The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29
LIFE IN PERSIA.
An English Doctor is Sent For by Some Per-
sian Ladies'.


An English Doctor is Sent For by Some Per-
sian Ladies.
st. James's Gazette.
Doctors are privileged persons Possibly on
his first visit, or if his patient be the wife or
holy man, she may be yelled; but afterward the
veil may be cast aside. One great characteristic
of the Persian is his curiosity; among Persian
women it is developed in an intense degree.
And that is why it is that the doctor is so often
sent for
have been summoned to the house Of Per-
sian grandee In Difference to Oriental preiu-
dice l have discarded my linen cut-away coat.
which, from its shortness, is considered indeli
cate, and substituted for it the professional
black cloth frock
Hearts Delight! Hearts Delight" shouts
our guide, as he reaches grimy curtain, at
the same time signaling me by wave OF the
hand to advance no further. scuttling of Slip
pered feet is heard and Hearts Delight a hide
Gus negress of middle age, dressed In clean and
bright print garments, raises the curtain
I'm the name of God you are welcome; you
have been expected One minute, sahib, till
inform our lady" grins the black slave woman.
The curtain falls, and, in the half darkness OF
the passage the porter gazeS at me and l gaze
at the porter "Negresses are the daughters of
burnt fathers, he remarks, to which l reply:
''YeS, yes" as is the custom in the East on
hearing a self-evident proposition. Now we
are aware of considerable cemmotion and
fore can be enlightened further by the door
porter on the subject of the DAUGHTERS of burnt
feathers the curtain is again raised, this time TO
admit us. Welcome, sahib. Pray enter
May your footsteps be fortunate" Our guide,
the sooty Hearts Delight precedes us.
We reach the door of the principal apartment,
the windows of which look down upon the whole
length of the hauz. cast off my gaoshes at
the door, but retain my head gear for to re-
move it would be the height of rudeness Hearts
mo IN a 1.-THE
only chair; Persians sit on the ground) at the
head of the room. When l say that the interior
of this apartment resembles the halls OF the
Alhambra Court at the Crystal palace, as
they appeared in their first splendor be-
fore the great fire there, | exactly describe
it. A priceless carpet, surrounded by felt edg-
ings, two inches thick and yard wide, appears
like lovely but subdued picture artfully set IN
sombre frame. In the recesses of the walls
are many bouquets in glass vases The one
great Window miracle of intricate carpentry.
some 20 feet by 20-blazes with geometrical
pattern of tiny pieces of glass, forming one
gorgeous mosaic. Three of the sashes of this
window are thrown up to admit air, the colored
glass of the top and four remaining sashes ef-
fectually shut out excess of light.
The frou-frou of silk is heard Three ladies
enter the room. Their feet and legs are bare
to the knee for they have cast off their shoes
in large sheet of dark blue silk, the outer
veil of the Persian lady. Gracefully they sink
down into heaps in semicircle opposite US,
'Saaam, sahib. You are welcome. Tea, tea
for tie sahib!' / respond in the customary
way, and inquire after the health of my yelled
hostesses. One only replies in a confident tone
she is evidently of middle age, and self pos
sessed. The other two blue heaps shake with
inward mirth but are silent. 1T cannot be, 1t is
too hot' the lady continues, as she casts OFF her
dark blue envelope-an example Immediately fol
lowed by her companions.
Hearts Delight hastily folds up the three wells;
and a plump. middle-aged lady, very comely,
and her two innocent-looking daughters hand
with round chubby faces and magnificent
eyes, are disclosed to view in all the splendor
of the Persian ladys indoor dress. The cos
tune of all is the same, varying only in
colors, and these are of the gayest; short and
voluminOuS skirts of silk, much bouffe, reaching
to the knee; shirts (the Persian word, like the
French chemise, is applied to the garment of
both sexes) of transparent silk gauZe; tiny
Zouave jackets of gaiy embroidered velvet just
covering the shoulders and the top of the back
tof these the sleeves are unbuttoned from the
elbow hanging down and showing the gay lin
ings of -colored but brilliant slk;) the top of
the head and ears are hidden by gorgeous silk
kerchiefs embroidered in gold and there is no
more clothing to describe unless the numerous
bracelets of the bangle form, of gold and of glass,
which jangle as the ladies move their arms, may
be called clothes.
The ladies chat; the younger ones only to each
other in an undertone, for maiden modesty pre-
vents their addressing the doctor; but they gig
gle and litter good DEAL and are duly reproved
for it by the elder lady. Tea in delicate old
China cups is served: all smoke hubble
bubbles, and four of them are brought by Hearts
Delight and three other black female slaves
Presently hear tittering behind me, turn,
and instantly there is dead silence as a bright
curtain of shot-silk quickly falls, but not before
/ have observed an amused bevy of gayly- dressed
women and children. Excuse them, DR.. Sahib;
they are so dull SO dull"
Conversation turns upon the curious customs
of Europeans 1 am asked if am married
have to admit that l am not, and am duly
pitied. But then, after all, you are right.
Where there is woman there is discord" says
my hostess. More tea; more pipes. Sweet
cakes, confectionery, and conserves are handed;
iced sherbet, in Bohemian glass tumhers, gilt
and of gaudy colors, is served. l insinuate
something to the effect that this is professional
visit, my hostess smiles. I repeat the remark,
and then the lady rising to bid farewell, replies:
1--WE were dull; we were bored; you have
desennuye u.s. Wallah'-with little laugh-'I
have forgotten why we sent for you. Your
footsteps, however, have been fortunate, for our
hearts are no longer sad
So here was end of my visit. We shook
hands heartily, and the lady gave me huge
bouquet of narcissus as left. AS / rode home
through the glazing streets l felt all the more
clearly that had been merely sent for out of
curiosity. But the handsome little carpet l aft
erward received fee reconciled me to the ex-
perience, and caused me to remember that it is
not in Persia alone that ladies summon doctor
simply because they are bored