Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-23

| Did the cave women wear wells?
| There Is no positive evidence in the
pictures on the ancient cavern walls to
prove that they did, but there is at least
one OF those prehistoric wall paintings
found in a Spanish cave and representing
nine women dancing around one lone man.
where some details OF the feminine attire
strongly suggest an rttempt by the artist
to represent something resembling the
| floating fabrics that the women of our
time attach to their hats and headdresses
with fascinating effects upon masculine
eyes.
| A complete history of wells would he
not merely interesting, but also philosph-
ically important, since there is no article
OF dress that lends Itself so much to
symbolism and suggestion as the veil Its
light and semi-opaque texture. as well
as Its use for hiding the face, the most
openly expressive part of the human
physique. give il a certain mystic air,
which has been utilized in many of the
religious appliances TO v hich it has been
put.
There have been times when 1t was fash
ionabe for men to weay wells St Am
brose. in the fourth century. describes
the silken wells interviewer with gold with
which rich and idle Italian gentlement
adorned themselves in his time.
The effect of half concoalins and half
reveiling, which is peculiar to the veil,
makes 1t one OF the most valued of the
personal adornments of Oriental women.
Even the Moslem women who hide their
faces behind kind Of a veil, called yash-
maks, in obedance to a law of the
prophet. are often coquettish In their
management of this equivocal vestment,
being we'll aware of the charm that it
adds to brilliant eyes, seen by glimpses,
as through a curtain, and allowing 1t oc-
caslonally TO make semI-revelations of
their other features.
Tho celebrated mantiila OF Andalusa
Is simply large and oXquisitely wrought
lave veil, worn around the head and
shoulders, with an artful grace, In which
Spanish women are inimitable. In Italy,
Greece and other Mediterranean coun-
tries silk wells and mantillas are, per-
hapE, the most effective OF female dress
and the part in which the greatest skill
in personal adornment Is displayed
The brides veil is a very ancient insti-
tuition, ana symbolioal III its nature, like
the veil OFT nun. 1t indicates the pro-
tecting circle of a new and binding rela-
tionship. which involves a certain degree
OF exclusion. The nuns veil Is probably
an outgrowth OF the bride veil, since 1t
indicates the withdrawal of the person
wearing Il from the ordinary relations OF
the world, and her union, as in marriage.
with a symbolical bridegroom, represented
by the church
The symbolism and mystery associated
with the veil have often been taken ad-
vantage of by imposters and ambitious
Adventures 10 impose upon the credulity
of superstitious multitudes Yelled
prophets" have been common enogh in
all times, but the most famous repre-
sentative Of the class was Mokannah, an
Arab. who founded a new sect In the
eighth century. and who figures in
Moore's poem OF "Lalla Rookh" as The
Yelled Prophet of Khorassan." His fen-
lures were always concealed and he pre-
tended that he wore a veil IN imita don
OF Moses. because the splendor of his
face was so dazzling that his followers
would be stricken blind on seeing 1t. The
fact was that he had lost an eye and
had suffered other injuries about the face
in battle. which rendered his countsnancs
so repellent that he deemed 1t better not
10 permit It to be seen lest he should ev-
cite more fear than devotion.
The protective properties OF modern
wells against sunburn and irritation from
wind and also against moderate degrees
of cold, are well known, but In some
cases there seems to be little doubt that
they produce deleterious effects upon the
eyes. This is because OF the disturbing
action Of the lacework patterns upon the
muscles controlling the focus OF the visual
lenses. Sometimes. too. injurious dyes
have been employed in staining the fab
ric. Whero there is trouble with the eye
sight a physician may find that It has
arisen from the improper use Of a veil.