Los Angeles herald., 1891-08-21
A TURKISH GIRLS DEBUT.
There Is No Coming Out Party In That
Medieval Land.
Especial correspondence ]

Especial Correspondences1
CoNsrANTINoPLE, July 15.-In Turkey
there is no such thing known as a coming
out party nor any kind of a debut made by
a young girl. The seclusion of the lives of
the women and the sacredness in which
they are held are opposed to it, besides
which it is considered somewhat of dis
grace to appear to have a daughter who
seeks instead of being sought.
When girls are nine years old they reach
their majority, and they are often given in
marriage at that age, though the more
generally observed rule is to marry at
fourteen or fifteen. The girl who is not
married at twenty is looked upon as very
unfortunate and classed among the old
maids.
No man can ever behold the unveiled
face of his bride until after the marriage,
and he really does not know what she looks
like, nor does he ever speak one word to
her until she is irrevocably his own.
But the young man generally succeeds
in getting as pretty wife as he could have
chosen for himself, and most likely fares
better than half our own bridegrooms, for
he sets his mother or his nearest female
know.
1t lis not considered proper for any parents
who have daughter to appear to wish to
find husband for her, but there are GER
tain old women who make business of
knowing all the marriageable girls and
young men, and to them is due the possi-
bility of arranging the affair. They will
see the girls at the bath or in their homes,
opJ than co to tho mot hare Of tho uo,po
men and go over the list of the girls she
knows and give summary of their beauty,
wit and accomplishments. When the
young mans mother hears of one whose
family, position and dowry as we'll as per-
sonal attractions seem suitable to her sons
merits, she signifies that she would like to
see the maiden at the bath.
The old woman then visits the young
lady's mother, and invites her and her
family to the bath, which is equivalent to
inviting any one to the matinee. The
mother is carefully enjoined to take her
whole family. No word is said, but the
mother knows that her daughter is to be
inspected and judged upon, but all parties
utterly ignore the fact. The young mans
mother pays the expense of this treat, and
is there with all her family-of course, only
the female members-and several of her
personal friends.
When the invited guests have all arrived
there are introductions and compliments,
and then disrobing for their steam cook
ing process, after which they all plunge
into the basin and have general good
time. Then slaves bring lunch and they
all sit around clad in soapsuds and eat
lunch, after which they plunge in the
basin again, and when weary of sport they
come out to have their toilet made for GO
ing home.
On such occasions all the young girls
who are to be at the bath are dressed in
the most exquisite manner as to bathing
robe and such garments, which she takes
good care to display before and after her
bath, but during the interval she has no
garment but that which Godiva wore.
If the young mans mother likes the girl
she asks permission of the girls mother to
visit her the next day. If she does not, she
simply bids her adieu politely and that
ends it. 1t is very mortifying to fail to be
approved of and greatly lessons a young
girls chances
| If, however, the visit is to be made,
| there will be formal demand for the
young lady's hand, which is referred by
her mother to the girls father, and he
makes his Investigations, though probably
less exacting ones, and if the young man is
eligible the mothers are at liberty to talk
it over to their hearts content, while the
fathers make out the contract. The girl
gets dowry of clothes, jewels, household
goods and money, according to the posi-
ton of the parents. This always remains
hers, and in case of her husbands death re-
verts to her, as also it does in case of di-
vorce, though her husband has virtual con-
troll of it during their married life.
The preparations for the wedding are al
ways snowy and always reach the utmost
limit of the brides parents means. An
ulema comes the day of the ceremony and
gravitates between the selamlik where the
men are to the door of the harem to ask
the usual questions, and when certain
number have been answered the groom is
led to the family sitting room in the harem,
where the two join hands and exchange
rings and are pronounced welded Not
even then is the bridegroom permitted to
see his bride, for all the married women
now take possession of her and she has to
| eat the ''leg of mutton" dinner with them,
which signifies that now her girls life of
pleasure is ended and she must come down
to matter of fact life.