Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-16
A DOCTORS VISIT IN PERSIA.
Some Queer Habits of the Oriental
Women.

fS"s tsC o. UobtHeS GU5ety6.
The troa:tfoa Of silk is heard. Three
ladies enter the room. Their feet and
legs are bare to the knee, for they have
cast oil their shoes at the door; but all the
rest of them is shrouded in a large sheet
OF dark blue silk, the outer veil of the
Persian lady. Gracefully they sink down
into heaps in a sem-circIe opposite us.
'salaam, Sahib; you are welcome. Tea,
Tea lor the Sahibw l respond i'm the
customary way, and inquire after the
health of my yelled hostesses. One only
replies, I'D q confident tone-she is evil
gently OF middle age, and self-pOssessed;
lhe 0ther TWO Olue heaps shake with in-
ward mirth, but are silent. "It cannot
be, 1t is 100 hotr the lady continues. as
she casts off her dmk-blue envelope, an
example Immediately followed by her
companions. Heart s.delight hastily folds
up me three wells; and plump, middle
aged lady, very Comely, and her two in
hocent-looking daughters, handsome
Young women, fair as an English girl,
VITA round chubby faces and magnificent
eyes, are disclosed to view in all the splen-
dor OF the Persian lady's indoor dress.
The costume OF all is the same. varying
only in cOlors, and these are of the gay
est: short and Voluminous skirts Of silk,
much bouhe, reaching to the knee; shirts
the Persian word, like the French chem
use, IS applied to the garment of both sex
esq oftransparent silk gauEe: tiuy Xouave
jackets of gayly embroidered velvet, Just
covering the shoulders and the top Of the
back. cor these the sleeves are unbut-
toned from the elbow, hanging down. ana
showing the gay Innings Of pale-c0i0red
but brilliant silk the top Ofthe head and
the ears are hidden by gorgeous silk
kerchiefs, embroidered in gold; ard there
IS no more clothing to describe. unless
the numerous bracelets Of the bangle form,
OF gold and Of glass, which iangle as the
ladies move their arms, may be called
clothes. The ladies chat; the younger
ones only to each other in an undertone.
10r maiden modesty prevents their adj
dressing the doctor; but they giggle and
litter good deal, and are duly Teproved
TOR 1t by the elder lady. Tea in delicate
Old china cups is served we all smoke
hubble-bubbles; and four of them are
brought by Heart's-delight and three 9th
er black female slaves. Presently | hear
tittering behind me, turn, and instant
ly there is dead silence as a bright cur
tam OF shot-silk quickly falls, but none
before l have observed an amused bevv
Of gayly dressed women and children.
EXCUSE them, DR.. Sahib; they are so
dull, so dull" Conversation turns upon
the curious customs Of Europeans. | am
asked if l am married. ! have to admit
that / am not and am duly pitied. But
then, 'After all you are right Where
there is a woman there is discord," says
my hostess. More tea; more pipes. Sweet
cakes, confectionery, and conserves are
handed; iced sherbet, in Bohemian glass
tumblers. gilt and Of gaudy c0lors, is
served. insnuate something to the ef-
feet that this is a professional visit; NV
hostess smiles. / repeat the remark, and
then the lady, rising to bid farewell, re-
plies, Owe were duh; we were bored;
you EaVe desenHuVe US. YaUab P'-with
a little laugh-"I have forgotten why we
sent for you. Your footsteps have been
fortunate, for our hearts are no longer
sad" So here was an end of my visit.
We shook hands heartily, and the lady
gave me a huge bouquet of narcissus as /
left. AS | rode home through the glaring
streets l felt all the more clearly that |
had been merely sent for out OF curiosity.
But the handsome little carpet / after
ward received as fee reconeIled me to
the experience, and caused me to remem-
Der that it is not in Persia alone that la
dies summon a doctor simply because
thew are bored,