New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-12-16
WOMEN OF ARMENIA.

WOMEN OF ARMENIA.
English Customs Are Slowly Reaching
Them-The Mothers Rule. .
The Armenian girl is little troubled
with education, beyond household du-
ties, spinning and needlework-and at
this last accomplishment she is always
an expert, especially at embroidery
unless, indeed, she attends one of the
excellent Armenian mission schools car
ried on in many towns, where she will
learn English, French and possibly her
own language, for Armenians not infre.
quently adopt the vernacular of the
country wherein they live. She will al
SO acquire thirst for fiction, English
and French. The Armenian girl is deep
~ sentimental and likes to read Of love,
and marriage is, of course, the ultima
Thule of her ideas This little matter is
generally arranged by her mother, and
nowhere are women of more Importance
or hold more weight in the family coun-
cils The mother is at the head of the
patriarchal establishment, in which her
sons their wives and often her nephews
and nieces dwell. She rules her sons and
sons wives, the latter, perhaps, with
somewhat severe hand, especially dur
ing the first year of their married lives,
when, except to attend church, they
may not 60 out though, when the
daughters-in law in their turn become
mothers greater liberty is permitted
them.
In more advanced portions of the COM
munity a girls choice is practically un-
restricted, and it is we'll that it is so, for
the Armenian church strenuously OPP:
poses divorce, and the marriage bond is
only soluble by death. Not infrequently
the girls choice falls upon an English
man or other European, and many
merchants and telegraph officials in
Persia and Turkey find them excellent
wives.
The Armenian national costume con.
sists of voluminous skirt of heavy bro
caded material, a tight sleeved bodice
of the same stuff, much embroidered
about the front, with handsome fligree
silver belts marking the waist. The head
coverings are fchus Of fringed embroid-
cred silk, and multitude Of chains
and coins hang round their necks. In
winter the embroidered bodice is ex-
changed for a wadded one, and huge felt
shoes are worn over the ordinary boots
to keep out the biting cold. Though the
Armenian women do not wear wells to
conceal their features as a point of re-
ligion, they not infrequenuly do cover
their faces with gauze or corner of
shawl.
Some of the younger women, however,
have discarded their native costume for
that Of London three years ago, and they
are evidently not quite at ease in their
newly acquired corsets. They copy the
fashion plates in English papers and
produce wonderful combinations of pink,
blue and violet, which are further adorn.
ed with quantities of brilliant jewelry
They are full of curiosity regarding the
life of civilized nations, particularly in
the matter Of marriage, and never miss
all opportunity Of obtaining information
Oh the subject St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Costly Etiquette.
The latest pamphlet published by the
commission Of historical manuscripts in
London contains the following interest
ing and curious travesty on etiquette (:
"The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk,
having been summoned to appear before
the house Of lords in 1892 in order to
plead their suit for divorce, it was de-
bated whether the lord chancellor, sit
ting as chairman, should lower his dig
nifty by bowling to the duchess and speak
ing to her only with his cap in his hand.
This question was argued for several
days in the house Of lords until debate
exhausted itself and several duels result
cd. At length it was decided that the
lord chancellor should first receive the
bows of the duke and, duchess and re-
turn them with uncovered head and aft
Or that he should replace his cap" This
rule was followed to the letter and is
still adhered to today when similar con-
tingencies arise:
The Dwarf Elephants of Malta.
The island of Malta is the only known
SPOT where the remains of dwarf ele-
plants are found. There are several
places on the island where the bones Of
these miniature pachyderms have been
unearthed, and hundreds Of skeletons
have been secured, in whole or in part.
Ono of these whose teeth and bones