The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-10-26
OLD LADIES' PARADISE.
Age Carries with 1t Many Privileges
In Austria and Among the sEOors
as Well, and in China.

According to the laws of good so
ciety in China, young widows should not
remarry. Widowhood is therefore held
in the highest esteem, and the older
the widow, the more agreeable her posi-
ton becomes. Should she reach 50
years, she may, by applying to the en-
peror, get a sum of money with which
to buy a tablet, on which her virtues are
named, the tablet being placed over the
door at the principal entrance to her
house, says the St. Louis Globe-Demo-
Graf.
Contrary 10 the practice that pre-
walls in other countries, the Difference
shown to women in Austria increases
with age. No Austrian would ever
dream of receiving lady's extended
hand without bowling to kiss it. Chill
dren, even when grown, always touch
the hands of their parents with their
lips before venturing to raise their
faces for kiss. Girls and young mar
ried women, no matter how lofty their
station, do not consider it beneath their
dignity to kiss the hands of ladies who
have attained certain age. Austria,
indeed, is the paradise of old ladies.
The men are also extremely courteous,
not only to ladies, but to each other.
The Arabs show their friendliness
when meeting by shaking hands six or
eight times; Arabs of rank go beyond
this and embrace each other several
times. The social etiquette Of the des-
ert, or among the Arabs, is factor in
life to be considered seriously If one
wishes to live among them without
friction. Thus, no greater insult can
be offered to an Arab than friendly
inquiry as to the welfare of his wife, to
us natural civility, but to him gross
impertinence, bitterly resented.
I Sons will never sit at meal with their
fathers in the presence of guest, but
will wait upon both until the father,
rising, allows them the opportunity Of
breaking bread with their visitor.
A Turk always stands in the presence
of his mother until invited to sit down,
compliment he pays to one else.
The Moor pays great respect to his
elders, and to see two elderly, dignified
Moors salute is a pretty sight. With
measured pace, the eyes of each fixed on
those Of the other, they approach with
q slight inclination. holding the right
hands slightly advanced They press
their finger tips together and begin a
volley of prescribed salutations, greet
fngs and inquiries, hardly pausing to
insert replies, and calculating frequent
": "God be praised" Then each
presses the finger tips which have been
honored by contact with those of his
friend against his lips and then upon
his heart, as he raises his head and re-
doubles his salutations. The old Gus
tom of falling on one another's necks
is stin in vogue between friends long
separated. Interiors saluting superiors
usually kiss the hand, shoulder, top Of
turban or feet, or the knee or stirrup OF
horseman, according to the terms on
which they approach. In the extrem-
ity of humility. the very feet of ones
horse are embraced.
When Moslem meets European &C.
companied by a Moor, though the latter
be the servant, he not infrequently ig-
nores the presence of the foreigner, and
offers the salutation to his cereIigionist
only; but If he passes a party of Moors,
jews or Christians, he exclaims: .Peace
be on the people Of islam" The way
to speed the parting guest is to ex-
claim; God give thee peace" To those
whose presence has never been desired,
it Is usual to exclaim In tones suffi-
GENTLY explicit: God protect thee"
Be welcome, at home, and at ease,' is
the welcome. Courteous interroga-
tories fall thick and fast. How art
thou? Thy house ?"--the nearest APP
proach permitted to inquiry after q
mans wife.
4 billion Year ON Armies and War.