The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-12-10
THE MoNvENEGHIN WOMAN.

.s .. nine Fortunes.
W. THE MoNrENEGKIN WOMAN.
The following is an extract from Ed
ward Kings new book. Europe in
storm and Calm:" Tho Montenegrin
woman is in many respects an object
OF pity to the travellers who pass
through tho strange lutIe principally,
but there is no woman in the country
who would not be griovously offended
Mt any show OF sympathy. To work
incessantly y and to suffer is tho destiny
of the woman of this raco. Thoy are
not even welcomed into the world. A
Montenogrin father, when asked by
his neighbor what tho sex of his new
born child is, answers, God pardon
me! it is girl" Sometimes he SAYS,
''lt is q serpent" which is poetical
manner of expressing his regret at tho
birth of daughter The girl grows
up neglected and often cursed. She
carries fagots Of wood on her head in
order that she MAY earn u few coins
with which to buy arms for her broth
ers. She has no youth. At 25 she
seems already old. She is married
young, and bears and cares for her
children while supporting labor in tho
fields which would be hard even for
strong men. She trcmblcs before her
father, her brother, her husband; she
only awakens to freedom and indepen-
dcnco of action when excited by the
noise OF the combat, to which she fre-
qucntly follows the warriors. Sho
urges thom on, and loads their guns,
and dresses their wounds. The Mon
tenegrin woman is rarely beautiful of
feature, and the coarse work which sho
performs soon ruins her form. Her
virtue is beyond rcproach; intrigues
are unknown in Montenegro, and gal
lantry would find II sharp reproof at
the point Of u yataghnn. The women
wander unattended wherever they
please throughout the country; for
whilo u Montencgrin warrior would
never think Of relieving woman from
tho heavy burden of fagots or provis-
ions which she may be fainting under,
aud while he may, perhaps, rail at hor
tor her Weakness, he would not by
word or decd offor her the slightest in
suit The woman is almost servilo
with regard to her husband; ii she soes
hlm coming along tho road, sho turns
of, or passes him rapidly, that ho may
not Ue compelled TO recognize her
Should tho warrior be scen WASTING
his time in lettering by his wifo's side
no would bo subjected to roproach from
the elders in the village. 4 fcw wears
since one could not have found in tho
whole OF Montenegro ono woman
knowing how to read or write. Later
ly some few schools to which women
have ACCESS have been established
The duties of hospitality all fall up-
on tho woman. 1t is she who unlaces
the boots of the stranger whom he ar
rives, and who washes his feet, who
serves at the table, and holds the fam
ing pine-knot by which tho others set
to cat. Tho husband does not even
notice his wife unless it be to request
some mcnial service Of her.
1t is wonder Montenegrin babies
ever live through the severe course of
swaddling which they undergo from
their earliest day until they arc weaned.
They are strapped to boards and slune
over the backs of their mothers, and
thus, winter and summer, they mako
long journeys in the mountains and
among the rocks.
tho vito who cares for him, but his pa
hSH''' Etii"ctte HehlahuS Ihat tho
wife should not appear indifferent to
his condition. and should attend to her
duties in house and field as if ho were
in no danger But when he dies she
is expected to burst into loud lamenta-
tions, and in all tho country round
sing the praises of his courage and his
prowess III front of tho enemy.
This oVcrworkcd and much-abused
creature has one gracious accomplish
ment; the Montenogrin woman is ex-
ceedingly expert i'll embroiderios. and
they are prominent feature of tho ma,
tional costume. Tho women work al
them when they arc walking along the
roads. bearing upon their heads bur-
dens which seem heavy enough to crush
pack horse.