The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-05
Frivolity in a Cemetery
BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

Imagine, IL you can, discontcnte
American wife, before you max
another complaint of the dizziness o
your life; imagine tho one eScitini
distraction OF the Mohammedan wive
in Algiers.
From Friday to Friday no respec
table Arabian or Moorish woman o
the faitl, ever knows the sensation
or feeling the sunlight and the wind oil
her face Whenever she goes on thu
street she is covered from her eye
lashes to her neck with white ven
which entirely conceals her features
Her brow is hidden by n part of hel
headdress--a kerchicf mantilla, nnt
over this hangs the yoluminous hailS-
yards and yards of white material
cotton or merino or SILK. according tt
her station.
SO enveloped--like a veritable mum
iny--the women of the humble walk:
(and some of those of wealth and
position ALSO may go forth upon INC
street. although the ultra-fas 5, hionabie
Arab woman goes outside her door
only in carriage with closely drawn
blinds. But in .Aigters wonderful
privilege is granted the women on
each Friday. They are permitted J.. to
to the tomb OF one of their great
prophets, El-Katar and after they
have entered the gates they are ut
liberty to remove their wells and SIT
about on tombs or walk through the
avenues between graves and visit with
one another and talk. gossip and be
as frivilous as. they choose.
and as a proof that these women
regard this liberty as privilege and
focking there every Friday by the
score.
Women OF other faiths, and stran-
gers from other lands, may enter the
cemetery while they are there. but
10 man is permitted to go through
the gates.
and left me in care of yelled woman,
who sat opposite in the tram car as we
arrived Mt the cemetery, Nothing
was visible but the womans eyes, yet
was conscious that she gave me an
amiable glance, az the guide addressed
her in the Arabic tongue. ana asked
hor to conduct me through the. CENT
her, and after we had entered. in
dicated by a wave of her arm that l
had my freedom of the city OF the
dead. Then she sat down on grave
and removed her veil. she was less
attractive otter the illusion OF the
white mask dropped than before. But
she must have been more comfortaDle,
Looking about the cemetery, seemed
TO be the one living figure IN cro"a
OF spectres. There We're scores OF
these white llrouded forms every
where visible.
They sat on the tombs and on the
grass plots. and. while few retained
their wells, the majority OF the races
were uncovered.
possessed OF beauty; perhaps twenty
others were attractive In face and eX-
preston; but the women of dull plain
countenances were in the majority.
and really ugly ones were frequently
The Arab women, when. in tho
first flush Of youth. is usually hand
some; but her beauty has nothing
to feed upon-no mental or imaglnac
tive world to give her its vibrations;
no enrichins experiences TO lend depth
and feeling TO her expressions The
hs rne is misunderstanding slowlS-but
still passing. Few OF the Mohamme-
dams. comparatively. avail themselves
of their privilege to possess four
wives. 1t is considered bad form for
a man to marry moro women than he
can provide for; but not all the we'll
to-do. or even the rich, marry more
than one woman.
In olden times an Arab herded his
wives under one roof, giving each
her separate room only. In the coun;
try places and where the foot OF
progress has not trod. this is still the
But in Agiers, and in many of the
cities where modern civilization has
made its way, the Mohammedan has
begun to find IL necessary. for some
seemingly inexplicable cause. to marry
fewer wives, and to give them each
separte house. Strive as the Arab
may to keep women in Ignorance of
the ways OF the outer world. yet the
knowledge reaches them that there
Is a life different from the one they
4 LEAD. and fhiS knowledge produces its
effect.
An Arab took me one day to call
upon his wives. They lived in differ
emit sections of the town, and never
existed The first wife occupied very
charming rooms opening OFF large
sunny court. She was q handsome
woman and seemed arniable and bright
atives OF her husband. The Arab told
me he did not love her at all. but that
he adored hisi.other wife. She proved
TO be a sicLly ard hninteresting per
son, utterly devoid OF any observable
charm She lived with her brother
and his wife in an unwholesome house,
where no sunlight was to be enjoyed,
save by crawling through a narrow
window and sitting on an irregular
roof Yet the Arab kissed his wife
with evident election as he left her.
my wives never go out unless in
carriage with drawn blinds" the man
said. TT is the only way to keep
women contented- The moment a
woman IS allowed to go about In the
shops or streets she is dissatisfied"
.'Eut this is no better than prison
rfe.o I said How can these women
endure existence year after year?
Do, they read or write to help pass
the timer
"oh, neyer!" the man exclaimed in
The Arab men speak French in
Algeria and Tunis. and q few speak
English: but the women are not al
/ lowed to learn languages or read
! books.
1t is not good for them. She has
+! he1 embroidery, her homo. her rela-