St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-13

2ll@ v8the wives of
8Biuebeard. Oft
en- l have seen
travellers in this land manifest feeling
akin to disappointment when told by an
old resident that much of the commiser-
alton and sympathy they are inclined to
beStOw so lavishly is wasted; that in
their ignorance and child-like simplicity
these women count themselves as ia
yOred above their Christian sisters, es-
pecially those of the aristocracy, who
are so carefully shielded and guarded,
while those of the middle and lower
classes, instead of being kept under
lock and key, are as free to go and come
and to labor for the support of their
lord and maSter-to be, in short, the real
bread winner for the whole family-as
are those of the same class in some
Christian lands. l have even seen them
at work in the fields, like the peasant
women of Italy or Germany, but always
in purely feminine groups, says CORE
Spondent in Constantinople let
ter to the San Francisco Chron-
icle. L have never yet seen
them yOked with an OK or donkey
as we hear of in some countries not un-
der Moslem rule. Here they are gener-
ally employed at home ON some of the
deft needleWOrk so much sought for
and admired-Or, as in BruSa ithe an
Gent Moslem capitoD and adjacent dis
trictS, they are engaged in the culture
and manufacture of silk.
Though always closely yelled and ap-
pearlng shy and taciturn when met
abroad, women of this class are by ma
ture eminently social and sufficiently
pugilistic when they fancy their rights
are in degree infringed upon. In
fact, the only listleSS and really idle
women one meets in this country are
either the wretchedly poor, or the in
mates of the SeragliO or some wealthy
pasha's harem. 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 government official
recently diScOurSed most elOquently to
us OF the delightful freedom of their
life when at their summer home Oh the
BOsphorus. Here" said they, "we
can ride on horseback in the
waters, and are almost as free as
other young ladies; soon, though, when
we return to our town house, we can
only go out i'll closed carriage or when
wrapped like mummy in a yashmac or
ferezle." These young ladies were be-
ing educated by English and French
gOvernesses. Sometimes, l am told,
these women rebel Ell maSse, and nearly
discard the close veil or some other
regulation" 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 wiseacres who
ruled here assembled in solemn divan
to discuss the cause of their decline in
military prOwess; and it seems they
came to the deliberate conclusion that it
must be traced to the fact of their wOm-
ell having
DONNED THE EUROPEAN HIGH SHOE
in place of the low red and yellow Slip
per worn by them for long generations.
Immediately the decree went forth that
no Turkish woman should appear in
public with her feet clothed "a la
Franka."
l 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 to relieve the tedium of her life
of seclusion. They must always have
the consent of the lord of the household
before they can go out, even for short
call, or to any Of the sylvan retreats
where they. so delight to picnic with
their friends; but, Judging from the
great number of yelled women we see
about Oh Friday their Sabbath). Or on
gala days, we must conclude such con-
sent is seldom withheld. Though they
have always to submit to being at
tended by a lynX-eyed eunuch, they
will still look cheerful and care-free,
sitting about on soft rugs, eating sweet
meats. slipping coffee or smoking cigar
cites, chatting with their neighbOrs.
The very poor have rarely many house
hold duties to perform. Their children
are. not allowed to occupy much of
their time, but are sent to the mosque
school or turned into the street
to amuse themselves with other
children OF their class. The actual
needs of the family are easily supplied,
for loaf or two of the black bread of
the country, the price of which is regu-
cheap, ard few pounds of grapes or
olives, also very cheap, are for them
quite sufficient daily Bread" and two
Or three simply fashioned garments
constitute the needful raiment. There
is no setting to rights" of rooms, other
than the rolling up and slowing away
III closets of the pallets on which thew
have slept. Therefore the mistress of
house is soon at liberty to curl up in
q corner of her diyan with her needle
work and beloved cigarette, if the
weather is Indictment, OF if the day is
fine can join some group on a grassy
hillside and spend the entire day in the
most frivolous gossip, with their chill
dren playing about them in all the
freedom OF unreStrain&d childhood.
&c nnnnfoH MI ,,r
for woman to remain unmarried.
Both sexes marry young, the girl often
at twelve OF thirteen, the boys at six
teen or eighteen. A girl must secure a
husband. no matter what the sacrifice.
1t is not an uncommon thing to see a
smart young woman married to SUPER
animated old man and obliged to carry
Oh her young shoulders the burden Of
providing for the whole household. One
such know well, who, in addition to
taking in washing to provide for food
and raiment, performs the various
duties her husband as imam-Or min
lister of public worship-is now utterly
disqualified for by the inGrmities of age.
The office OF imam in a small village
embodies that of a judge as well, for
Mahometan law and religion are so
closely connected that the expounder
of each can be united in one person,
thus forming one body in the hierarchy.
The imam of village may thus be
properly considered the president of
the village. The wife of the imam of
whom | speak now embodieS in her fat
little person all the dignities of his
Office. No Mahometan house can be en-
tered by the police unless the imam of
the parish takes the lead and is the first
TO knock at the door and cross the
threshold. He must also settle all dis
putes, grant all licenses, collect rents,
ETC., all of which and much more is we'll
performed by this competent little wife.
Although do not think she can take
his place in performing the ceremonies
of marriage or circumcision, she must
often assist at washing and burying the
e f1.s- Oh, - L