The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-08-22
GIIlPISES on HAREM LIFE.


Aohss Land.
General Loring throws as much light
a circumstance permit, in his recent
book ON Egypt, upon life in harem.
One can naturally see that from the
peculiar manner in which marriages
are made in Egypt, there is little do
mestic life Of the sort we understand.
The Indies constituting the families
81 the late Khedive, Ishmail P..sha,
and Of his numerous sons are in many
respects an exception TO q general rule
ii their accomplishments, education
and 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
~odionslaw 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 IS years Of age to Wis
u the opera without . veil, rebelled
when ths time came for incarceration,
and that stie lamented in tears her nm
fortunate fate. Marrying soon after
eeciusion, she lived but q few months.
Universally the Moslem mn 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 Jewell
s. and fine toilets to their friends. Liv-
ing q life OF ease andindolence they are
never supposed 10 soil their hands with
labor or rack their brains With thought.
When they toll there sole occupati 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
ikened to the budding flower which
opens at the first rays Of the
morning sun. Their c~omplexions are
white and their cheeks tinged with.
rose: their eyes are sometimes blue,
but that is exceptional they are gener-
ally black ne jet, and when fully open
are Of almond form and full of SENSIBLE
ity and delicate sweetness. They never
conceal them and gallent men often
confess that they have few TO admire
ever this much 81 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
ont q veil, as no woman can be seen
lawfully BY any other man than her
husband. She is forbidden the homage
TINT all nature demands. Controlled
BY : powerful hand md bound irrevo-
eAbly by custom, she Is compelled not
only TO kiss the hand Of her tyrant but
TO hing the chain which manacles her.
This despotism is the more extra.
ordinary on the part Of the men, mas
much - they pretend to feel delight in
beautiful objects of nature; they will
wstch the play Of birds for hours, and
think It q crime to- disturb or deprive
them Of the free mir they breathe. Yet
they incarcerate the loyeliest and most
beautifnl Of all the creators works, and
think tia great favor to permit woman's
enjoyment Of q Towering shrub in some
hidden recess
tearing aside the impenetrable
curtain Of the harem, it lis only to see
its inmates, like the flower which the
heated Khamsin touches, whitening d
der8a jealous, despot whom the law
ar1msS with complete power. and whose
cruel suspicion Is endured in slayish 81
lence. Suchis the rule Of custom,
which alone Regulates society among
MAhometans, If their Intercourse be-
tween the sexes there can be digniied
with s exalted q 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 em-
ployedin preserving their compilations,
the delicate tint OF which is neyerblem-
sisheds by the Light Of the SUM-, and en-
BANGING 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
~ confined. It seems Incredible to
men used to u western civilization.
that in the nineteenth century, among
= o largea portion of the human family,
there should be an impossible barrier
drawn between the two sexes, when
every manly inspiration dictates q gem
erous sympathy for the delicate and
graceful woman whose instincts prompt
her to trust j man as the natural pro-
tector OF her sex. Here she finds in
him. on the contrary, a violator of q
great law Of nature, who assumes the
right not only to shackle her mind, but
also TO ccnfine her person by q law of
his own operation.
$50 binding is3the law that no man
shall see the face Of woman not his
q HrnrNartu Hkkakis1 Coaa At = r;,1oA;on "a