Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-19
"THE THING"
IS the Turks Call women. Asserting
Her Freedom
In Cyprus-No More slavery. Eunuchs
or Harems.

The Cyprus correspondent OF the New
York World writes that the Turkish women
| OF Nicosia are certainly beautiful and are
| very numerous, and although they were
| obliged 10 conform to Moslem regulations
| during the Turkish rule, they have kicked
| over the traces since tine British occupation.
| When Cyprus was Turkish the women were
| Turkish in every respect. They hardly ever
went out, and then only 20 the hamana, or bath,
| attended BY old women, servants and eunuchs,
| their faces covered with yasnldks so that
not even Turk should see them, far more a
Christian. Whenever they met man and
| before be could approach them, hey would
turn their faces to the wall and pull their
| teTetzes, or gowns, tightly over their heads,
while the attending servants and eunuchs
would call out to the stranger to make haste
and go his way so that their lady should pass
unmolesled. They never appeared at their
doors and their Windows were protected with
wooden crossbars 80 close together that,
although they could see into the street, no.
body could see Them Now, however, all is
changed. The Turkish woman, knowing
ihst che can more be punished by the re-
ligious authorities, whose power ceased the
day the British troops fret put foot in the
island, has openly thrown off the yoke and
claimed her independence, and with a VEN
geance too. Turkish husbands, fathers,
brothers and friends are frantic with despair
at the turn affairs have taken, and should a
Turk come here from any other part of Islam
he would not believe his own eyes, for this is
the very first time and place that "the thug"
az the faithful call the woman, has dared TO
act in direct opposition 10 all that is dear to
Mohammedans. Women belonging to the
hsrem can now be seen at all hours of the
day and night in the streets and on the RAM
parts of Nicosis, retaining their feretzes, bat
not covering their faces with yasnsoks-at
least the pretty ones do not-and an officer
friend of mine has discovered the way 10
find out In The distance If Turkish woman
is good looking not. II she IL pretty she
is sure TO go about with her face unveiled,
but should she know herself to be ugly che
Is certain 10 have her face closely
wrapped up, leaving The Giaours to Judge
of her looks by the fire of her eyes, which
are always uncovered, and as il is next 10
impossible to find Turkish woman without
superb eyes, the uninilisted will al first sight
think he has encountered hour. If, how
ever, the harem beauties would couteu;
themselves with eimply walking about with
uncovered faces, husbands and brothers
would not have much 10 complain Of but
unfortunately this is not all. They talk TO
the Christians and walk srm-in-arm with
English officers, and even with tue soldiers
They give coffee parties 10 which gentlemen
only, and the Giaours, are invited, and in
stead of receiving their visitors in the seian-
should be received, they receive them in
the harem quarters, and when their hus-
bands or other relatives come home they are
shocked with what thev hear and rush 10
the harem to find the door closed against
them and TO be told that they must have
made a mistake in coming to the sacred fe-
male entrance, as according 10 MussuIman
usages, which they 60 much love, their place
is in the seLdnlk. l saw them sitting at
81 a.r1 H.. .
Actually drinking. Fancy a drunken
Turkish womanl Surely the world is COM
ing 10 an end and Mohammed's wife Ayesha
must be turning him her coffin. Take
seat, sir" says the cafe1gi, or proprietor. 1
stare at him in dismay and feel certain that
l am in dream and squeeze the arm of the
friend who accompanies me, telling him it
must be dream. "Dream be blowedl'
says he; swat a minute" which he has
hardly said when a bsrrel-organ starts up |
"Orphee aux Eufers,n and the h1noums |
turkish womeD) dance-aciually dance
and not alone, but with Tommy Atkins, and |
Tommy Atkins of the lowest type. They |
the music, they know the dance; |
but what is this? The cancaul Is this the |
Mabille, abolished in Paris 10 be trans |
planted in Cyprus? By Alahi but this |
verify cannot be true. But say what will, |
and think what may, there they were, an |
there, / understand, they can be seen at |
any time. Every Turkish woman in the |
island is suing for divorce, which the hus-
bands are only too glad to grant, and if the |
Turks themselves ever expect to get wives or
a harem again they are Very much mistaken,
unless they search for them among the |
Christian population. / have lived in Mo- |
hammedan countries all my life, and this Is
he FIRST time l have met The emsncipsted |
Turkish woman, and after careful study OF |
he subject l have arrived at the conclusion |
hat the harem inmate is only waiting for |
,hance to put an end to harem life, and tina,
+ the British occupation OF Egypt continues
or any length OF time and the religious
authorities lose their hold on the female
good by 10 hsrems and through |
hem 10 eunuehs and TO slavery.