The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-08-03
HOUSES IN ALeiERs.
Queer ways of IIvlng-Uncomrortab &C
TUNES of the Women.


tunes of the Women.
The regulation" Arab house is al
ways commenced in tho same way:
whatever the shape of the lot of ground
is there must be square court, some-
times with a fountain in the center,
and colonnade surrounding the court;
in the smallest column, with orna-
mented balustrade between, at each
corner supports on horseshoe arches
the upper story, with repetition of the
same number of columns and arches
supporting the roof; then rooms of ev-
cry conceivable shape and to suit the
convenience of the owner and to make
the best of every inch of the lot, are
built around the court, the 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 rs we'll as the
English, can say that "a mans house
is his castle. In the large country
houses the same rule is observed on a
larger scale, and with more columns,
with very extensive outer court, en-
closed by long colonnade and wall.
Baia's house was of the most modest
order. mere nutShell: court seven
feet by four was converted once week
into an extensive laundry where Fat
ma, a jovial and good-notured negress.
was in her element Under the stair
way, just wide enough for one. was a
well. next to which was tiny room,
which received light only from the
court. The lame and lonely woman
who occupied it did all her cooking at
the door, and when she was fortunate
enough to afford to fry any thing like a
mutton-chop, Twas Obliged to leave my
easel for the time being.
Once a week every thing is turned
out. on the acknowledged system, for
n thorough house-cleaning; buckets of
water deluged the tiled floors of the
court and under the little colonnade,
while a mop was used for the bed
rooms. which were also tiled. Wood
is seldom employed in the construction
of floors, rs tiles are cooler in summer,
do not warp, are more ornamental and
cheaper. Her old mother abominated
shoes. and to see her assist in the gem
eral washing up on cold and rainy
days, going barefooted about the house
on the cherries tiles. sent a chill to
my very marrow. To acknowledge
and return my sympathy, she ex-
pressed her discomfort at seeing me at
work in n big overcoat and thick-soled
boots. When / went to see our friend
Belkassem at home with his family the
rain was pouring into the 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.
1t is b strange fact that many of the
natives of hot countries wear almost
the same clothing winter and summer,
and do not seem to suffer from cold
when the thermometer stands at few
degrees, in the severest weather, above
freezing point. Arab women are al
ways curious to see how European Ia
dies are dressed, and examine atten-
lively their clothes and jewelry.
Ii the Europeans show the same
interest, aud inquire into til,
dressing of the natives, they
often find to their surprise, on cold
days, on Fitting the haik of a Moorish
woman, nothing but gauze chemise
and a thin cotton bodice covering tn,
breasts and Il 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-woven 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 fivs
feet wide. With one of these, with
their vail to the eyes and falling about
fourteen inches, and with pantaloon:
made up of seventeen yards of white
cotton It'd at the waist and ankles. the
reader will have but little difficulty ir
! understanding how they can concea
| their figures and keep themselves warm
But such ample draPery is comparative
luxury, and enjoyed by the wealthy
| olfy On the other hand, one pitie!
! them in hot weather for being obliged
to wear the vail and follow the fashion
/ among tAe lduteS Oh tHeiE st'thuliiS ol
burdening their frames with such +;
weight of apparel
With all this drapery the women;
husbands and acquaintances readily
recognize them by their bearing and
gait; but one can form no idea, or ;
very inaccurate one. of woman from
what the exterior forms suggest.-F
4. Bridgnaan, IN Harper's Magazine.