Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-24
dduefester 9ailg SPY
Oriental Harems and Scenery.
From the Ernnch OF 4l,s n..i...... L., =.

tales; we have been told that it is the abode
OF love and beauty; we have authority for be-
heving that the written descriptions, though
exaggerated and embellished are vet based on
reality, and that it is in these mysterious re-
treats one is to find collected together all the
wonders OF luxury, art, magniticence, and
pleasure What a mistaken idea Imagine
blackened and cracked walls, wooden ceilings
split in various places, covered with dust and
cobwebs, torn and greasy sofas, ragged cur
tains, and everywhere traces of oil and can
dies. When l first entered one of these de-
ightful bowers it almost sckened me. The
mistresses of the place, however, did not per-
ceive it. Their persons are harmonious with
all this. Mirrors being scarce in the country
the women pile on clothes and tinsel hip-haz
ard, producing bizarre effect of which they
have no conception. Common printed cotton
handkerchief are wound around the head
and fastened with diamond and iewel-headed
pins, while nothing can be more slovenly than
their hair, the very great ladies who had lived
at the capital alone possessing combs.
As to the paint, which they apply immoder-
ately, both in variety of color and in quantity,
its distribution can only be regulated by mu-
tual consultation, and as all the women living
under one roof are so many rivals, they will
hngly encourage the most grotesque illumina-
ton of their respective faces. They apply
vermillion to the lips, red to the cheeks, nose,
forehead, and chin, white wherever a vacant
spot occurs, and blue around the eyes and
under the noses. What is yet more strange is
their manner of constructing eyebrows. They
have doubtless been told that to be beautiful
the eyebrow should form a great arch, and
from this they conclude that the arch must be
the more beautiful according to the width of
its span never inquiring if the place assigned
tn If had no hanO irrauOoohlxr b1y,
ture. Believing this, they allot all the space
between the two temples to eyebrows, and
paint thereon two immense bows, the root of
the nose and the temples on either side serv-
ing as piers for their support. Some eccen-
trio young beauties who prefer straight lines
to crooked ones trace one single ray direct
across the brow-but these instances are rare.
That which is undeniable, and at the same
time deplOrable, is the effect of this taste for
painting, combined with the incidence and
unceanliness common to oriental females.
Every woman's face is a complicated work of
art, which is not to be retouched every morn
ing. There is not one, daubed as they are
with orange color, even to hands and feet who
does not dread the application of water as an
injury to beauty. The crowd of children and
servants, especially negresses, who people
the harem, and the footing of equality upon
which mistresses and domestics live, are like
wise aggravating causes of the general filth.
l will not speak of children, for everybody
knows the manners and customs of these lit
tie creatures but let us imagine what would
become of our elegant furniture in Europe
should our cooks and chambermaids rest at
will on the couches and sofas of our saloons,
with their feet on our carpets and their backs
against our tapestries. To this must be ad-
ded the facts that the glazed sashes are still a
A.. Al, 1
with oiled paper, and that when this is not to
be found, they supply its place by discarding
windows altogether; they seem to be perfect
ly content with the light that penetrates down
the chimney, light amply sufficient for smok-
ing, eating, drinking. and t1ogging too rebel
iOuS children, which is about the sole and
daily occupation of these mortal houris of
faithful Mussulmans.
Let it be understood, however, that it is
ever very dark in these windowless apart
ments. The houses being but one story high
the stack of the chimney never rising higher
than the roof, and being very wide, it frequent
ly happens that by bending forward little
one can perceive the sky outside above the
aperture. What is utterly lacking in these
apartments is air the ladies, however, are far
from complaining of that. Naturally sensi-
tive to cold, and without the resource of Gre
ating heat by exercise, they remain squatted
on the ground before the fire for hours, who'll
ly ignorant that the fumes of the coal they
use sometimes suffocate them To recall on
ly these artificial caverns, encountered with
tattered women and ill-governed children,
almost deprives one of breath. From the bot
tom of my heart l felt grateful to the excel
lent Mufti of Tcherkess for his extraordinary
delicacy in thus sparng me from a forty eight
hours sojourn in his harem-and so much the
more because his was not one of those the
most tidily kept.
GEORGIAN AND CIRCAssIAN GIRLS.
Tall, vigorous and erect, a glowing complex
ion, masses of dark, lustrous hair, the forehead
high and full, the nose acquiline, immense
black eyes, vermillion lips, modelled like
those of Greek statues of the best period,
teeth like pearls, the chin well turned, per-
feet outline of tace-such is the Georgian
type. | sincerely admire the women of this
race but when L have INDUCED my admira-
ton. turn away and see them no more, for
am sure to find them when l have a DISPOSE
ton to look at them again, just as l left them,
without either a smile more or less, or the
slightest variation of feature in their physi-
ognomy. Let an infant be born or die, let her
lord adore or detest her, let her rival triumph
or be exiled, the Georgian's face is a blank.
do not know whether years affect or not any
change in this statue-like beauty, but its bril-
liant immobllity irritates me-
The Circassian type exhibits neither the
same merits nor the same defects. 1t is a
northern style of beauty, reminding one OF
the blonde and sentimental daughters of Ger
many; but the resemblance does not extend
beyond exterior forms. The Circassians are
for the most part blonde with charming
freshness of complexion; their eyes are blue,
gray or hazel, and though refined and pleas
ing, their features are not regular. Just in
proportion to the hauteuT and stupidity of the
Georgian, the Circassian is deceitful and
treacherous the latter is capable of betray-
ing her lord, the former of making him die Of
.ennui.
The toilet is the chief occupation of these
ladies. You find them at all hours dressed in
crimson Grape or sky-blue satin, their heads
covered with diamonds and their necks witt
necklaces, pendent earrings, clasps around
the waist, bracelets on their arms, and ankles
and rings on their fingers. Sometimes naked
feet are visible outside the crimson robe, anC
the hair is cut square above the brow, like
that of the man of our country.
THE LORD OF THE HAREM
When he enters there is immediate silence
one of his wives draws off his boots, another
puts on his slippers, another offers him
drrssing gown, and still another brings hi
pipe, coffee, or preserves. He alone enjoy
the right of speech, and when he deigns t.
address one of his consorts she bushes, lower
her eyelids, smiles, and replies in low voice
as if she were afraid Of dissolving charm