Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19
TRAITS OF TURKISH WOMEN.
Their Larger Liberties and Their OwO
Exclusive Tea Parties.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
Turkish women are not shut up. They 90 out
when they please If a husband meets his wife
In the street he makes no sign of recognition. IL
he perceives her hating before a Diapers stall
and gazing at silk dearer than he can afford he
must possess his soul in recognition, muttering
smash Allah" This repect for women prevails
also In the home circle and it comes natural TO the
Mussulman, who has been taught from boyhOod
to behave courteously to the softer sex
Turkish girls are unaffectedly modest. Those
OF the lower class who are engaged az
servants in the houses of Frank residents are
much preferred to Greeks or Armenians, fof
their excellent behavior, cleanliness and regard
for truth. Looking upon marriage as their nat
urai destiny. they are careful of their reputa
lions, and when married make first-rate house.
wives. No doubt tourist who compared the
Turkey OF to-day with that OF twenty-five years
ago would find some departures from the strict
wOmanly reserve which used to be the universal
rule. The mistress Of the harem dresses much
like French lady nowadays, reads French nov
els and plays the piano; though she has some
gorgeous Turkish costumes which she dons upon
state occasions. such as the calvas, when she
entertains other ladies' Calva means q cake,
but it has come to designate a party at which
that dainty is eaten.
When a Turkish lady gives a calva her hus-
band Is excluded from the harem while the
strange women are In the house. These guests
begin to arrive toward 6. accompanied by their
maid servants and negroes carrying lanterns and
bringing their children with them. Closely muf-
fed, they divest themselves Of their burnouses In
the ante-rOom and put on delicate satin slippers,
which they have brought with them In bags. Tho
recelfion rooms are brilliantly lighted up with
pinlRbGax candles and scented with fragrant
pastilles. There is no kissing or hand shaking
between the hostess and her guests but each
lady ~ she comes In lifts her hand gracefully to
her heart, her lips and her brow, which means,
81 am devoted to you with heart, mouth and
mind" This mode Of salutation, when smil-
ingly performed. is very pretty. The greetings
being ended, the company seat themselves on
chairs II there be any Frank ladies present; not
they betake themselves to the divans and car.
pets. while the children 60 of altogether to b
RECALLED In some other room.
Cigarettes, coffee and sweetmeats are handed
round, and, while these things are being dis
cussed, the ladies are bound to pay one another
compliments about their respective dresses,
which are sure to be most sumptuous, and, In
deed, are sometimes worth fortune. After
the coffee, dancing girls are introduced, and at
this stage Of the proceedings the elderly ladies
generally settle down to cards and backgam.
mon. In some houses where Christian manners
have penetrated, lady pianist rattles or waltzes
and operate music to amuse the company; but
this does not exclude the performance OF the
native dancing girls, whose gyrations and music
with tambOurines and castanets are much appro-
ciated These almee are seldom older than four.
teen, and no married woman ever Joins the
dance.