The Southern herald., 1894-12-14

ne E.ala-sanEs zlsIzsis Ezplsysa = on
talaiaE Wives

I ne azaalaeazilEa aIazsiiz EarlnFe1 - o.
taiaiag Wives
While We American women are
thinking and taIkiAs of higher educa-
tion and enaneipafan We often forget
that there are lFpmen in the world
who, besides not having the numerous
advantages wAich have become part Of
car daily lives have 70 labor under
many = disadyan tage and are kept
down BY Inahy sc ght which we have
never known. FeW Of rs have any
knowledge Of the lie and standing oi
the Turkish woman; in fact, there is
no class Of women IN the world Of
whOn, for obvious reasons 50 little Is
known.
The seelusion ID which she has 70
live has effectuaily screened her. trav.
elers get as sman a glimpse Of her life
as they get Of her features under the
folds Of her yashmAk Henee the ex.
aggeratsd idea that the Turkish wom.
al ) either a pampeFed creature living
in lazy luxury OF slave at the beck
and call Of a relentless master.
During q long residencs IN the sul-
tan's dominions have had the oppor-
tunity Of becoming acquainted with q
large number Of ladies Of al classes,
and have found them in very few re-
spects IS had expected to find them.
In the first place. it is not a fact that
the religion Of the prophet denies won-
an a soul. The superiority OF man over
woman is distinctly taught, but she is
ekhorted 10 lead a righteous life and
the same promise Of future reward il
made TO man and woman alike in the
koran.
The Mahometan scriptures permit
each man to have four wives; his first
wife Is chief OF the household and above
the other wives As rule marriage
among the Turks takes place at an ear.
lier age than it does with us. The ar
rangements for betrothal and mar
riage are not made BY the young man
himself. In fact. he plays almost as
passive part in the matter as the girl
does
When a young mau is deemed mar.
riageable by his family his mother OF
nearest relatives look about them for
a suitable bride. All their friends tell
them about this girl or that, and the
mother Of the young man and other fs.
male relatives make round Of calls
upon the different eligible maidens,
one Of whom is chosen If she finds favor
in the eyes of the critical visitors.
In anticipation Of this visit the
young ladies are dressed ont in their
prettiest, decked ont in as many Jewels
as the family possesses, and sit demure-
" Ny while their mothers discuss the
weather and other equally interesting
and appropriate topics; of the actual
cause of their visit no mention is made.
After sampling the goods, so TO speak,
the mother decides which girl her son
shall marry. A formal proposal Is seRt
to her parents, and II they are willing
the match is made.
Then, and not till then, may tha
young lady see her betrothed, but al.
ways in the presence of her mother or
some other old haanum. According to
law a woman of age may refuse to mar
ry certain man, but II is very seldom
that such an objection is made. This
system has so long been an accepted in
stitution that a girl no more thinks OF
refusing husband chosen for her than
she thinks OF choosing one for herself,
and that would never enter her head.
After the engagement the family
Jointly agree as to the time Of the we'd
ding, and great preparations are made
for the important event, especially If it
is the young mans first venture in the
matrimonial field. As the important
day approaches the house is decorated
according to the means Of the families;
furniture and ornaments, rugs for the
floor and illuminated texts from the
koran or the walls are brought in
from various sources. philadelphia
praee