The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-09-19

Some time during the day he has oeen
to the mosque, but it is not necessary
for the bride to go.
The next day. Friday. was invited
to the wedding festivities. The fam.
lilies we're of a far higher class than
those Of the harems had previously
seen. The pleasant courtyard was
lined with fine green tiles in good de.
signs. the rooms opening directly upon
1t AMI also from gallery above. In
the center fiat on the floor sat dozen
black women with coarse tambournes
and small drums. keeping up an in
cessant though intermittent noise of
chanting, but ranged about the sides
on platform slightly raised sat the
chief female relatives and friends OF
the high contracting parties. and their
effect was so Electrically dazzling that
it was some time before discovered
which might be the bride. The love
OF an1:ine dyes rather than the lovely
Old soft oriental colors had infected
all ranks, and as each Arab lady in
Tripoli when indoors appeared in all
the seven colors Of the spectrum and
good many more not recognized by
the rainbow, the effect of 40 or so to.
gether was overpowering. Jackets.
blouses. short skirts. Turkish trousers,
silk stockings. gold slippers and Grim
son, pink, cobalt blue. scarlet, yellow,
silver gauze and gold brocade distrib.
uted literally on each woman-words
convey little of the effect. Each face
was painted dead white, with startling
crimson triangles accurately set upon
the cheeks; eyebrows were heavily
outlined in black aud connected over
the nose and yards of gold sequins and
beads were looped around neck and
arms and forehead.
In the center of all this gorgeous
ness sat the little bride, rigidly erect
and immovable. with two especially
respleIdent friends on each side to
fan and otherwise attend her. For
hours she must neither move nor
smile. nor even wink. Her hands
were spread stifily upon her knees.
the fingers black with henna and gold
leaf thickly laid on up to her wrists;
while as to costume, she was con-
centraied nightmare of color. Her
hair vas braided down with blue silk
and silver, her vest was gold brocade,
her trousers were OF blue velvet: scar
let and crimson disported bewildering-
ly among yards of gold coins and
chains of some white-petaled flower.
Half !. dozen holes in each ear sup
ported an immense weight of orna.
ments; bracelets reached the shout.
der. in every detail her decorations
were bigger and brighter and more
amazing than those of the others.
Friday, from just before sunset, the
bride sits thus like statue for an
hour OF two, while the bridal chamber
is examined, the viands discussed and
much hilarity prevails among the as
sembled women. The father of this
particular bride had had but four
wives, and there had been but so chill
dren altogether. OF these IS or 30
had died young, so the poor man had
not married into very extensive con-
nection. But he was grateful for even
SO many relatives-in-law.
The most really interesting figures
in all this wedding party We're a group
of Bedouins, who had come up from
the desert. strange. bright-eyed wom-
en-. with the great Sahara spaces
breathing from their weird personal
ity. They were draped in silver
chains and bangles, their dark robes
being held together by splendid old
silver clasps and buckles Their ear.
rings We're so heavy that they had to
be attached to the head covering as
we'll. These were the real essence OF
the east. the breezy embodiment of
free air. but showing. too. shy dis.
trust CT ways other than their own.
Saturday. too the little bride sits
for hours in state. but afterward the
ceremonies proper are over. though
she is dressed and waited upon and
made the guest of honor in her hus.
band'.; house for month. After that
practical life begins.
Gro.esque as are some customs, con.
fused IS are nationalties and races,
there IS yet a strange and inexplicable
charm about Tripoli. 1t took perma-
nent hold upon my heart and magma.
ton, and when | saw its white m!nar.
cts and domes grow less upon the
of the incompatible Mediterranean. I
was glad to remember that had sure.
ly stepped upon the little plate OF