The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-10-30

DOOR Of remarkable and curious Interest is the "MemoHrs of an. Arabi- an Princess" The story is told by Emily Ruete who was q daughter of the Sultan of Muscat ard Zanzibar, Her book appeared about twenty years ago in Europe and soon after ward, owing to the interest it excited an English translation was published as Memoirs of an Arabian Princess" The memoirs are now admirably translated by Lionel Strachey and handsomely published by Doubleday Page & Go. They are also embel- lished by excellent photography of Oriental costumes and scenes in Zan- zibar. The princess tells of her ex- periences in the royal harem at Zan- Zibar, her escape from the country and her romance and marriage with German merchant. The book is re- plete with facts of Orienial life that are stranger than fiction, and it will prove a revelation of the modern Ara bian woman's life which will be or keen interest to her sisters of the oc- cident.
 LloICl lllC lleto W.
 singular interest in the Christian mind, and rarely has 1t been descrlped by an actual denizen. After eloplng with her lover Mrs. Ruete, leaving De- hind her luxurious abode in the royal seraelio and many memories pleasant and otherwise, settled down with her husband to her new mode of life amid the Christian civilization at Hamburg
 When ten years old she was trans ferred to her fathers city palace and she describes very entertainly her emotions upon beholding in her new home a numerous gathering of her relations some of them white bearded brothers and gray haired sisters, for the Sultan had been blessed with many children during his sixty years or so of much married life and new arrivals to his multitudinous family were still coming in rapidly The The Princess herself was compara- lively one of the youngest of the broods. She tells many incidents of her childhood days and relates them as if harems were very comfortable places. That she had many happy days among her young brothers and sisters and the older ones too is very evident. She describes the customs of the place and her surroundings and how she spent her time with charm ing simplicity, and one judges that she preferred the memories of the gayety and the merry days in the harem to the stiff society trammels of Berlin. She found as years rolled on during her life in Germany that ex- ternal society appearances were some times quite deceptive.
 When first came to Europe" she says, q made the mistake of judging by outward appearances. The smil- ing faces saw each time went O. into company persuaded me that the domestic situation in Europe was more conducive to happiness than in my home. But, later on, as my chill dren grew up and needed less of my care and attention, came into fuller contact with the world; then 1 recog- nized that had been mistaken, that people and things were other than they seemed. observed many unions, which going by the name of wedlock had the apparent purpose of subjecting the fettered couples to in- fernal torture here on earth. And 'i have seen enough wretched marriages { to prevent my believing that the l% Christian institution stands much Fhigher than the Mohammedan or in- ursures much greater felicity. Neither a religion nor the acceptance of tradi- tional views can guarantee welded 'o bliss; everything depends on how well husband and wife understand each ~other. This alone can bring the .peace and harmony which render marriages really delightful. I am ,s rninutely familiar only with condi- tions in Zanzibar. though almost : equally so with those of Oman. Yet, Sprecisely in Arabia and among the .s Arabs has Mohammedanism been maintained in its purest form, and l may, therefore, claim to speak for the Mohammedan Orient generally, leav- ing aside those parts of it tainted by excrescences arising from < close in- tercourse with the Christian Occi- dent"
 As to the social restrictions of women in Mohammedan countries she says:
 ''Her face may be seen by no men excepting her father husband, sons, uncles, nephews and her own slaves; if she is to go into the presence of a strange man or to speak with one the faith ordains that she be yelled and covered up. Part of the visage, chin, neck, and ankles must be concealed. Obedient to this law, she may move about as she pleases, and frequent the streets. Females of small means, who have few servants or none, are obliged to go out frequently and they thus have more liberty. If you ask such a woman her opinion she says those laws were not made for poor people. And l must avow that ladies of position are known to envy poorer women this advantage, which accrues to those of Oman because they can not keep many servants in their un- prosperous country"
 Mrs Ruete maintains that Moham- medan women are accorded as much social respect as their husbands and says that the wealthy woman is per mitted to go out in the day time tc transact important legal business or to visit relatives in case of illness oi death But this privilege is seldom abused as the women from vanity alone dislike covering themselves ur and appearing like walking dummies Mrs. Ruete retorts upon European no tions as to dress, saying, Although admit that the Oriental view is ex- travagant I find European notions oi