The Placer herald., 1863-10-03
The Women of Turkey.

lue TeCenI lecture on lno wv omen OF
Turkey" at the Cooper Institute, by Mr..
Oscanyan, was more entertaining and sue
cessful than any he had previously delivered.
Among the audience we noticed MANY dis,
tinguished citizens and eminent divines,
with their families. The platform was clear.
ed and the usual array Of chairs, evidently
to make room for the living illustrations,
and was occupied only by Judge DAILY, the
Hon. William B. Maclay, and DR.. Prime, Of
the Observer. DR.. Prime, who has travelled
extensively in the East, introduced Mr. Os-
canyan in a most fatterng and extensive
manner, assuring the audience that this ect-
ure was repeated for the third time at the
special request Of several gentlemen who
highly appreciated it, and that the des-
crlptons were very graphic, and the illustra'
tons true to life.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
After explaining the rationale of social
life in the East Mr.. Oscanyan described the
appearance of the Oriental ladies, both at
home and abroad, their habits, manners, etc
There being no bells in Turkish houses to
summon servants, Mr.. Oscanyan, according
to usage, clapped his hands, and one Of the
sable attendants of the ladies Immediately
appeared in Turkish livery, wearing sword,
as is customary. Upon receiving the order
to conduct the Hannum, the "BIack Prince"
with a respectful saIaam, disappeared, and
soon returned, entirely ecHpsed by moon
faced houri from Allah sent As she slowly
advanced to the front of the platform the
applause of the audience was unbounded 1t
is impossible to convey in words an idea of
the tout ensemble Of this beautiful apparition.
She might have been taken for the Queen of
Night, in her azure robes, gittering with
silvery stars and crescents. Her headdress
was very peculiar, and seemed to be COM
posed Of rose-colored tissue edged with sill
yer, adorned with beautiful parture of brill
iants and bird of paradise. Her stately
bearing, genuine Oriental salutation to the
audience, and the whole contour of her toilet
were entirely different from the travesties we
see upon the stage.
DRESSES OF THE LADIES.
The next lady introduced was in outdoor
costume which consisted of vail of Cos
samer texture, very gracefully arranged over
a beautiful headdress. This delicate vail
did not disguise the features but only en
HANGED their beauty; and the whole person
was enveloped in an ample cloak, beneath
which pointed yellow slippers. There was
another lady, in Egyptian costume, whose
whole head and figure were enveloped in An
thick silk drapery, only allow.
ing their eyes to be visible. Also Druse
lady of Syria, whose charms were concealed
by an immense covering of thick white mus
lin, elevated at least half yard above the
head by an arrangement called the horn,
which is often mentioned in Scriptural his
tory. This lady was exceedingly chary of
her charms, for she allowed us TO see only one
of her eyes.
THE VAILED LADIES.
These three walls were all Mehommedan-
one near the court, and the others more re-
vote; the one illustrated the assimilation to
European customs which is gradually usurp-
ing those old ideas of which the other two
were types The modern elasticity of the
Koran on this popularity of Oriental life
was almost demonstrated.
Al Oriental Christians as well as the
Mussulmans have always adopted the use of
the vail; and the only women who are ex-
ceptions are the Jewish, of whom we had
also an example. She wore an immense
mummy head-dress, and appeared to have no
hair on her head. The whole group of those
figures on the platform presented most eff
fective Oriental tableau There were two
others-a colored nurse, with her charms
scrupulousy y vailed, carrying baby in swad
ding clothes; and the last and most mysteri
Gus appariton was figure completely COW
cred with an immense cashmere shawl with
a crown of diamonds, from which hung long
threads of gold. This was an Oriental
bride.
THE EXHIBITOR APPRECIATED.
These illustrations, which were in every
respect admirable, elected frequent bursts Of
applause; and the whole lecture, which was
interspersed with amusement and instruct
ion, was listened to with great interest. 1t
made real much that has seemed mythical
in Biblical history, was suggestive to the
artist, and familarized us all with Asatic
and peoples. In a word, this
lecture was both novel and characteristic in
its style.
Miss Coboe, in an article on "'Ihe Humor
of Various Nations" in the July number of
the Victoria Magazine, at London, tells the
following story of an Irish definition of
,,;r.oIo. GA nriast in ireland havinU ppearh-