The record-union., 1895-09-07
WOMEN OF ARMENIA.
Wives, Mothers and Daughters of
an Afflicted Nation.
Armenian Women of High Char
aoter and Varied Accomplishments
Beautiful Family Life - Manners
and Customs.

The present interest of the Christian
world in the woes of Armenia sister
Christian people-gives special value to
an estimate OF Armenian women secured
from Herant NJ. Kiretchjian. an Arme-
nian graduate from Robert College, dele
gate to the Worlds Parliament of Re-
ligions in Chicago, and an eloquent ora
tor who has been heard from many
platforms in behalf of his unfortunate
country.
at is the Armenian woman" said Mr..
kiretchjian to representative OF the
New York Times, "who has preserved
the Armenian nation. The patient dig
nifty, the devoted faith, and the untlinch-
ing heroism of the Armenian wife,
mother and daughter are traditional
among their native hills and in the ar
chives of the race. Ancient historians
aing their praises without stint. The first
martyrs OF the Armenian Church were
thirty-six young women, Hripsime and
her companions, maidens of high social
position who were converted to Christi
anity at the beginning of the fourth can
tury by the preaching of Gregory, the
Illuminator. They did not hesitate TO
yield their lives rather than renounce their
faith. In the great religious wars OF the
fifth century the women OF Armenia were
on the battle6elds encouraging their huS-
bands and sons and caring for them
when wounded and dying. An eminent
writer of those days speaks specially and
often OF the courageous devotion and zeal
of the tend6rly nutured women OF Arme-
nia. This spirit has come down through
1000 years, preserving more than all else
the life of the nation and of its church.
when the environment Tor centuries
of the Armenian woman is considered,
when it is remembered that she has been
encompassed by the Persian and Moham-
medan life with its boundlesS corruption
and stagnation, and has been over
whelmed for generations by oppression,
ianaticism and persecution, 1t Is one of
the marvels Of the worlds history that
she has preserved her womanlineas and
integrity, her purity and simple faith.
That she has, is true not only OF the edu-
Gated, intelligent Armenian woman, but
as well of the humblest representative of
her class-alike of the honored mother
of a rich and influential household and of
the rustic girl in the little villages of the
interior. Everywhere The Armenian
women are superior TO their nelghbors.
They are what the Germans would call
Gemuthsleute-soul people.
The school OF the Armenian women is
the home, and the first characteristic OF
the home, after its piety, is its industry.
The households are large, sons bringing
home their wives and grandsOnS theirs,
making up family often OF from forty
10 sixty persons In the Interior villages
among the peasantry the number is often
much larger This condition is relic of
Biblical times, and Is still necessary in
many parts OF Armenia for mutual pro-
lection and economy OF living, IN coun-
Try where life is often dependent upon
resistance TO barbarious tribes, and
money and food products are subject to
the Justice (?) OF turkish taxation.
with primitive utensils and incon-
venient methods Of living it may be seen
that industry is a necessity in such great
establishments, and absolute cleanliness
goes with it. A FrenchWoman, Nine.
ChanIre, who spent months IN Armenia
with her husband, an occulist, and had
an unusual opportunity 10 study the
ways OF the people, speaks emphatlcally
of this element OF the Armenian home.
The Armenian women says she, are
perfect housek eepers. Their houses are
marvelously clean.'
"The servant problem does not exist in
Armenia. All well-to-do households en-
ploy servants who come from the peas
antry, and are trained in the service OF a
family and become part OF It. They
know their place. as is said here, and
yield all respect TO their masters and mis-
tresses: on the other hand, their place is
known and respected by every mem ber
of the family.
The Armenian women are expert and
skillful COOKS. 4 prominent foreigner
who has travelled much through the coun-
try has said: NO one has eaten a good
dinner who has not eaten one cooked by
an Armenian The chief meal OF the day
is eaten in the evening after the work of
the day is done. At this are served rich
cereals and vegetables cooked with sur
prising delicacy and relish. and fruits,
preserved and in their season, of the
most luscious and tempting varieties.
Meat is used, but not so much as here.
Armenia is a land of fruit and flowers,
and the Armenian woman ia skilled in
the art OF preserving fruits and OF max
ing eonfections from flowers. The time
OF such compounding and preparation is
a sort of holiday, The whole household
gathers for the ceremony; the fruit is
prepared and put into great caldrons
over which presldes some experienced
aunt or other relative specially secured
for the occasion. The rest of the women
assist according to the degree OF their ex-
pertness, down to the younger daughters
of the home, who can only earnestly
watch and admire the skill which IL is
their ambition to emulate some day. At
Inc l1OiIl0utS Ol lilo OpSIdHOI
when drop more or less of lemon juice
or an added degree Of heat too soon or too
late may be fatal, care and watchfulness
are intensified to the superlative degree.
Silence reigns while tastes and tests are
taken, and the weight of a nation can
hardly burden its bearer more than the
responsibility of her on whom rests the
final decisive step.
For the children it is holiday pure
and simple. Fruits and sweets abound
and saucerfuls OF the CONNECTIONS at vari-
Gus stages of the process are generally
dealt out.
"These preserves are offered 10 all who
are guests of the household. Ceremonious
visits would not be complete without
them. Two fine glass bowls are set out
containing each a choice variety Of the
sweetmeats, with an amply supply OF sill
yer spoons and an array of crystal goblets
filled with water. a spoonful OF the
sweet is taken by each guest and sip OF
water, then Turkish coffee is handed
round.
"The Armenian family life pervading
the nation, the entire people of the coun-
try are like one family and national ira
ditions and principles obtain with the
poor as we'll as the rich-the church be-
MIL