The Northern Pacific farmer., 1884-08-28
GLIMPSES OF HAREM LIFE.


and of his numerous sons are in many
respects an exception to general rule
in their accomplishments, education
and manners. While they have, in
many respects, European customs and
habits, yet these are modified by re-
straints of seclusion; and they share
with their sisters of all classes the
odious law of the prophet that they
should be held prisoners under rigid
surveillance of guardians especially
prepared for the unholy office.
"Statements are made that serious
misunderstanding often occur among
them in consequence of this oppression.
There is no doubt that the beautiful
young daughter of Khedive, who was
accustomed until 13 years of age to Wis
it the opera without veil, rebelled
when the time came for incarceration,
and that she lamented in tears her un-
fortunate fate. Marrying soon after
seclusion, she lived but few months.
Universally the Mos]em women know
nothing about life being simple pieces
of furniture in their homes. With no
education, they are strangers; decked
out with fine dresses and jewelry, they
are sensuously content.
"They amuse themselves in crunch
ing melon seeds, eating candy, smoking
cigarettes and showing their fine jewel
ry and fine toilets to their friends. Liv-
ing life of ease and Incidence they are
never supposed to soil their hands with
labor or rack their brains with thought.
When they toll there sole occupa ton is
to beautify themselves. When young
they are we'll made; their extremities
are fine and their hands are soft, white
and supple, and they might be
likened to the budding flower which
opens at the first rays of the
morning sun. Their compilations are
white and their cheeks tinged with
rose: their eyes are sometimes blue,
but that is exceptional; they are gener-
ally black rs jet, and when fully open
are of almond form and full of sensibil-
ity and delicate sweetness. They never
conceal them and gallent men often
confess that they have few to admire
even this much of their comeliness. The
houses, many of them, are elegant and
SO constructed as to completely conceal
the hidden glances of the fair who are
doomed to eternal isolation when with
out veil, as no woman can be seen
lawfully by any other man than her
husband. She is forbidden the homage
that all nature demands. Controlled
by powerful hand and bound irrevo-
cably by custom, she is compelled not
only to kiss the hand of her tyrant but
to hug the chain which manacl les her.
"This despotism is the more extra
ordinary on the part of The men, mas
much as they pretend to feel delight in
beautiful objects of nature; they will
watch the play of birds for hours, and
think it crime to disturb or deprive
them of the free air they breathe. Yet
they incarcerate the loveGest and most
beautiful of all the creators works, and
think it great favor to permit woman's
enjoyment of Towering shrub in some
hidden recess.
I'm tearing aside the impenetrable
curtain of the harem, it is only to see
it's inmates, like the flower which the
heated Khamsin touches, whitening un-
der O jealous. despot whom the law
arms with complete power, and whose
cruel suspicion is endured in slavish ST.
lence. Such is the rule of custom,
which alone regulates society among
Mahometans, if their intercourse be-
tween the sexes there can be dignifed
with so exalted term. The women
rarely leave their homes, or even enjoy
the beauties of nature, as do the men,
who possess great love for rare exotics
and beautiful flowers. They are en-
ployed in preserving their complexions,
the delicate tint of which is never blem-
ished by the light of the sun, and en-
hancing their beauty by every means
that long-studied art can effect, only to
please one whose delight is assured
when he knows that his prisoner is safe
ly confined. It seems incredible to
men used to our western civilization
that in the nineteenth century, among
50 large portion of the human family,
there should be an impossible barrier
drawn between the two sexes, when
every manly inspiration dictates gen.
erous sympathy for the delicate and
graceful woman whose instin ncts prompt
her to trust in man as the natural pro-
tector of her sex. Here she finds in
him, on the contrary, violator of a
great law of nature, who assumes the
right not only to shackle her mind, but
also to confine her person by law of
his own operation.
so binding is the law that no man
shall see the face of a woman not his
property, that, in case of violation of
it's sanctity it looks with favor on the
action of the injured husband should he
solace his jealousy with the life of the
intruder. It is not even permitted to
recognize 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 coquetting, like their
Western sisters. Though entirely un-
cultivated, they have delicate and pretty
ways, and show, as if by accident, their
beautiful dresses and jewelry 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 means 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 boasted luxury Of
the palace offers in its isolation
no attraction to q refined nature.
This life makes people prematurely
old; man of so is wrinkled and super
anuated, and woman of 80 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 to-morrow) J; yet people write
to the facinations of Eastern life. It
may be climate, with it's sunny sky and
quickening air of the desert, or possibly
the stagnation of existence which de-
ludes them. It cannot be the effort Of
thinking or 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 issolation Of q prison,
though the captives are surrounded by
q number of people. The philosopher