St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-04-14
WOMEN OF TURKEY.
Sasar Lives Not Wholly Devoid Of
Pleasure,
pssy"@st Of Their Tisas-A Female
saOt ter aud JuAge-Power ee
S0sn0 Iawates 0f Harems-
The Sa.tan's Mother.

= Serm' 10 be 4uf'6 the fashion &
ae4Ard the women of Turkey as al
most universally SUBJECTED to the sam.
Kind OF discipline ~ were the pool
wives "f Biucb ard. Often Ihavcsecr
travellers in this land manifest . feel.
1ng akin to disappointment when told
- IN old resident that much of the
oommiserstion and sympathy they are
inclined to bestow 50 lavishly is vast.
Cd; that in their ignorance and child
nke simplicity these women count
themselves rs favored above their
ChristiSn sisters especially those OF
the aris ocracy. who are 30 carefully
shielded and guarded; while those Of
the midllo and lower classes instead
OF being kept under lock and KEY, are
- free to 60 and come. and, to labor
aor the support Of their lord and mas.
eer-to be. in short, the real bread.
winners for the whole family--as
are those Of the sam. class
IN som. Christiaa lands I have
even seen them It work in the ficlda
like the peasant women of I:aly or
Z 'rmany. but always in purely
feminine groups. 1 have never vet
soen them y"ked with An OK or q don.
key. rs We hear Of II In some countries
not under Moslem rule Here they
are generally employed at home on
some Of the deft needte-work SO much
sought for and admired-Or, as i'm
Brusa Qhe ancient Moslem capitaN
and adjacent districts. they are en-.
gagged in the culture and manufacture
of silk.
Though alwayY closely vailed and
appearing shy and taciturn when met
abroad women OF this class are by
nature eminenlly social and sufficient.
y pugilistic when they fancy their
rights are in . degree infrin ged upon.
In tact the only listless and really idle
women one meets In this country are
either the wrctcheily poor or the in.
mates of the seraglio or some wealthy
pasha's harenl. The latter. especially
the young among them. complain Bit
terly Of the monotony Of their life.
Two beautiful and sprightly young
Girls-daughters of high govern
ment official-recently discoursed most
eloquently 10 us of the delightful free
dom OF their life when at their sum-
mer home on the Bosphorus Here"
0aid they, I'VE can ride on horse back
In tho lovely country or row over these
bright waters; and are almost as free
- other young ladies; soon. though,
when we return to our town house, we
can only go out in close carriage or
when wrapped like a mummy in
yashmac or ferezie" Those young
ladies were being educated BY
8aglish and French governesses
Sometimes. am told. these women
rebel en- masse. and nearly discard
The close vail or some other 'reguI a.
t3on raiment and little notice is taken
of it until there is some scandal
evolved and reported to the Sultan.
Then the screws are frightened.
Long years ago the wiscacres who
yulcl here assembled in solemn divan
% discuss the cause of their decline i'm
military prowess; and it seems that it
must be traced to the fact Of their |
women having donned the European
high shoe in place of the low red aud
yellow slipper worn by them for long
Immediately the decree
went forth that no Turkish women
shoulI appear in public with her feet |
olothed - Ia Franka."
] am told that even in the harems Of |
the wealthy the ''honoum" (chief |
lady) often spends the morning hours
busily engaged with her domestics and
slaves in the commonest household
duties in order 10 relieve the tedium
& her life Of seclusion. They must
have the consent Of the lord Of |
~ household before they can 20 out.
sven for short call. or to any of the
sylvan retreats where they 90 delight |.
. picnic with their friends; but. juIg-
lag from the great number Of vailed
women We see abroad on Friday (their
eebbath). or on gala days We must
nonclude such consent is seldom with
Lid Though they have always to
uubmit to being attended BY lynx
rvsd eunuch. they still look cheerful
cnd care-free sitting about on soft
Isgz. eating sweetmeat> sipping COT J