Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-03-25
WOMAN GOSSIP.
How the Submissive Wife Works ana Sur
fers for Her Lord and Master In
Montenegro.
The Secret of Aftcr-Dinner Dizziness
Pen Painting on Fabrics-Femi-
nine Fortunes.
THE MoNTENEGRIN WOMAN.

The following is an extract from Ed
ward Kings new book, Europe IN
storm and Calm" The Montenegro
woman is in many respects an object
of pity to the travellers who pass
through the strange little prlncipallty,
but there is no woman in the country |
who would not be gr%ievously offended
at any show of sympathy. 10 work
necessarily and to suffer is the destiny
of the woman of this race. They are
not even welcomed into the world. A
Montenegro father, when asked by
his neighbor what the sex of his new
born child is, answers, God pardon
me! it is a girl" Sometimes he says,
at is a SERPENT" which is a poetical
manner of expressing his regret at the
birth of a daughter. The cir! grows
up neglected and often cursed. She
carries fagots of wood on her head in
order that she may earn u few CONS
with which to buy arms for her BROTH
| ers. She has no youth. At 70 she
seems already old. She is married
Young, and bears and cares for her
| children while supporting labor IN the
| fields which would be hard even Tor
strong men. She trcmbles before her
father, her brother. her husband; she
only awakens to freedom and iudepen-
dence of action when excited by the
noise of the combat, to which b ire
~uuently follows the warriors. She
urges them on, and loads their guns,
and dresses their wounds. The Mon
~tenegrin woman is rarely beautiful of
feature, and the coarse work which she
performs soon ruins her form. Her
virtue is beyond %reproach; intrigucs
are unknown in Montenegro, and gal
lautry would tiud a sharp reproof ut
the point of a y~ata9lan. The women
wander unattended wherever they
, please throughout the country; for
while a Moutenegrin warrior would
never think of relieving a woman from
the heavy burden of fagots or provis.
ions which she may be fainting under,
and while he may, perhaps, rail at hel
! for her weakness, he would not by
word or deed offer her the slightest III
suit. The woman is almost serviit
with regard TO her husband; il she see!
him coming along tue road, she turns
off, or passes him rapidly. that he ma,
> not tie compelled 10 recognize her
! Should the warrior be seen wastin!
his time in loiter,ng by his wife, sid
be would DC subjected TO reproach from
: the elders in the village. a few year
! since one could o have found in tn
:. whole of Montenegro n woma
. knowing how 10 read or write. Later
: ly some few schools 10 which wome
y have access have been established.
.. The duties of hospitality ali fall Vi
. on the 1t is she wno uniace
: the boots OF the stranger when he al
= rives. and VINO washes his feet. VIII
: serves at the table, and noids the Ian
:, ing pine-knot by which the others 81
- to eat. The husband does not eve
y. notice his wife un .ess it be to reque'
some mental service OIL her.
- | LISA wonder Montenegrin babi,
=. ever live through the severe course
%swaddling which they undergo fro
Z their earliest day until they are weanc'
!! Trey are strapped TO boards and stun
- over the backs of tneir mothers AT
! tnns, winter aud summer they maj
~ Ioag Journeys in the mountains al
among the rocks
When the husband falls III. it is n
= the wife who cares for him, bat his p
- rents. Etiquette demands that Il
wife should not appear indifferent
his condition. and should attend to h
duties in house AMI iieid as II he We
:. in no danger. but wien he dies s
is expected ~ burst into loud lamen.
"a. lions, and in ali the country roul
sing the Pulses OF his courage aud !
" proves IN irsat OF tl.e enemy
:. This overworSed aud mdcii-abus
W creature has one grs clons ;ceOmplis
~ ment: the MontcrIeg ria woman is {
ceedingIy expert in emoroideries. a
On they are a prominent feature OF the
w. tioual costume. The women work
them when they are walking along
roads. bearing upon their heads b
Ell dens which seeta heavy enough TO crI
a pack horse.