The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03
HEBREW TYPES OF TUNIS.
JEWISH HOUSEHOLD LIFE IN 1HTs
NORTH AFRICAN CITT


The Baths-NVeird Fup raj Crre-ouies.
IoNDoN. Nov. PA short stay at Tunis On
the route from Cairo to Alglers will be SUM
eient for the traveller aud yet repay him fog
the halt although tho ancient Moorish city
has not retained lite most striking Mussulman
characteristics. and IL fast becoming European
under the new regime II IL more than half
Jewieh already, and II IL difficult to credit the
statistical abatement that the Jewish element
II really only In the proportion OF one TO I've OF
the population. But this unit il the oaly ao-
tive. energetic. business-like and go ahead
portion Of the native community. ana so come
pletely pervades II that IL creates the impress
sion OF being the majority.
From tho low, narrow. and sau or-stricken
parts Of Tunls. whore the jews we're formerly
only found they have migrated into the quar-
tiers occupied by the French contingent and
acme OF them occupy the finest houses and
buildings. Many have retained their national
costumes and abide by the customs Of their
forefathers. while differing essentially from
the Arabic tyre Of Orientals their women lat
least. the young unmarried ones at the age OF
II. when they reach complete cirlhoodl. offer
the most perfect features OF u voluptuous and
splendid beauty.
In order to conceive n just idea Of the lie OF
a Jewish household It is necessary to gain
admittance to the intimacy OF the family. and
the poorer or the richer classes. In the former
the plan and distribution OF the apartments
10 nearly invariable. The houses consist Of
some five or six narrow chambers opening
into an inner court or patio. Tho walls are
freshly whitewashed every autumn: some-
times frame OF colored tiles surrounds
doorway. or curtain Of bright blue cotton
stun hangs before 1t, upon which brilliant
patches OF cloth are scattered. gen orally repre-
Of
famed candlestick. These ornaments relieve
the dead monotonY OF tho blank surfaces
The patio Is paved In cracked marble slals
taken from some ruined palace, which Itself
had been erected from the ruins OF Carthage.
In one angle OF the court stands the fountain
at which the women are constantly filling
their household vessels unconsciOusly repro-
ducing the harmo nioua and picturesque atti-
tudes OF Rachel at the we'll on the Biblical
pictures At all times and seasons the patio
is covered with linen tent by which shade
and coolness is obtained.
Very different Is the outward aspect Of the
abodes OF the wealthy and prosperous Israel.
ties. Their houses are not unfrequently built
In the italian style OF architecture. with wide
marble staircases. walls disappearing under
tall mirrors, unpleasantly recalling the garish
splendor o: a Partisan cafG and tho inevitable
patio is surrounded BIZ q colonnado OF deli
cdto anu uEtibtC DlIlhrh nut oNOu
amid these modern concessions to EuroA
penn luxury the owners perpetuate their ans
tidue customs and preserve intact the ira
ditions OF their race both as regards the
Observance OF their religion and certain family
details to which they attach all the importance
OF habit. Thus while paying an afternoon
call In o drawing room. which might be Q
London or Paris. one 10 suddenly amazed at
seeing the hostess summon a child. who. at .
drawing room inlaid table by the simple
method ssI OF ddSToopnE little OF the wax asa
sSedsabra or orc san as mas never known
The wealthy jewish matrons take no exer-
else whSteyer and leed lite OF supine idle:
PLAYING cards, reclining or sqpatting on low
divans naGnihcently dressed. and covered
unwieldy. bioatsd; and often anrmic The
weight constitute tho most appreciated beauty
in the eyes OF tho admirers OF female physical
cate and picturesque a ppearance Of the young
girls o. theiT race ; This is so generally az.
on diet most conducive to rapidly achieve
the requisite smbonpoint.
portant place The Jews OF Tunis MAKE No
large ~. ~ and irs9uent use Of them as the Arabs:
adopted the custom that the solo Enropean
bathing nI establishment IN Tunis In lessJ ial",.
ed and prosperous. The Jews have their sp'-
cial and distinct baths opened all day and
oislly on fridays when a bath is Obligatory
ore than justlfies the attem pt to visit 4. The
most characteristics establi shment u n: Tho
quarter q the town il Is reachei by marrow Arr Nv"
dark. and tortuous streets. and stands Oh what
nn SfG T M"0 6e TESS
facade Is pierced by single doorway covered
wallis a snGer m"ay
s cent carved like the stalls q our cai4s:
opened for and M rapidly clossd upon, ths
visitor admits the latter 10 the baths prnu"r
glass and re narkabis for It's plainnes-. Arnru
1t are n succession OF little rooms, furnished
scrap Of clothing Is lett in thSs" closets 6rt',
the patio Is again crossed aud the h%t-'r
dark low vaults. whose domes are supported
by massive stone dwarf pillars.
Through the dim haze OF the misty tend
vapor the 60 gradually becomes conscious Of
a CONFUSED. moving, mass OF female form:
shrouds glitterinG white skins and Is hong
continually pushed hack from large, NrlyrtE,
isughing eyes: some OF the women Iea,e on
piercing accents, broken at intrrVa 10y =
strange sybillant ejaculation uttered M uni>"n
LDIhers stand erect. with uDlitted arms p"U
ing warm water over their heals. ard Ia
OF Manuuba, which impartS to u
briliancy like vaTniSh. Others, az r..
anoint themselves with n sTrrlal sdlv' -
mutually sluice each other with shower Z
water brought in pals BY female attendants.
The whole atmosphere ~ one 81 Laughter,
shouts, interIsrtnn-. and peals IT loui me IL
ment. The singular scene might tempt =
painter OF the school 81 liubrns n II weTr rT~-
siblo for one OF his ssN to gain aimIttNuce 10
the jew sh women 3 baths.
Outside the ,ity. whore tho streets hnio
grown wide aud deserted IS an en"i"s are -nr-
rounded by high walls the ls.t",itic remvs
trrT. The ground u paved with bfuat Mar =
slabs, between which the green glass uiat ..
flourish and over which a hustled sl"urh
rclgns. But on the arrival Of "a tuErIitl ,'uit %
he solemn poare Of the chuIcuYHrd drpu -.
4 he mouruers rush in Ia noisy crow D., Does,
ing alpit n painted cnlln, which Is Nvi""
thrown from shoulder To ShuG, Ter ~
bearers. The PROCESSION has hurried a. tao
pr OF its speed from the deal man house.
which ~ Ht uara dciugy wish tn waters ~
publication from doorstep To CART uF Tie
cmHls servants left behind. brrU gIptHs and
lamentations arise from the glouus ever Rui
mon dominated by tho same STR lent hnI
l0u hou' heard 1T the LI'As and Lttoged by
professional women Wccp"TA
Kissing many - TALL Ia its transit from Ons
air 81 arms 10 another, thu rp.iu j. at last de-
ositei ~ the oprn grave. Iu;n vii IA i IL low
red by tho ETaycllggrrs. wuu lm mediRfelV
umping Ia after IT, pT'geni 10 clayeriy pull IL