Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-13
WOMEN OF PERSIA
SECLUSION OF LADIES IN THE
LAND OF CONTRASTS.
Dress Worn in the Street and the
Harem-Veils and
Skirts.
From the Housekeeper.

marked to me concerning Persia: Il know
of no other country in regard to which it
is possible to tell the exact truth and yet
give such a false impression
man who has spent twenty-one years
in Persia recently said to me: The longer
l study the Persians the less l understand
them. l envy the globe trotter who has
mastered the intricacies of the Persian
character in the time that 1t takes him to
traverse the country
There are in Persia many different ma
tionalities, but nine-tenths of the people,
though of somewhat mixed race, are fol- :
lowers of Mohammed. The most striking
fact to be observed in the condition of Mo-
hammedan women, and the fact which
makes it exceedingly difficult to get at The
true understanding of their lives, is their
seclusion. Persia is a land Of contrasts,
and in contrast with its out-of-door life
and Its apparent publicity we find sur
rounding the harem the deepest mystery.
The house of Persian woman is shut in
from the street and separated from the
houses of her neighbours by high mud walls.
In the case of the rich this seclusiOn Is
made more complete by having two sets OF
apartments, or even two houses, one OF
which is exclusively for the women and the
little children. This house is called the
"auderun' twithin). 1t is against the law
to build a house so high that from its roof
you can look into the courtyard of your
ueiBuDOr duUeTun. III the eSldDllSJl-
ments of the wealthy the entrance to the
women's apartments is carefully guarded.
In knocking at the gate of poorer resi-
dence man will always say: khabar
dar'' (be informed), and so give the women
time to hide or at least to veil themselves
before he enters.
Persian Costume.
Some one has called the street costume Of
a Persian woman "a skillfully arranged
when she leaves the harem." So uniform
is their dress both in color and shape. that
cannot recognize his own wife on
the street, and for man to lift a womans
veil is a capital offense. A writer, speaking
of gathering of women to see the Persian
passion play, says: -Four thousand white
heads and dark-blue nantes, and not
face to be seen-that a sight indeed
1t spectacle to make one smile, and
yet to reflect on the power of fashion and
custom.
1t is difficult to tell just how this strict
concealment of the face came to be prac-
ticed in Persia. Other Mohammedans,
Turks, Arabs, etc, do not require it, and
the Koran does not seem to demand 1t. Re-
Gently a Turkish lady published an article
in which she endeavored to prove that Mo-
manned intended women to cover their hair
only, and not necessarily their faces This
is the custom among the nomadic tribes of
Persia; indeed, it is only in the large cities
that the very strict concealment is prac-
tfccd This is not because of the greater
modesty of the city woman, for this street
costume gives opportunity for much intrigue.
Human nature is the same the world over,
and 1t is human nature to rebel against too
close watching. When we remember that
Persian women, by reason of their seclu-
sion and their lack of education, are more
like children than like grown people we are
not surprised to find them-like mischievous
children-constantly trying to evade all the
rules laid down for their conduct, and even
doing things which they know will be de-
tected and bring punishment.
Nothing could be more uncomfortable
than this street dress of the Mohammedan
woman. 1t is not warm in winter, yet it is
hot in summer, especially about the face.
1t Is clumsy and weighs heavily upon the
head. 1t affords the head little protec-
ton from the intense heat of the summer
sun. The full trousers gathered onto
stocking feet Of the same material. The
shoes are mere sandals without any heels
In these Tapping shoes. peering dmly
through their wells. and holding their man<
ties about them, the women shuttle along
One Of my friends picturesquely describes
their walk as "a bolster-like waddle."
The buckle with which the veil is fas-
tened at the back OF the head Is the only
ornament permitted with the street cos
tune.
Colors and Goods.
While the outdoor dress is somber In color
and severely plain in style, the indoor dress
is characterized by bright hues and much
ornamentation. AS with the street cos
tune however. the style is always the
same The material varies according to
the wealth of the wearer, but she has not
the same opportunity for the exercise of
individual taste as the European woman.
Print for the poor, and silk satin or velvet
for the rich constitute all the variety that
can be found.
The skirt Is always divided It is from
Ter in wild fha
width at top and bottom, and Is fastened
rather low on the hips with a draw-strng.
Nothing which could be called undercloth-
ing is worn. The skirts are sometimes five
or six in number, but all of the same
material and style. the only difference be-
ing that those worn underneath
rover than the one worn outside. The cos
tune has a striking resemblance to that
of ballet dancer. Sometimes long cotton
stockings tight-fitting trousers Of black
or white material are worn under the short
skirts. but they are by no means neces-
sary part of the costume.
A silk or cotton shirt worn outside of the
skirt, rather tight-fitting vest and full
skirted coat, usually OF velvet, constitute
the upper part. of the costume.
Persian dress calls for few or no buttons,
no buttOnholes, no hooks and eyes and no
pins. The skirts are fastened with draw
strings, the upper garments are usually
fastened with the loop and knot. Some
times on their velvet coats little brass but
these are recent innovation. I have fire.
uuently made a village woman happy by
giving her a common white pin. To be
sure she had no use for it, but she had
the same interest in collecting foreign curl
that | had
The women wear many ornaments gem
orally in the shape of rings. bracelets and
strings OF beads.
One seldom sees a Persian with a we'll
shaped head. There can be no doubt that
this IS due to the fact that their heads are
tightly bound In babyhood.
The average Persian mother is less fitted
to look after the mental and moral welfare
of her child than after his physical condi-
ton. She is only child herself; often
child in years, always a child in intellect,
and full of ungoverned passions. Occasion
ally Persian mother shows a laudable de-
sire TO learn something about the duties of
motherhood. Frequently her crude efforts
n this direction are amusing. One woman
who asked about the good behavior of
title American boy was told that 1t was due
20 the fact that his mother exacted obedi-
ence from him. 1t seemed a new idea TO
her. She thought earnestly for a moment,
hen rising and preparing to take her leave
with really unseemy haste for an oriental.
she said eagerly: Goodbye Khanum; I m
going right home and whip my boy
7 wonder how much influence for good