The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-07-24
SOCIAL LIFE IN PERSIA.
The Social and Domestic Relations of
an Ancient People.

an Ancient People.
The following article is from the
pen Of Hon. S. G. w. benjamin., for
merly U. S. Minister to Persia:
The social life of Persia was origi-
nally the natural outgrowth OF certain
climatic and racial conditions. AS it
was $500 years ago., such it continues
to-day practically unchanged. Only
when the condition change will the So
cial life of the country also change. 1t
Is a mistake to suppose that Mohamet
or the precepts he laid down in Koran
produced any radical deviations in the
social Or domestic institutions of the
countries which embraced his doc
trines. He enunciated tho great prin-
ciples of monotheism, new in many
parts of the East or fors gotten and only
seemed to introduce q new social sys-
TEN by simply placing his official seal
OF appreciation on what already exist
ed, adding a few details here and
there, and thus making obligatory as
articles OF faith customs which had OBJ
tanned for ages by reaso OF usage rath-
er than law.
The patriarchal life of the early Per-
slams served as tho foundation for the
great nation which was finally evolved
when numerous nomadic tribes were
c~rystallized into q homogeneous, pow
erful and absolute monarchy. The
sovereign continued to be simply o. pa.
triarch governing but controlling a
larger family or clan, and in the social
system the father or head Of q family
is still in Persia not merely a father,
but q ruler to whom all his descen-
dants pay due reverence and allegi-
ance. He is the patriarch until death
removes him and his eldest son takes
his place.
1t was not the Koran which insti-
tuted polygamy, and the kings of Per-
sia with their vast harems merely
practiccd on a scale suited to their
rank q connubial system established
by their ancestors, the early patri-
archs. At the outset the women were
not kept in seclusion, nor are they now
among those Persians who are still
nomads. But the kings, in order to
exhibit greater state and preserve a
pure lineage, introduced the custom of
carefully guarding their wives and CON
cubines and keeping them from the
public eye. The custom extended to
the nobles,, and was gradually adopt
ed by all classes except the nomads.
But of course it is impossible for any
one but a sovereign to entirely seclude
his wives, hence the Persian women
have liberty to go abroad, but they
must be closely yelled, and no man can
enter the quarter of o dwelling de-
voted to them except the husband and
the sons. 1t is evident that these es-
sential traits of Persian life are direct
ly evolved from the early p%atriarchal
system, while the elaborate ceremonial
etiquette which is universally practiced
in Persia Is borrowed from the ex-
treme ceremonies which protect ap-
proach to the sovereign, and make his
person and power more august and ter
rible in the eyes of the people. In
like name it is precisely by strictly
maintaining q graded scale Of ell
quette that men in different social
grades protect themselves in q country
where all are equally the slaves of the
sovereign. All these apparently alb
surd social rules, which so often arouse
the derision of Europeans, have their
basis therefore in utility. When the
necessity for them ceases with chang
ing conditions, this elaborate social
system of Persia will pass away, exact
ly as dueling, or the too ready resort to
arms for resenting affrOnts will wholly
disappear from the South when it ip
found that society Is sufficiently we'll
organized and compact to give O man
ouher anu more rational means Tor
avoiding affront or aggression.
The social life of Persia Is condition
ed also on it's domestic life the two
are distinct in that country, instead of
being differentiated or forming one
system as with us. Polygamy and the
%seclusion Of Oriental women makes 1t
impossible for the sexes to meet in
Persia on social terms, or for such q
thing to exist as general society.
Whatever society each sex enjoys must
be exclusively with members ofits own
SEX. Women may give entertainments
or visit, men may do the same; but on
all such occasions only one sex is re-
presented. The Interchange of visits
among Persian ladies is attended by an
etiquette similar to that practiced by
the men, with somewhat moro atten-
tention perhaps to serving and urging
the guest to eat fruits and c%onfeetion-
cry. But except among women of the
highest rank, who have private baths
attacked TO their residences, the most
important social factor among Persian
women is the public bath. There they
assemble with their children, and after
bathing and having their long tresses
died with henna and plated in long
braids, which are good for several
days, they gather In groups, making
the exquisite embroidery for which
they are famous, and exchanging the
gossip. of the neighborhood. Thus
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