River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-09-06
HOURS REPROVED.
The Sultan OF Turkey Admonishes
the Beauties OF Stamboul.

The Sultan or Turkey Admonishes
the Beauties OF STEAMBOAT
Constantinople Cor. New York Herald.
The Turk always becomes more pious
during the Ramazan. The modification
of the flesh as it were, reacts upon The
spirit, producing jaundiced condition
of the mind apt to show itself in what il
enormously styled ebullitions of fana-
ticism. The inner contemplation by
which the "true believer" seeks to
while away the long fasting hours that
are not given up to sleep does not engen-
der hostile feeling toward the Christian,
but il narrows the views Of the SON
of Othman until he iInagines that in
the departure from ancient customs or
the neglect of religious ordinances is to
be found the real cause of all the mis-
fortunes that have overtaken the en-
pire. Believing as all Mohammedans
do in the direct Intervention of the Al
mighty in mundane affairs, with awaken
ed conscience the spiritual rulers of the
Turks see in the recent triumphs of the
"Gbiauor" the chastlsing hand of Allah
TOR the backsliding Of the past, and
would fain deprecate the Divine wrath
by show of repentance.
Thus it is that as sure as the Ramazau
comes round, before it has dragged half
through its weary length there is certain
to be an edict issued by imperial athor-
ity directed against some prevalent prac-
tice or the other thought to be incom-
patible with a due observance of the
Islamic faith One year II is the nightly
visits to the "cafe chantants" of Pera In
which the soul of young Turkey takes
such delight against which the shafts of
religion are directed by the secular
authority, and next it is the growing
tendency of the Turkish ladies to ape
the appearance of their Frankish sisters,
which becomes the mark for such action.
At the last Ramazan, with admirable i'm
partially, reproof was delivered all
around, and while the men were adj
monished for their nOn-attendance at
mosque during the day, the women
were informed that long curl straying
over the shoulder with Il fringe upon the
forehead was not the proper style OF
couture for Mussulman lady. The po-
lice were strictly enjoined TO watch the
faithful, to see in the one case that no
neglect was shown to the "mueZzin's"
call, and in the other that no exposure
of charms took place likely to attract the;
attention of man from the highest
thoughts to which his mind should be
given.
This year it is the style of dress which
comes in for condemnation. The
"yashmak" is too diaphanous, the FER
ideiee" insufficiently destroying in
its cut and the feet coverings far to
shapely. The articles in question in their
present stvle are looked upon as so
many snares TO catch the thoughts OF
the nnwary. and the "far lights of the
harem" are biddento lay them aside I'M
der the penalty Of incnrring very disa-
greable treatment at the hands OF the
police"
The imperial edict on the subject was
published July % As herein stated, it
is issued by the sultan in his character
as ealiph and protector of the 'Sherlat'
tsacred law), of which the dress fashions
in vogue with the Turkish women OF
the present day are stated to be serious
infractons Thick muslin folds are to
be worn in place Of the gauze wells with
which "Safy-guhi' and "Fatima" have
been in the habit of sottening the con-
tour of their faces as TO dwell in the
memory Of the wandering Ghiaour, daz.
zled by the flashes from their
'
from the Mohammedan paradise.
The lisfgnring "feridjee" is no longer
to be gathered in at the waist or cut low
at the bosom to show the Partisan dress
underneath, and the neat French botti-
ness are to give place TO the hideous
looking "yemenous, the baggy boots OF
yellow or red leather worn by the Wom-
en- in the provinces where foreign fash
ions have not yet made their way.
No doubt this edict will be duly bla-
Zoned forth by the enemies of the sultan
as an indication of the reactionary prin-
ciples by which his foreign and domes-
tic policy il alleged to be ruled. There
is, however, nothing in 1t, and l don't
suppose for a moment it will have any
perez ptibe effect in changing the
dress GA the women. The fair sex gen
orally manage to have their own way,
posed to he held in such subsection, and
/ still expect to find neatly shod feet
and transparent wells whenever | find
myself at any OF the lavorite resorts OF
the Turkish ladies. 1t is the wives
and favorites of the wealthy
class that have gone into such an extent
for dress "a la Franka," and with these
ladies the police will not dare interfere.
Not so long ago the Turkish ladies' were
forbidden to appear in Pera, but the
streets of that suburb are now more
crowded than ever with their carriages,
especially on Friday, when block oc-
caslonsIly occurs lnaL wound not disgrace
fashionable promenade in London or
New York az far as duration is con-
cerned, The sweet Waters" the love
" valley of the Golden Horn" was
also interdIctcd at one time, but the
Turkish ladies soon managed to render
the prohibition dead letter, and dur
ing the past spring the Mussulman wo'
man appeared there in greater force
than ever, wandering about among the
heterogeneous crowd OF sight-seers with
utmost freedom.