Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-06-17
THE ARAB MoMAn
H.
S'haiii9n, Dress, Pastiuaes N,
Love For ,Iexxeir., ~

Her Social Condition. Dra.. -,
~ Love For Jeweiry.
Ing Arab woman, save In 49,.
peasant exceptions, Is hardly What 49,
poets ana painters have shown ~ =,
e nv oe graceful or beautiful, IL ia er.
1feiheiy difficult to discover IL; and sb.
Possesses neither of these attraction ]
aiVer she Is twenty-five, for sho 10 :
wire al from twelve to fourteen -,
~ age whatever that station or conat.
.ioh means among the Arabs. All there
Is ABOUT this being to become costa. =
over Is that subtle proropting ~ ~
poe'lc fancy which ever, 10 the male
mind peculiarly, blooms like the rose in
any soil OF apparent coy shness and
mystery in the gentler sex.
Inc Arab woman is simply yacuous
lhsensate, voiceless and dreamless
human animal, sheeted like the dead in
sne streets, and dead to the world whom
within the four windowless walls wbare
her penned. ep'
The dress of ehe Arab woman is ali
conceahng upon the street and all-ra.
vealing in her home. The outer oar.
ment Is the haik white, usual y of wool
sometimes OF silk, often Of cotton. iii.
frequently twenty feet in length and
nearly two yards wide. Beneath This
are ES.eisely four articles of apparel. a
gauze chemise, an unstiffened corset. q,
oodlce, frequently massively embroid
cred and bejeweled, pantal oons reach
ing to the feet and comprising countless
yards OF material and the tantalizing
adJur tied tightly around the face and
falling about twelve inches below.
Most women not satisfied with this re.
nrement' or perhaps more strictly speak
ing, most women whose husbands are
not satisfied with this observation
further hide the face by bringing the
haik down over one side Of the fore
mead, so that but one eye, dark eve.
brow and tiny patch of the forehead
are visible.
Their feet are usually encased in
brown or yellow slippers; danglets and
oanglets of indescrib lble ewelrv tinkle
and chime from wrists, ankles and con.
cealed portions of the figure and in this
swathing OF ghostly haik, with bumped
bodies and IN ncing steps, those who are
allowed upon the street at all wriggle.
glide and scGrry along like bevy of es-
capped wraiths from among the silent
graves upon tie heights.
But thi- privilege Of wandering abou;
Ike a lot Of sheeted spooks is by no
means universe one. The young and
fair see the SUM ght only through the
open courts Of their dwellings or from
the white terraces for brief hour to-
ward sunset Only the aged and safe
are ever permitted to visit the mosques
with the exception that on Friday, in
company W th servants or elders, little
excursions are allowed to the suburban
mara bouts. or sacred temples and the
khoubas at the cemeteries as at Belcour.
where they are allowed the cheering
diversion Of fill ing with water the little
cups resting at the heads of tombs; for
the birds drink from these and fly 10
Heaven with greetings from the souls
a. rest ieneath.
Indoors the dress Of these women is
ethereal enough for the most fervid
ar lists ancy They never see in their
homes any male but their husbands and
their children. The climate, like that
Of cuba in winter. and excessively hot
from Nav until October, has also much
TO do with his There are really but
two garments for every day home wear
Jne is Il gauze chemise, through which
the oive-hucd form is clearly revealed.
The other is the wide, ample trousers,
terminating just below the knees. and
most as feecy and gauzy in effect
The lowlcr women are bare legged,
bare footed and bare headed at home
Wives of the wealthier Ara s will don
pink, yellow or b-ue gauze silk hose ana
dainty vel ow babouches or slippers.
Their hair will be coiled in nipple
Grecian knot and fastened with some
huge ieweled ornament, and perhaps
tiny skull cap. richly embroidered. wi.
rest coquettish'y on one side OF the
head.
Bat all are bedecked with jewelry.
Tho poorer are fond Of FURNISHED copper
bands about the arms. wrists and ankles,
or bril- liant quartz and glass cubes and
crystals, strung on pack thread encirc
their necl1S. The rich are alb axe with
Jewels prime pa ly pearls, emera'd DIS and
sapi hires. bad set, but always 2 uine
and of great va lie. here s a legend
In Algiers that the hidden riches OF the
Weather Arabs. principally eompr sing
eve exceeds the sum total in value OF
all co H. plate and jewels otherwise pos
i t. ~, - +t