Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-01
Ladies' Party i'm Persia.

bad been invited by the wife Of the
chief banker Of Shiraz to spend day
with Ler and party Of ladies ut q vii
lage about five miles from the city -.
l was conducted into the presence
of my hostess. and, after u grand cere.
mony Of bowling and endless fiowery
speeches. We all sat down on very soft
cushions, embroidered with gold
thread tsuch Il thing as chair was not
to be seem. After a little CONVERSE
ton. cloth was spread on the carpets,
and dishes nt.ining all the varieties
Of sweets for which the country is
famous were arranged in loug rows. l
may mention rhubarb was cut 10 thin
slices and eaten with salt quite raw.
Melonseeds. salted, were also very
plentiful, and pistachio nuts were
str,wu ever most dishes. Several sorts
OF sherbert, with Jumps OF snow, we're
handel around, aud ut intervals the
kalian, or water pipe, made its appear
uIce, aud the ladies' took frequent
draws at it. The guests. having eaten
as many of the sweets as they felt in.
clined. carefully tied up some more in
small cloth, ready for eating from
time to time. We then entered in a
very lively conversation, chiefly con-
sisting in my answering the numerous
questions as to my dress, the cost of it,
the way my husband treated me, what
money had, etc. One elderly lady
advised me when wanted new dress
t, wait until my husband came in for
his dinner, and then ask for it. II not
granted, to scream aud cry until the
hungry man gave permission. This is,
l believe, what many OF them do; but
l fancy it has not always the desired
effect. They questioned me very close
ly as to the mode of punishment
adopted by husbands to their wives;
they, most of them, had had very init.
mate relations with a stick, and hardly
belit we'd my denial that my case Was
not 50. Another lady expressed great
surprise vt my being able to re I'd and
write Persian. She wondered what use
it could possibly be to woman, as the
pay ment Of small sum to a scribe
would get letter far better written.
| said: But suppose you should want
to write something you did not wish
every one to hear about?" This she
thought was not likely. as everything
is openly discussed before servants,
and by them carried to the bazaars.
The entrance of Jew ami his son
playing on the guitar interrupted our
chat, and VT listened for an hour to
some OF the o,les Of II Az, after which
collection was made, and the liberali-
ty or stinginess of each freely COM
msntel upon. Our hostess wore
bright-red satin skirt, richly embroid
cred with gold lace; it was very full
aud short, barely reaching to her
knees; Il loose jacket of blue velvet,
also much trinmed-this time with sil
yer lace; the sleeves were made OF
twenty small steel buttons. She wore
several neck laces, most of them very
massive. aud studded with fine tur-
unoises On her head she wore white
shawl, with band Of jewels around
her forhead, and ut one side q large
pearl star. She had on both arms ut
least o dozen bracelets-some hand
some ones, some only bands Of colored
glass. Her feet were covered with
coarse white socks; her shoes green
leather, with scarlet heels. Some of
the Indies wore bright red trousers,
reaching to the ankle; but this was
quite the exception. ~2hoy wtsr long
veil, reaching from head to foot, gen.
orally made of some smart print or
muslin. ought to mention that every
lady wore a small leather case round
her neck, containing some earth from
Mecca and verses from the Koran.
The faces of my hostess and friends
were much decorated, the eyebr ows
broadened and carried quite across the
nose. Some had small designs tattooed
on the cheeks. The hair is very long
and thick, generally dyed red; it is
worn plated. in many thin tails,
twisted with gold thread. The hands
are wellshaped, but nails and palms
are stain ed dark red.