Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-07-23

vealing in her home The outer gar
ment is the haik, white, usually of wool,
sometimes of silk, often of cotton. 1t is
frequently twenty feet in length and
nearly two yards wide. Beneath this
are precisely four articles of apparel,
gauze chemise, an unstiffened corset, or
bodice, frequently massively embroid-
cred and bejeweled, pantaloons reach
ing to the feet and comprising countless
wards of material and the tantalizing
adiur tied tightly around the face and
falling about twelve inches below.
Most women not satisfied with this re-
tirement, or perhaps more strictly spe,sk-
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
head, so that but one eye, dark eye
brow and tiny patch Of the forehead
are visible.
Their feet are usually encased in
brown or yellow slippers; danglets and
banglets of indescrib tble ewelry tinkle
and chime from wrists, ankles and con-
cealed portions of the figure; and in this
swathing of ghostly haik, with bumped
bodies and N ncing steps, those who are
allowed upon the street at all wriggle,
glide and scurry along like a bevy of es-
capped wraiths from among the silent
graves upon the heights.
But this privilege of wandering about
like 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 except on that on Friday, in
company with servants or elders, little
excursions are allowed to the suburban
marabouts, or sacred temples and the
khoubas at the cemeteries as at BelcOur,
where they are allowed the cheering
diversion of fiji ing with water the little
cups resting at the heads of tombs; for
the birds drink from these and fly TO
Heaven with greetings from the souls
at rest beneath.
Indoors the dress of these women is
ethereal enough for the most fervid
artists fancy. They never see in their
homes any male but their husbands and
their children. The climate, like that
of tuba in winter. and excessively hot
from May until October, has also much
to do with this. There are really but
two garments for every day home wear.
One is gauze chemise, through which
the olive-hued form is clearly revealed.
The other is the wide, ample trousers,
terminating just below tho knees, and
almost as feecy and gauzy in effect.
The lowlier women are bare legged,
bare footed and bare headed at home.
Wives of the healthier Arabs will don
pink, yellow or blue gauze silk hose and
dainty vel ow babouches or slippers.
Their hair will be coiled in simple
Grecian knot. and fastened with some
huge jeweled ornament, and perhaps
tiny skull cap richly embroidered, will
rest coquettishly on one side of the
head.
But all are bedecked with iewelry.
The poorer are fond of FURNISHED copper
bands about the arms, wrists and ankles,
or brilliant quartz and glass cubes and
crystals, strung on pack thread encircle
their necks The rich are ablaze with
jewels, prime paly pearls, emeralds and
sapphires, badly set, but always genuine
and of great va ue. here IS legend
in Algiers that the hidden riches of the
weather. Arabs, principally compr sing
Jewels, exceeds the sum total in value of
all coin, plate and jewels otherwise pos
sessed by all rationale. es in the white
city,. L. Wakeman, in Cincinnati
Times.