The Mineral argus., 1884-10-23


erous sympathy for the delicate and
graceful woman whose instincts prompt
her to trust in man as the natural pro
tector of her sex. Here she finds in
MIN, on the contrary, a violator of 4
great law of nature, who assumes the
right not only to shackle her mind, but
also to contine her person by a law of
his own operation.
$50 binding is the law that no mar
shall see the face of a woman not his
property, that, in case of a violation of
Its sanctity 1t looks with favor on the
action of the injured husband should he
solace his jealousy with the life of the
intruder. 1t is not even permitted to
recognize a woman outside of the harem.
In spite OF strenuous precautions and
the difficulties which environ them Mos
lem women eluding the greatest watch
fulness, are fond of eoquetting, like their
Western sisters. Though entirely un-
cultivated, they have delicate and pretty
ways, and show, as if by accident, their
beautiful dresses and iewelry in opening
the black silk labaran which envelopes
them when on the street. No women
excel them in the language of the eyes,
which, with them, are always large and
wide open.
Society among the inmates of the
harem e simply smoking cigarettes
and pipes and the most trivial amuse-
ments. Instead of the sparkling con-
versation and pleasant music with which
the sexes reciprocally entertain each
other among Western people. horrible
SCREENINGS, the monotonous noise Of
drums and the clang of tambourines
are here the solace of women in her
hours of ease. The boosted luxury Of
the palace offers in its isolation
no attraction to q refined nature.
This life makes people prematurely
old; a man of 80 is wrinkled and super
anuated, and a woman of 30 has passed
her meridian. No one works unless
compelled to it, as tranquility of mind
and person best pleases the Oriental
taste. They ignore the passage of time,
which never disturbs them with the CRY
of bukrah tomorrow yet people write
to the facinations of Eastern life. It
may be climate, with its sunny sky and
quickening air of the desert, or possibly
the ~stagnation of existence which de-
ludes them. 1t cannot be the effort Of
thinking OIL of feeling that awakens
pleasing impressions, for there is moth
ing here that does not clash with every
sentiment, habit and custom of intel
lectual life.
Society is the i~ssolation of a prison,
though the captives are surrounded by
a number of people. The philosopher
residing in'the east is forced to mediate
bitterly upon the waste Of humanity
around him. Only an anchorite, whose
religious duty consists in counting beads,
could be charmed with such monotony
and silence. The man of energy and
thought would think it cruel punishment
to be forced to undergo the ordeal of
intellectual stagnation amid a people
whose ignorance and Incidence fill their
minds with egotism, obstinacy and self
Importance. It is a common thing for
who have been educated by
order of the government in the best col
in Europe to come back to East
ern life and Immediately throw away
their books, abandon intercourse with
intelligent foreigners, shut themselves
a harem among ignorant women, and
there end their existence. This is prob
what they mean when they say that
in their education of mind they do not
neglect the heart An Eastern man
will sit for hours inhaling the perfume
Of a sweet flower and enjoying the music
Of a fountain (murmuring at the time q
in the Koran, without stopping
to understand its meaning) and the
beautiful objects of nature which Allah
has spread before him. He enjoys, to-
Day, but never thinks of preserving OBJ
which please him in sculpture or
painting, however dear to him, for the
sake of the pleasure they might give in
5he future. This their writers call a life
rich in sensations"
Gen. Loring speaks of the extreme
of the Egyptian women, part
IF whose religion it is to battle and per-
themselves every day.