women had their own mattress, Q00iteh
CLAY jar of water, and an embroidered hand
.erchief, con taining their comes tibas for the
iay-chlehy raw cucumbers, Of which they
eat from morning till Highland most OF
them were smoking naISilens. The richer Ia
dies were driving round aud roUnd the small
meadow, ted in gildcd and paint ted teIegas
some thing like our royal state coach, only TWO
OF three of which had curtains drawn TO = en-
Ceal the inmates.
Some OF the :Sultan's family were there
each lady With couple OF slaves on the bach
seat OF the carriage, dressed as gaiiy, If not rs
richly, as herself many of the slaves are
petted mp almost as much as their mistress SEES
and theiI siavedom is sometimes the extreme
OF luxury, Since the last few wears, the
yasmak has ceased to be a g. SNARE" and has
become only q " de uslon'-once il concealed
The features OF Its wearer, now it. only sets Oft
and enhances their beauty
Like the iDdtstinct, golden aud vaparous heese
Which snrron1ded and hid the LeleetiaIs In
Greece,
From the giances OF men,
the single fold OF gossamer gauza across the
mouth and chin acting lar less lsalously on
the fair faces of the Constantiuople ladies
man the 50 violettes," or the shady riding hats
of the ladies OF our own country.
There were some beauties among Them and
some OF those more remarkable tor III tell
grnce than the others, remlnded me of sweet
gentle faces at home but these were few, for,
IN general, they looked sadly insane. And ye t
we Wera assured on the best authority that
they 40 not now ny any means lead the entire
they do there rs scarcely a harem belonging
to & tolerabiY rich person, where the ladies' do
not read French ana play on the piano forte,
besides occupying themselves with many
Kinds of embroidery, and some even Sing ana
draw ope Pasha's wife was men toned 10 us
who had lately played the whole of the
"IroVatore" By heart To our informant. But
these accomplishments are all learned from
French SCYernesses and JemnsS de cbambre,
with whom they are literally supplied and
with these accomplishments they learn a SO
the morals, or rather mn erals, or their teach
ers, who are invaribly very disreputabie
class.
'trogress' has indeed begun even Ill the
Turkish hGrains, but II is the progress OF vice
only formerly, il they had not Intelligence
enough TO be useful and good, they were al
least IA happy lgnorance OF many of the vices
10 which taeY are now addicted. Perhaps the
sight of European women does them more
harm t1an god : tor when they see US going
and coming ard rejoicing i'll our own liberty,
taey fancy that We must use that HoerGy Tor
only the same objects as they would they
can conceive no oJner kind Of restraint upon
oursely yes than thai Of brick walls aad strong
locks, AID theV long for the freedom which
would enable them TO Obta,n the paradise OF
passing the whole day in endless cCquetry,
hLrtlng and admiration.