The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-06-07
A WEDDING IN EGYPT.
FLASHING JEWELS MAKE SCENE.
FROM THE ARABI4N NIGHTS.
All the Ladies Smoked Cigarettes and
Stared ut the Bride Dancing Girls
with Tambourincs and Castanets-
VVeddiDv Custouos

All the Ladies Smoked Cigarettes and
Stared ut the Dancing Girls
with Tambourines and Castanets-
Wedding Customs.
A writer in The Christian at Work
thus describes a marriage ceremony in
Egypt
We were ushered into a large square
hall, paved with marble; a fountain
played in the centre, sending up a
spray of perfumed water. All around
the wall ran a low cushioned divan,
while female slaves in thin white
Oriental dresses We're standing about
the room to render any service that
might be needed. Up a wide stone
staircase we went, into an upper hall
just like the lower. and also filled with
serving girls, who bowed and salaamed
as we passed through, putting their
hands on their hearts in token OF sub
mission. There is no distinction OF
color, for some were fairer than We
Georgians they were-while others
were black as charcoal, but all mingle
together.
GATHERING JEWELS.
We were escorted next into a large
room filled with elegantly dressed
ladies, some in thin native dress, which,
if they would only believe it. is SO
much more graceful and better suited
to them than the bright bodices and
high-heeled shoes than which we have
never known aught else, and to which
they are learning to accustom them
selves. Such an array of flashing
jewels, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and
pearls l have never seen, al on their
fingers, necks, heads and arms. Ills
a perpetual Arabian Nights entertain
ment.
As soon as we were seated, a scamla,
one of the pretty octagonal tables OF
polished wood, inlaid with mother-of-
pearl, was brought in and set before
us. Upon it was a gilt ash receiver,
and a girl brought us a basket OF
cigarettes and a case of a matches.
When we declined they looked
amazed, every lady in the room but
the bride was putting the smoke from
between her rosy lips. Then they
brought us coffee in the tiny fngans,
which are the curiously shaped cups
of the East. The coffee has a peculiar
but not unpleasant taste, and a
soon becomes fond of it; at least, | did.
In one corner of the room were a
dozen dancing girls-Almehs they call
them-who shook their tambourines
and castanets over their heads, and
crooned a wild melody, to which they
kept time with rhythmic motion. The
fanciful dress. the jewelled arms OF the
girls and the tinkle of the silver bells
on those instruments made up a
pretty picture. A little negro boy
as high as my knee and as black as
the ace of spades, dressed in red satin
and gold, danced about the room to
make Inerriment for the guests.
THE BRIDE ON A THRONE.
In the centre. on a throne-like dais,
sat the little bride, whose years could
not have numbered more than twelve.
She was dressed in white satin, with a
front of gold lace; the train of gauze,
heavily embroidered with gold, was
SO long that it covered the three steps
of the throne.
Her illusion veil was pinned with a
diamond aigrette, but it was evidently
an aching brow that bore the diamond
coronet, for the poor child had been
sitting there for three whole days to
be looked at, and looked as if she
would like to lay all the splendor
down for a little repose.
The marriage usually takes place at
the house of the husband, but this
was an only child, and she was al
lowed to stay at home for a while.
The bridegroom had not seen her un-
til the third day of the marriage
festivities; then the ladies all retired,
while he came in for a moment, and
was allowed to salute his child-bride,
and Immediately retired, but at mid
night he was to come and the mar
riage proper would be celebrated.