The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-20
MOVEMENTS OF OCEAN STEAMERS
LIFE OF WOMEN IN THE E,Cr

lhe following description, taken from a work
entitled the Egyptian Sepulchres and Syrian
Shrlnes," written by two sisters, the Misses Bean
fort, is interesting:
The gayest sight we saw was the Sweet Waters
OF Asia, to which Lady Bulwer kindly took ms. on
the great day OF the year-the Friday after X our
ban Bsiram. This is the summer HYDE Park "a
ConstantinopIe-the Sweet Waters of Europe be.
ing only in fashion during the winter season; there
Is no beauty IN the spot, that of few fine
trees, beneath whose shade the women sit the whole
uay: Ihe place was excessively crowded. and one
Couid not nave better opportunity of studying
Turkish women they did not seem to be ennr
mousiv unlike the pictures drawn of them by those
OF our modern poets, who describe them as fair
ana modest pearls; sitting like snowdrops enclosed
IN one OF w ARDS patent sealed cases. the damn
dews on the inside of the glass answering to the
Jatoustes through which the almond sbaped avrs
gIeam in half-veiled light
Here the gay Haunting flowers of the Bosph orine
na'eus were suing IN closely-packed mass upon
the greensward, under the shade of the oak and
the elm, the cOlOrs jumbled into each other Eka
the pattern of brilliant Partisan CARPET thrown
up upon groundwork OF their white wells almost
usZzng In Its confused brightness while the harsh
oird-ke, 'ceaseless chatter of the ladies' tonouas
was almost relered by the occasional CRY of snoiI
ed chlld or the squeak of a swaddled baby Each
group OF two or three women had their own mat
IreSs, goo"eh (ciay Jar) OF water, and embroi-
dered handkerchief, containing their comestibes
tor the day-chie1y raw cucumbers of which thew
eat from morning till highland most of them
We're smoking nargiehs. The richer ladies were
driving round and round the small meadow, seated
81 s2psshpg u ks
curtains drawn to conceal the inmates
Some OF the Sultan's family were there each lad
with a couple of slaves on the back seat of the
carriage, dressed as gaily, if net richly as her
self; many OF the slaves pe:ted up almost as
much as their mistresses, and their slavedom is
sometimes the extreme of luxury. Since the last
few years, the yasmak has ceased to be a "snare
and has become only ''deluson, ,"-once it CON
cealed the features of its carer now it only sets
of and enhances their beauty
Like the indistinct golden and vaporous fleece
Which surrounded and hid the Ceestials in Greece
From the glances of men,
the single fold of gOssamer gauze across the mouth
and chin acting far less iealousy on the fair faces
of the Constantinople ladies than the "voilettes
or the shady riding-hats of the ladies of our own
country.
There were some beauties among them, and some
OF those more remarkable for intelligence than the
Others, reminded me OF sweet gentle faces at home:
Dut tnese were few, for, in general, they looked
sadiy insane. And yet we were assured on the
nest authority that they do not now bt any means
lead the entirely vacant lives we are accustomed to
believe they do; there is scarcely hareem belong
ing to 20 erably rich person, where the ladies do
not read French and play on the piano-forte, be-
SIDES occupying themselves with many kinds of
embroidery, and some even sing and draw; one
Fashas wife was mentioned TO us who had lately
played the whole OF the "Trovatore' by heart to
our informant. But these accomplishments are all
learned from French governesses and femn,es de
chdmdre. with whom they literally supplied;
and with these accomplishments they learn also the
morals, or rather immorals of their teachers, who
are invariably very disreputable class.
"Progress' has indeed begun even in the Turk
ish hareems but it is the progress of vice only; for
merly, if they had not intelligence enough to be
useful and good, they at least in happy igno-
rance 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 own
liberty, they fancy that we must use that liberty
Tor only the same objects as they would; they can
conceive no other kind of restraint upon
than that of brick walls and strong locks, and they
long for the freedom which would enable them to
obtain the paradise of passing the whole day in
endless coquetry, flirting and admiration.