Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1869-03-24
TURKISH WoMEN--THEIR CUSTOMS,
TRAITS, AND DHABITS--THEB BATH
AND RAREM

Proctor, Is the drading position of the wo
men. The lower classes wear out thei
lives III the most menial drudgery in pro
portion as they rise in scale of rank anC
and beauty lbearty makes rank here the,
are petted and carressed, but are guarded
with the most jealous care. Any woman il
the Sultan dominions, no matter what hel
birth and circumstances, may aspire to be
come an inmate of his harem, provided she
has the requisite perfection of face and fig
ure and what is yet stranger, after re
naming there for time, she may antici
pate being given in recognized marriage tC
some of his chief officers Yet there is nc
respect for a woman because of her nature,
able only so far as she contributes to the
pleasure of man and, in all stations, what
ever influence she has, is due to her fleet
ing personal charms Alas for one who
has n6 enchantments of face or charm
According to Moslem creed her heritage is
doubtful, even in the world to come
Tt is a mistake to suppose that Moham-
medan women never go abroad. You
meet them in every street and bazaar, but
always yelled according to the peculiar fash
ion of the place they inhabit, and watched
and attended just in proportion as they are
valued SO that the more restricted they are,
the more complimented they feel Their
indoor dress is everywhere much the same
loose, full trowsers, confined Mt the ankle, a
flowing robe, with girdle about the waist,
the jewels proportioned to the wealth of the
wearer--a style much more graceful and
desirable than many modes which Paris
dictates.
At Cairo, the women Of the better classes
wear usually in the streets black silk man
tie, which envelops them from head to foot,
and thick veil which entirely conceals the
face, except the eyes. The dress of the
poor is similar, but the material is coarse
blue cotton Hundreds of women of this
latter class in Cairo, sit all day upon the
ground with little pile of bread, or fruit,
or Vegetables by their side for sale, and
through all the oppressive heat never lift
their wells, considering it a disgrace which
ouly the lowest will incur, to have their
faces exposed 10 view, while at the same
time, perhaps, neck and bosom are wholly
bare.
The young girls at eight or nine years OF
age assume this viel, In Damascus thin
bright figured handkerchief of silk or cot
ton is drawn over the face and fastened be-
hind The shrouding mantle here is of
white cloth sometimes embroidered muslin;
and with the wealthy, of those rich silk fab
rics for which Damascus is renowned. No
where except in sea-shell and SUNSET skies,
have I seen such tints as there-yellow
pinlls, rosy puppies, orange blues, crimson
green,- maroon browns, all shot through
with gold and silver threads, blending
that plcases and yet bewilders the eye. The
native dyer5 of Cashmere boast of having
more than forty distinct and peculiar hues.
| think there can not be no less Mt Damas-
Gus. In Constantinople the veil gives place
to the yachman, scarf of the finest and
most delicate white muslin which is folded
across the head and face, leaving the eyes
md part OF the forhead' uncovered, and
pinned or gathered into knot at the back.
Nothing could be more becoming than
this gauzy muslin, giving a transparent
look to the complexion, enhancing the
brillancy of the soft black or brown eyes
which glance between its folds, and only
half hiding the luxuriant hair. l noticed
that the prettier the women, the thinner was
it's texture and there were some blooming
faces to which it was only such drapery as
The moss is to the rosebud. Often it is
caught back with pearl headpins, while
pearls hung in the ears, or cleaned
in bandeau along the brow. The outer
the feridiee, is more graceful in
shape than those worn elsewhere, and falls
from the shoulders like cloak or shawl.
It's common material is merino or poplin,
Of n plain, light color-gray, fawn, lilac,
maize, and sometime crimson or green.
Rings set with tlrquoises and diamonds,
sparkled upon the flgers but gloves and
black shoes are rarely seen, the slippered
feet being incased for walking in loose
boots of red or yellow morocco.
There is for me all irresistible charm in
the Eastern countenance and manner. The
people of the West throw themselves into
life as if they feared the present were all
the Orientals take it as but single phase
of existence. They are in league with fate,
and carry in their faces the serenity akin
to sadness Of those to whom all events are
alike welcomer. l have no desire to see
the Asiatic tribes crushed and driven out
before the advance of Europe. They
spring from earth's primeval inhabitants in
her first occupied lands. Many Of their
customs and modes of thought date back to
the infancy of the race. They have sonse
elements Of character grander than ours,
and they need only to be developed and en-
Hghtened in order to add immmnsely to the
riches of civilization. 1t is part of the
West to seek to win them to purer faith
and nobler worship, and to show them
that they cannot reach their best estate I'M
til through all their realms, women is eleva-
ted in the social scale, and made what she
was meaRs to be-the equal and companion