Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-19

said one of the rooms was ready for U.S.
There were seven others in if Int that
was nothing. and down we suuatted on
the floor. "A neSress came up to each
fibrcd planD, and commenced the mas
saSc-whch. by the way, is done dry,
without any water.
She sat down near me and worked with
a will. smiling amusedly whenever
made a face at a particularly HARD rub
Nearly all the other women left The room
ut about this time to make way for the
bride and her mother and sister. who
were returning Tor the second bath.
MI the time the bride was being washed
and while the soap was running down in
great handfulS into her eyes the Arabs;
sang and made that strange vibrating
cry which all casterns use at weddings
and which seems To be made by the back
Of the throat. somehow. In the meantime
IIassileh IIanoum. looking the pcrsoniii-
cation of happiness and pride, squattej
down behind me, and before | knew what
she was doing, began to wash my hair
herself.
For Il good quarter of an hour after
that | do not know what went on for
however much one may want to know
what is happening round one, | defy any
one to open their eyes when Il gallon of
soapsuds is streaming down ones face
y stone basin is built in each of these
rooms, with hot and cold water running
into it, and there are women specially to
is being scrubbed or having ones hair
ashcd.
When their bath was over two attcn-
dantS brought the bride and her sister
their towels and wrapped them up in
them before taking them into the first
room again. Those towels. let me tell
YOU, are very different from our coarse,
plain ones. and the way they put them
on is a lesson in graceful drapery The
brides were white embroidered in whit
h.r st 1trhi l.. u
in gold, There are three of them; Il
large one for tn" body, a long narrow
one for the shoulders. ana a third for the
head.
Zahra looked a dear little girl in hers.
but ! felt as if | could not take NV eyes
off her sister she stood up in front of
me. tall, graceful figure in white and
gold, with oh. such pretty face smiling
out at me from the folds of the towel
on her head. They both Salaamed deeply
to each OF us before going out, and left
US to continue the operation of washing
The last thing done was to cover our
hair with rose-scented fuller's earth. and
indeed 1t was a queer sight to see every
one around with mtd-caked heads Then
we were marched back through the mar
BILE room into the outer one to wait a lit
tie before returning for the final wash.
Oh, what Il relief it was to be able to
breathe coolish air again, for the place
we had come out Of felt just like a fur
mace. We sat down enjoying the change
whilst we We're RECALLED with Turkish cof-
women stood chaStering around us.
When we were returned into the inner
rooms they were nearly empty, and find
ing the same young negress L had had
before | was able to get finished first and
having donncd my bath cloak l sailed
out, back to the room where | had left
my things. And now please pity me and
sympathize with me.
1 was quite alone, as had left Mrs. H
10 M Ae.T tAI !.
steps to the room in which l had to dress
found a vast change from what it was
IKE nearly three hours before. Every
body was clothed now and seated round
the room, whilst at the top end, where
had left my things, the bride, fulIy
dressed, was sitting in state with her
SISTER beside her. Never, never, shall
forget the walk up that room.
Soaking wet, with my hair dripping
| the only English girl in the room. i had
10 walk all the way up to be received
literally, with open arms by the bride
and her sister, who made poor, wet me
SIT between them in their fine clothes
whist at least hundred eager eyes Were
watching my every movement. l dressed
| as quickly as l could. feeling desperately
nervous, and with my wet hair getting il
the way all the time. Oh. what a dress
ing that was,
All this time little Zahra was sitting
beside me, rolling cigarettes as fast rs
she could, which she distributed to al
me iadles around her. Suddenly a littl,
Maltese girl about her own age came in ,,
INC room and. forgetting her dienifin'
position, Zahra bounded off the dias anf
me Two began playing together as onl,
two children can. - oii'
Looking up, she saw the looks of mill
reproof directed at her. and. slowiy
cumming the dias again. she sat down
ana Quietly began making her cigarettes
Poor little soul! Such a little girl. anJ
she was to be married in two DAVIS time
M dc Flick in Chaperone Magazine.