Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-04-26
Native Houses and Women In
Alters.

AlSlerS.
The regulation Arab house is
always commenced in the same way:
whatever the shape of the lot of ground
is. there must be square court.
sometimes with fountain in the GEN.
tire, and a colonnade surrounding tho
court; in the smallest column, with
ornamented balustrade between, at
each corner supports on horseshoe
arches the upper story, with \ repeti-
ton OF the same number Of columns
and arches supporting the roof; then
rooms of every conceivable shape, to
suit the convenience of the owner and
to make the best of every inch of the
lot. are built around the court, tho
doors and windows, with iron gratings.
opening into it; the outer wall forming
a kind of fortress, with few and very
small windows. The Arabs as well
the English can say that "a mans
house is his CASTLE" In the large
country houses the same rule is OBJ
served on larger scale, and with
more columns, with very extensive
outer court enclosed by long colon
made and wall. Baia's house was of
the most modest order, mere nut.
shell: a court seven feet by four was
converted once week into an extern
sive laundry. where Fatma. a jovial
and good-natured negress. was in her
element. Under the stairway. Just
wide enough for one, was well. next
to which was tiny room, which re-
ceived light only from the court
The lame and lonely woman who oc-
cuped it did all her cooking at the
door, and when she was fortunate
enough to afford to fry anything like a
mutton-chop l was obliged to leave
my easel for the time being.
Once week everything is turned
out. on the acknowledged system. for
thorough ouse-cleaning; buckets of
water deluged the tiled floors of the
court and under the little colonnade,
while mop was used for the bed
rooms. which were also tiled. Wood
is seldom employed in the construc-
ton of floors. as tiles are cooler in
summer, do not warp. are more orna-
mental, and cheaper. Her old mother
abominated shoes, and to see her as
sSt in the general washing up on cold
and rainy days. going barefooted
about the house on the cherries tiles,
sent chill to my very marrow. To
acknowledge and return my sympathy,
she expressed her discomfort at seeing
me at work in big oyercoat and
thck-soled boots. When went to see
our friend Belkassem ut home with his
family the rain was pouring into she
open court of his dwelling. and his five
children were standing about on their
bare feet like forlorn wet chickens;
the mother with babe in her arms.
was afflicted. like all her little brood.
with sore eyes.
Ii Is Il strange fact that many of tho
natives of hot countries wear almost
the same clothing winter and summer.
and do not seem to suffer from cold
when the tho thermometer stands at
few degrees. in the seyerest weather.
above freeztng-point Arab women
are always curious to see how European
ladies are dressed. and examine atten-
lively their clothes and jewelry. If tho
Europeans show the same interest, and
inquire into the dressing of the natives
they often find to their surprise. ON
cold days. on lifting the haik of
Moorish woman, nothing buta guaze
chemise and q thin cotton bodice COW
ering the breasts and very small part
of the back. and from the waist to the
feet cotton pantaloons, ample. it is
true, but not warm. The haiks are
often made of hand-wovcn wool, very
thick and warm, others of silk. while
the poorer classes wear few yards of
thin white cotton stuff The large
haiks are about eighteen feet long by
five feet wide. With one of these.
with their veil 10 the eyes and fall
ing about fourteen inches. and with
pantaloons made up of seventeen yards
of white cotton tied at the st and
ankles. the reader will have but Little
difficulty in understanding how they
can conceal she + figures and keep them
selves warm. But such ample drapery
is comparative luxury. and enjoyed by
the wealthy only. On the other hand.
one pities them in hot weather for be-
ing obliged to wear the veil and follow
the fashion among the ladies of their
standing of burdcning their frames
with such n weight of apparel.
With all this drapery the women's
husbands and acquaintance readily
recognize them by their bearing and
gait; but one can form no idea, or 8
very inaccurate one, of u woman from
what the exterior forms suggest -
h. a. Bridgmaa. IN Harper's Maga-
-,