Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-07-11
THE TURKISH BRIDE.
PECULIAR CUSTOMS WHICH SIZE IS
BOUND TO OBSERVE.
Her Discipline as Bride Termi-
mates After six Years, but she VIII
Never Again Open Her Lips to
Man Unless He BE Her kinsmnn-


Man Unless He be Her Ninsmnn-
''The conduct demanded OF a newly.
married Armenian woman VIII strike
Americans as very singular indeed"
said Antranig Azhderian, a young Ar
menian. the author Of the book THE
Turk and the Land OF Haig." "She
utters never a word except when alone
with her husband until after the birth
OF her first child. Then she is allowed
to talk to her child. a little later she
is permitted TO converse with her moth
er-in-law, still later her own mother
may again hear her voice, and before
a great while she will speak In whis-
pers to the young girls Of her house
hold. She must not leave the house
during the first year of her married
life except 10 attend church. Her dis
cipline as a bride terminates after six
years, but she VIII never again open
her lips TO a man unless he be her Izins-
man. Young girls are allowed to have
liberty Of conduct that is IN striking
contrast. They chatter freely and
eheerfully with whom they please.
The Armenian woman differs rad
ically from her Turkish sisters. Nei-
Their seclusion nor polygamy nor d.
vorce darkens her present or threatens
her future. She is not educated with
her brothers however, as are American
girls I remember how puzzled 1 was
when 1 entered an American college
and saw girls seated among the boys
In the classroom.
eogI 20 ,,,,- rofoAl,o-
are the girls here for-to make the
room look prettyy
cit seemed incredible that any one
could think a girl capable OF learning
along with her brother. It is consider
ed q disgrace likewise for n man to
walk publicly with a woman, even
though she is his sister. She may en-
terrain men callers, and, Of course, her
face is never covered, like a Turkish
wOman's but her mother or some older
female relative is always present. They
attend the same entertainments and
church, but may not sit together. The
women's seats In church are partition
ed of and are in the rear.
while among many old Armenian
families parents contract for the mar
rage Of their children while they are
In their infancy, in the majority OF
cases the young people are permitted
to make their selections, though al
ways with the consent Of their parents.
Elopements. therefore. are unknown.
The marriage tie is sacred in Armenia,
and death can only break it. II per
son has an uncongenial companion, he
must endure II with the same kind Of
patience he would endure a sore head.
which, though he may try TO cure, he
VIII hardly cut of.
With Turkish women their only end
in this world is marriage. Accordingly
girls are from their infancy rocked 20
sleep by their mothers with lullabies of
future husbands, handsome, coura-
geous and wealthy. The regular age for
marriage is from u TO 10 years. but
unusual wealth or physical attraction
calls for earlier contracts. Generally
speaking, parents are pleased II they
get n chance Of betrothing their daugh-
tiers at or 6 or, at any rate before
they reach u years, for at that age
women muSt-so the Mohammed prov
erb says-either marry or die. a girl
IS readily married if she is either pret-
qualities then she is a great catch and
VIII have many suitors. About her
wealth there can be no doubt, as in the
east ones financial status is known TO
every one. The age, too, can be easily
ascertained, but the puzzling question
Is about her good looks Is she pretty?
That must must be discovered, and. as
the young man has no means of finding
out for himself he must get some Igo-
man TO act for him. He usually resorts
to Jewess, and If her report is favor
able he then brings the matter to her
parents attention, and her mother. Mt
er call on the girl, arranges a party
at public bath. These bath parties
are extremely fashionable, and the vVo-
men dress deliberately. A meal Of
greasy pastries and sweets is always
served, after which comes the smoking
OF cigarettes, long pipes and water
pipes, the women seated cross legged
on divans and gossiping the entire
time. Should the mothers report be
satisfactory, after few visits between
the parents the marriage is agreedsup-
on and the day set.
AS to the betrothal, the husband has
TO give dover, or rather hire as the
Koran distinctly states. The minimum
Of this dover is fixed. 1t may not be
less than $1.7O in your money. The
maximum is left open. and by that ar
rangement the family Of the girl is able
TO obtain some show of fair play, for
in Turkey the only hold a woman has
on her husband is that to divorce her
he must turn over to her this dover.
After marriage it is her prime duty to
court and obtain his good Will, for If
she displeases him she is in imminent
danger Of missing paradise. A wife
whose tongue has made trouble for her
husband will have that appendage
heightened to 100 feet at the judgment
Should man wish a divorce he has
only to return his wife's dover and
say to her, Get outp She has to 20:
there is no redress. He need not even
give reason. New York Sun.
The Refort Courteous
Doctor" said the inQuisffjVe LAWYER