Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-12-13
Turkish w omen.

Nicosia, the capital, Is undoubtedly the
town containing larger portion of Turks
than any other part of Cyprus The Tur-
kish women there are certainly beautiful,
and are very numerous, and although they
were obliged to conform to Moslem regu-
latIons during the Turkish rule they have
kicked over the traces since the British
occupation. When Cyprus was Turkish,
the women were Turkish in every respect.
They hardly ever went out. and then only
to the hamam, or bath, attended by old
women, servants and eunuchs, their faces
covered with yssmasks so that not even S
Turk should see them, tar more Christ
Ian. Whenever they met man and be-
fore he could approach them, they would
turn their faces to the wall and pull their
feretzes, or gowns, tightly over their heads
while the attending servants and eunuchs
would call cut TO the stranger 20 make
haste and 90 his way so that their ''lady"
should pass uDmolested. They never ap-
peared at their doors, and their windows
were protected with wooden crossbars so
close together thst, although they could
see INTO the street, nobody could see them.
Now, however, all is changed. The Turk
ish woman, knowing that she can no more
be punished by the religious authorities,
whose power ceased the day the British
troops first put foot on the island, has open
ly thrown off the yoke and claimed her
independence, and with a vengeance, TODD
Turkish husbands. fathers, brothers, ann
friends are frantic with despair at the ture
affairs have taken, and should Turk com.
here from any part of Islam he would not
believe his own eyes for this is the very
first time and place that ''the tnIng," as
the Faithful call the woman, has dared to
act in direct opposition to all that is dear
TO Mohammedans. Women belonging to
the harem can now be seen at all hours OF
the day and night in The streets and on the
ramparts of NlcOsia, retaining their feret-
zes, but not covering their faces with yas-
masks-at least the pretty ones do not
and an officer friend of mine has discover
ed the way to find out in the distance If
Turkish woman is good-lOoking or not. II
sne is pret y she is sure TO 90 about with
her face unveiled, tut should she know
herself 10 be ugly she IS certain 10 have
her tace 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 TO impossible to find
Turkish woman without superb eyes the
uninItiated wall at first sight think he has
encountered houri. il, however, the ha
rem beauties would content themselves
with simply walking about with Uncover
ed faces husbands and brothers would nOt
have much to complain of, but unfoTtun-
ately ihIs Is not all. They talk 10 the
Christians and walk arm-in arm with the
English officers, and even with the soldiers
They give coffee parties to which gentle
men only, and they GIaOurs, are invited,
and instead Of receiving their visitors in
the selamlIk part Of the house, where all
men should be received, they receive them
in the harem quarters, and when their
husbands and relatives come home they
are shocked with what they hear and rush
to the darem TO find the door closed against
them and 10 be told that they must have
made mistake in coming 10 the sacred
female entrance, as according 10 Mussul-
man usages, which they So much love,
their place is in the selanl K. saw them
sitting at the Gales smoking and drinking
rakL Actually drinking Fancy a drunk
en- Turkish womani Surely the world Is
coming 10 an end and MauOmet's wife
Ayesha mus. be turning III her coffin
Take seat, sir. saws the cafedgi. or
proprietor. l slere al him in dlsmay anu
feel ceriaIn that / am III dream and
squeeze the arm OF the friend who accom-
panIes ne; telling HIM ii mus, be dream
''Dream De biowed.' says he; wait a
nainnfA1f h. 10 a
a barrel organ starts up "Orphee aux En-
fers, ana The hanoums turkish women) |
Enthusiastically dance--an1 nol alone. but
with Tommy Atkins, und Tommy Atkins
OF the lowest type. They understand the
music, they know the dance. but what Is
this! TIE cancan. Is this the Mabile. |
abolished in Paris TO be transplanted in
Cyprusf BY Allah but this verify cannot
be true. but say what | Will and think |
what may, there they were, and there,
understand, they Can be seen al any time
Every Turkish. woman III the island ls su-
ing foT a divorce. which the husbands are
only too glad 10 grant, and If the Turks
themselves ever eXpecG to get wives or "a
harem again they aIe very much mistaken
unless they search for them among the
Christian population.
l have lived IN Moh5mmedau Countries
al nly life, aud this is the first time have
met the emanclpated Turkish woman, and
after q careful study OF the subject have
arrived al the conclusion that the harem
inmate is only waiting for chance to put
an end 10 haTem lie, and that il the Bit
ish occupation OF Egypt continues ior any
length OF time, and the religious authou
ties lose their ho.d on the male population
good-bye TO harems, and Though them tc
eunuchs and 10 slavery.