The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-05
GREErS NOMEN.

Much has been said in praise of Grtciau
beauty and the men ace handsome in every
sense of the word: we might well imagine
them TO have been the models OF Phidias
and Praxiteles. Their large eyes, black "
jet, sparkle with gIances of fire, while the
long silky eyelasheS soften the expression
and give dreamy appearance of mslau.
choly. Their teeth are small, white and
well-set; fine, regular profile, pale olive
complexion, and tall, elegant figure, real
ize an accomplished type of distinction. As
to the women, they seem to hayo left physi-
cal perfection to the men. Some possess
fine hair and eyes, but Us a rule they have
bad figures, and some defect in the face
generally spoils the good features. 1t is
among them, however, that the old Orien-
tai customs are most strictly preserved; /;
While the men are gradually undergoing the
process of civilization, they in moral point
OF view remain stationary and are just
where they were fifty years ago:
1t may indeed be said that, with the ex-
ception Of Athens, the women possess no
individual existence, and count as nothing
in society; the men have reserved every
privilege for themselves, leaving to their
helpmates the care Of the house and family.
In the towns, where servants are kept, they
are of the poorest class of peasants who
know nothing, and receive miserable wages.
The families are generally large; seven or
eight little children demand mothers con-
stant attention. The morning begins by
directing the work Of each servant, repeat
ing the same thing hundred times, scold-
ing. screaming, even beating them, to be
understood. In the evening, when the
children are sleeping. if there remains some
little time, the poor worn-out mother sits
down to her spinning wheel to spin silk, to
sew or knit, or if it be in summer, to look
after her silk worms and cocoons, happy If
she has not to do the work of her inoompe-
tent servants over again.
Such days leave little time for pleasure or
the instruction of their children; indeed,
they never think Of that. The children are
left completely to themselves, running over
the house in state of nature, wallowing in
the mud, among the stones, or in the water,
not fearing the hot rays of the sun, and
soon learning to walk without leading
strings. Happy for the mother when her
young ones reach ths age of seven; they are
then sent to the parish school, which is now
established in every town and village. II
might well be imagined that some women
would absolutely refuse such an existence,
but not one seems to harbor the thought.
Illusion soon vanishes after marriage; but
they learn TO live as their mothers did--for
their husband, their children, or the riches
of the house, leading hard, monotonous
existence, but free from all blame. The
grandmothers are the only persons who can
rest; they live in their son-in-law's house.
and eat, chatter, or frighten their grand
children with comic grimaees and remon-
strances, counting out one by one the per-
fulned balls of the oomboio, or chaplet.
Their presence is accepted with indifference
as duty and when they die, the tranquil
philosophy of the national character soon
consoles the mOurners,