Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-05
A TURKISH BRIDE.
LUXURY WITH WHICH SHE ENTERS
THE MATRIMONIAL STATE.
The Mother-in-Law in Turkey, and the
Importance of Her Office at the
Bridal Bath-The Brides Heal Dress,
A Magnificent Bridal Chamber


Importance of Her Office at the
Bridal Bath-The Brides Heal Dress.
A Magnificent Bridal ChS.nber
| The day is appointed for the bath Great
preparations are made 1t is tacitlv under
| stood, though not expressed, what the bath
| party means The cooks of both PARTIES ere
kept busy for several days They prepare
| dainty dishes, ''duloet syTJIts tuCt with Cin-
namon, and sweetmeats of every description
and flavor. The Turkish women, not unlike
the children of the azure sheen, are very
| fond of confectionery. The greatest attcn-
| ton is paid, also, in procuring the rarest and
most elegant suits for the bath. A COM
pctitivc but friendly excitement arises be
tween the families: for the Turks are rs par
ticular about their bathing clothes as the
fashionable belle at Sckevingen or Newport
Each person is to DC furnished with a suit of
the rarest quality
The bride, or the nominee for that function,
is aTrayed i'll her most elegant dress. She is
gallanted in her best bravery of silk and
satin, feredje and parasoI, to the bath She
is accompanied by her mother and all the wo-
men of her house. The servants and slaves
are summoned for this service; and the more
numerous these are the more the display of
luxury is enhanced. As soon as the parties
meet there is a series of endless compliments.
In this the Turkish people excel. Coffee and
sherbet are served around to the company,
which is seated on the divanS. Amid
clouds of smoke from narghilch, pipe and
cigarette, and with gossip and laughter which
makes old wrinkles come the future
motherin-law adroitly seats herself by the
nominee She peryIades her TO talk Uncon-
scjous of the object the girl undergoes a skill
full cross examination. Her intellectual and
moral character Is thoroughly scrutmizcd.
Her life, with its tastes and qualities, Is win
moved.
THE MOTHER-IN-LAw AND RRIpE.
When the smoking terminates there is the
disrobing in order TO go into the interior of
the bath Then follows the robing FOR the
bath. The bath being intensely hot the rob
ing is not cumbrous or extensive. 1t consists
simply of big towel around the waist cover
ing the person down to the knees, and a
second towel which is thrown over the
shoulders like a sash This last towel Is
taken off as soon as the interior of the bath
is entered, as the heat and pciSpirat,on consn-
qucnt makes it intoleratlc Gibbon saws
that Lenobia, whom lei in triumph by IN
relian. almost tainted under the iptnlfIablc
burden of jewe!ry. Not 81 with oar can't.
late for the bridal office Her decorations
are reserved for her triumphal procession
and entry into her new household TIE hair
is lou5cnCd and hang over The shoulders.
Each Lady is taken care of by che or two
servants, but the future mcthci-lnlaw never
quit the nominee. SShe makes thorough III
vcStigaticn until the bath Is ovrr
To give a description Of the attire of the
bride demands dainty pen and a nicer scfse
than belongs to the sterner sex. The writer
essays 10 10 it with apprehension. First, She
wears wide trousers, not unlike petticcat.
tied up at the end on each leg. Thu fabric
is of red. blue or yellow silk, embroidered
with gold Then there is a robe of sill, or
velvet and long train, Ciittcrins with GOLD
cmbroideries and precious stones, and sur
rounded with gold trimmings and lace Her
boots or shoes are adorned in the same mode
The dressing of her head is remarkable. and
her face IS painted in the most exaggerated
manner, in white and red, and her eyes her
eyebrows and eyClaShos are dChcatcy pen
ciled These elegancias of the toilet -
Of grace from her maturalncSs, by
dcfacing Der maiden beauty Upon h5r
cheeks are stuck two Jewels, each as large as
half dollar. In the middle Of each cheek
there is n big diamond Over the check and
on the forehead are affixed small gold stars
mounted with precious stones. This com
pleteS the costly Disagreement of the face.
Over the forehead tuit r. mounted with al, |
extremely large diamond. If the family I've |
well off this gem is big as a walnut. An |
other diamond, oblong in shape is fixed on |
one side of the head. From the crown Of tn" |
head down to the ear, diamonds are scattered |
over and through the hair Kid gloves cover |
her hands, over which large number of |
rings are worn. A beautiful fan completes |
the picture of the bride cn toilette
IN Az ELEGANT BRIDAL TOILET.
The writer, heing Of the ruder -ax. has |
never been admitted as YET to admire any |
bride in Turkey, Int hi5 own He Is unable |
to say how the Turkish bride looks or acts m |
her elegant toilet; but. on veraciouS hearSs7,
he undertakes to reproduce something of the
graphic and viya"ious hilaritieS and scenes
Of the home coming of the welded IN this
oriental land. Let the reader. therefore, en-
ter i'll fancy into the haremlik. where the
writer cannot 90. The room To which the
bride is taken is decorated with flowers hung
On the walls and on the ceiling These are in
terninglcd with silk Stutfs of bright and
color. The dlyan is covered with
, richly embroidered cloth In one corner
here is a special seat for the bride It has
-he appearance OF a throne. Why not, Is
not the bride TO he queen hera-until de-
hrunedi
Next TO this room is the bridal chamber.
Il Is shown to the visitors. The bed i mag
litcently made up with embroidered silk
iangingS and velvet Coyerlets that would
make the old home made quilts of our grand
mothers in America crazy" Every coii-
-onience to begin comfortable Housekeeping
lppears, On ono side of the couch are the
night gowns of the bride and bridegroom.
IN the divan Is the morning gown Of "a b.
iii the table there are two small vases. They
ontaln oriental perfumes. Thosc are the
lSual objectS IL the oriental Lli1al chamber
rs to the general furnIsLina Of tie bedroom,
depends on the pecunia,y and spcial position
4 families There i Il third room shown 10
lstors, where every convenience and con-
ort which belong &c Il house are provided
Here arc elegant dress ard toilet. mirrors.
able csNiees. linens, table, chairs. ct.
own t. the most mental kitchen utcnsl
'ha TURKS do lot not mako much u, Of
tovcs, but thcre art hra-icts fur warmth TX
harT o,l, called manGll= They givcut metal
--'vCr. bronze " copper. Tho give a
1u.rt. ."auty to the rooms s. Cox in
.urth Arlcri an Review.
ADVICE To muTHBRs