The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-04
Life in Egyptian Harems.
Described by Rose Eytinge in the New York

Egypt that old, old land OF science, lie
gend and superstition, of col
orlng, OF semi-barbaric splendor, OF Isis
and Osiris, Of Cleopatra the magnif
cent, ndthe mysterious pyramids-is
there any home-life there? No, Ger.
talnly not, as we understand it. OF
course, the people there must eat, drink
and sleep in obedience to the inexor.
able laws of our common humanity,
butthere can be no domestic life where
there is no women at the head OF the
household, and the Egyptian women
are mere utilities. There is no middle
lass, so that they are divided into the
'wo classes extremes of high and low.
The high life is that of the hareem,
S they call it, and not harem, and is
luch better known throughout Eu-
rope than that of the lower-class
Egyptian women. During my resi-
fence in Cairo | vas frequently ad-
mitted to the harecm upon the inyi-
tation OF the mother OF the Viceroy OF
Egypt, lsmail Pascha, father of the
present pasha. 1small was the Vice.
roy, or second in distinction to the
sultan, OF Egypt. The pasha was so
afraid OF being poisoned that his
mother cooked all he ate, and forthat
purpose she accompanied him where
eve he went.
Poisoning is the favorite method in
that country OF getting rid OF an OBJ
noXlous person. 1t is much more
speedy and infinitely less expensive
than a state trial. With the excep-
ton OF the Viceroy's mother ! never
knew q woman of high position to
know anything at all of the culinary
art. used often to spend a whole
day in the harem and never saw
any OF the women doing anything
useful. They are seldom taught to
read or write. Conversation is gener-
ally carried on with a foreigner in
French through the aid OF aninterpre.
ter. soon picked up Arabic enough
to converse with them without aid.
They i've in great splendor and total
ldleness. They have no pictures in
their palaces and possess no foreign
or native literature. They sew
or even e%mbroider, and their only rec
consists in seeing girls dance
and in listening to some barbaric
music, or to stories told them by an
old woman in true Arabian Nights
style. The Egyptian women are fully
developed at the age OF 13 and old at
80: Their forms are usually most ex-
qulslte until fat-that bane of both
men and women in high life-destroys
the delicate beauty OF their outline.
The upper portion OF their faces, ewes,
brows and forehead are wondrously
lovely, but the lower part below the
nose, is ugly, badly formed and
heavy, as a rule. Fortunately
them, they are enabled to
conceal these defects by the veil
they wear. So far from being dis
contented with their lot, the women
OF Egypt have the utmost pity for
their civilized sisters, especially in
matters OF the heart. They say our
husbands can care nothing for us, or
they would not, allow other men to
look upon our faces and think that
women possess no modesty
to go unveiled. To amuse them. I
told them once OF the great surplus of
Iemale population in the New England
otates-largely maiden-and of the
struggles so many of our girls there
and elsewhere are obliged to undergo
N order to earn their own living.
They laughingly quoted a proverb an
sWerlng to ours of half a Loaf being
better than no bread at all, and de,
Jared that the fractional possessions
d a husband vas better than no hus-
at all. They were much sur
even indignant, that we should
ourselves civilized and yet make
avs compelling a rich man to have
out one wife, when he might maintain
lfty or more, and SO husbands and
support for our Woodworking single
would be provided.
As the men do the cooking and the
main part of the sewing in Egypt
t is easy to see why there is no an
oioyment forwoman. Except in rare
their intelligence does not ex-
'eed that of an American child 10 or
y years of age. Therefore, the men.
although themselves not much supe-
'lor, still have hardly any respect for
hem, and, rs there is little of the
ointment OF love among them, they
cem to look upon their women ONLY
IS indispensable adjuncts OF the con-
lnnance OF the race.
Let me describe a dinner in the
larem when q guest is present. Their
ables are always circular and about
foot and a half in length. They sit
Ike dolls around them on cushions.
fheold, inactive and fat, once down.
ave to be pulled up. They serve but
ne dish at a time. and that is a large
lrcular salver ofsilver, brass or some
INES gold. They have no forks,
hives or spoons, but each dip two
nsers of the right hand into the dish
nd takes out bit, the meat having
cen u into small pieces in the
itchen.
If they wish to particularly distin-
ulsh a visitor they select a dainty
lece and place it in her mouth. 1t
'ould be an insult to bet9ay any feel
lg but delight at such a mark of ia
or. A great dish for a feast, and one
'hich few Christian women have eve
asted, IS that of II lamb roasted
hole. After the manEer of a nest of
boxes, each smaller than the
the lamb is stuffed. with whole
lrkey, the turkey with a chicken, the
lictien with a pigeon, the pigeon with
quail, the quail with a becafica, the
mallest bird known except the hum
ling bird. 1t resembles our reedbird
taste and makes Just ovor amouth-
H.. The lamb is roasted over a slow
re until it is cooked to shreds, and
lelts into one as it were. The Esyp-
ans havenos ystematized way oieat-
'g,no set time for meals, but keepupa
ontinual munching ofsweets, OF which
icy have u great variety unknown to
$, and all sickeningly sweet to a
uoropean palate. They use honey
,r Sr1uar Ip 4, L, "