Evening star., 1898-12-17
The Women of Greece Have Little TO
Interest Them.
CUSTOMS OF THE ORIENT PREVAIL
Marriage is the Chief End in the
Eyes of Every One.
GIRLS ARE NOT WELCOME
From the Providence Journal.


striking things in the streets of a Greek
city is the remarkable absence of women
In the shady balconies they NAV he seen
hillnS the upper windows and Swing from
peillhu Nlndow shutters. seeing and hearing
aLl lhat passes IN the streets below, chat
Ing together Tor hours, but rarely do they
go about the streets The oriental habit ~
keeping women secluded il quite the. ct,s
| tom in Greece. Brought up in seclusjou
| Incidence and inactivity, they seem to b..
perfectly happy in ii. For a Greek lady 70
accept any paid position would really de
srade her among her associates. ANY great
PHYSICAL activity would seem to be tncop,-
pauhle with gentility
The peasant girls do some work in fbs
| ieids and in the vineyards at harvest tirna.
1hey often tread the grapes In the wine,
press Al the vintage season. Bat they sell
G't' ItaNc thelr native villages while young
| 1 nave seen very oId women leaalus their
NouhSHS 70 market laden with Planners tuII
| OF fruits and vegetables 1 have never So,
| any srls in the market place a: any time
stupid Life.
Ihe life of Greek lady must be rather
undressing. 1t would Toe truly SO to Am
american. in the first place. girl child is
not welcome, and is accepted a. one OF tho
unfortunate fatalities of life Er,auepfl,- d.
Greek Will say that he has no chtldr.,
When ne mas only girls. / nave noticed IN,
thdt httle girls are not so eIaborateiy drass-
eu anu petted. They do not receive that
ll''ttfE' duuiduOn and attention winch arr.
lhelrs from earliest childhood IN otIr NJ
| lcdh homes. IN Iact, All children are ,ir,-ss-
eu plalhiy ana attended by some oid S.rN-
ing Moihan whether on the street or with
al the mouse. Young ladies are Instructed
III me literature OF their own language ana
IA frehCh An educated Greek alwavs un-
ueIslahds French and speaks i, as well.
among Gat,- -.
Inc best families usually send their daugn
ters 10 school in AJhens for a few N,-s,-I
As accomplishments they are taught en-
otoluely anu piano music, to which a slighr
| knowledge OF decorative painting "a SOM
l,iilSs ADDED. OF science and uhtloz,rb,-
they are utterly ignorant. ''
NIile AT nome. there is being accumu-
lateo material for tho bridal outfit and
| money Tor the dowry, without which no
srl could ind a husband. As marriag.
Is the chief object OF a Greek eirls Ijfa
1a 1teae lHdterld4 things are vastly important
cHLi dIier marriage, young ladies are ney-
et a4IoWed to he alone with men on any
| account or on any occasion. They may NOT
even walk out alone, but are always ac-
conlpanied by a guardian duenna. unless
with their own families
Domestic Customs.
There is one hardship which the sons +,
g laihly are sometimes called upon to en-
dure. Custom does not permit them to
husbands. Family relations are not very
affectionate but follow certain customs or
long usage. The men are little al homo
spending their time, when not at their of
hces and places of business, in the streets
anu cafes Where women are rarely seen
Many times have been in the dining room,
| oI the motel, with fifty or sixty of hers M,
! self the only woman presenr I nn,ic, q
same absence of women at the ca f,s v-b,.r,.
IT, % tne poutlcatl discussion takes place
IHS Ie" ladles who do Occa sionally travel
WIN lhelf husbands and families dine IN,
their own rooms while at a hote. ON rbt
other hand, one Greek lady has sayer,I
TIMES ulned with us at our hotel and il
always delighted at the occasion Her in
tefest IN seeing and knowing all that goes
on dI the dlfIerent tables is. In itself an
amusement amusement Tor US. As matter Of fact, the
women are Unsuitable gossips
Al the Orthodox Greek Church the wop,.,
are confined to the lett aisle Their vnic,s
are not heard in the chanting nor are tbev
ever allowed TO penetrate behind the screen
OF the altar, which is before the sanct,,
"tS' ohi! the men may enter there.
When in Mourning.
After the death of a near relative tho
women of the household have been in the
habit of secluding themselves for a year,s
time This means absolute seclusion. fbsv
do not so much as step outside of their
houses OF late years this has been modi-
lied somewhat and period of three
months close retirement is considered an
that is required. During this season il is
OUT OF place to have any feasting in the
mouse. PLAIN fare is ordained, and no Dre-
pairing of rich, sweet or costly dishes is
permitted. To show how much of this cus-
tom Is form and how much feeling / will
cite an instance that has occurred within
my hnoW.edge. The ladies of a berea red
Greek family sent to the house of English
residents a great quantity of frutt and
sugar all the necessary materials for max
ErpGarA-PS wit = h..
English friends would kindly make nm for
them the sweets which their state of
mourning would not permit them to attend
to in their own home.
On the occasion of q funeral r,o,a Of ~
women ever follow the remains in its Mill
ful procession TO The grave. Crowds of
men walk behind those who carry the bier
on Which Is borne uncovered the form Of
the departed in holiday attire II is a ,,i,i-
fui sight, while the continual plaintiVa
chanilng OF the priests is a mournful ac-
compartment every step of the way The
women remain at home, where they ara
visited by other women constantIy For
three days they are not left alone
Not many years ago shopkespers carried
thelr goods 10 the different houses for in
specuon and approval. This way of MAX
Ing purchases is still much In vogue Rut
ladies may now with propriety go 70 a
drapers or jewelers., If properly accom-
panied Under no circumstances. however
would she be excused for entering a pro.
vision or grocery store. She may not even
leave an order for what she wishes. All
providing for the table is done by men SER
wants. Even a serving woman would not
think of purchasing provisions excepting
fiom the street vendors, who go about from
house to house, crying out fresh fruits and
vegetables, from pack saddles and pam
niers
Sit at Home All Day
All day long the women of the higher
classes sit at home in utmost neglige and
gossip the time away. Nor are they busted
about housework, which they would scorn
to attend to with their own hands Ser
wants are called upon 10 do the yeriest
trifles. A clap Of the hands, and a waiting
boy appears to do their bidding This
oriental method Of summoning servants is
In use throughout Greece One hears n
constantly at the hotels and in the restau-
rants. As l have said, the women stay at
home all day. Toward evening however
the streets assume gayer aspect All the
women In town, 1t seems, have arrayed
themselves in their handsomest modern cos
tunes, and are now paradlng the streets
Many go with their friends and families to
the square, where the music plays. Some
times the whole evening is passed sitting at