The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-29
LIFE IN ARABIAN KAREN

Eleanor Taylor Calverly in World Out look for May.
 Then come with me to Fatima,s home in 1luweit, Arabia. Step carefully in the narrow, dirty streets; hold your breath till we get past this dead cat lying ln the road. It has been there for two weeks and the stench will not last much longer. Never mind the insolent stares of the men. You will soon learn not to see them. Careful. That isn't bag of coal by the wayside; it's woman crouching there to rest. Yes, she must hide her face on the street-theres an eye-see! She's peeping at us! We .eave the central court yard with it's chickens and goats and mount the rickety stairs. No-not that room! That is the room of F'atimas s partner wife. See her glare at us because we are going to see her rival. The little negro children are Fatima's stepchildren-the black woman in a concubine.
 Here we are This is Fatma's room. There are beautiful Persian rugs on the floor, some cushions about the edge of the room, some mirrors on the wall, some
 
 mantle. In the corner is a bed with a gaudy canopy There is also strong wooden box for clothes That is all.
 atima is expecting us. She welcomes us most graciously What beautiful woman she is, with oval olive face, large darK eyes, and shining black hair in braids. She has donned her choicest silks and jewels. for our visit is a most well come break in the monotony of her life. How charming she is, how stately, and dignified! We take our seats on the floor, on cushions, by her side. From somewhere dozen women and girls have collected, some negroes, some Arabs.
 The servants are giggling among them selves at our strange raiment. Why don't you dye your palms and finger nails red with henna? they ask. Don't you put oil on your hair? Where are your jewels Aren't you married? Didn't you get any jewels as wedding dowry? How many sons have you?
 Fatima's face is sad now, and some one whispers to us that she is in con stant fear of divorce because her chill dren are all girls. A slave woman brings in refreshments and serves us with very black, bitter coffee, very sweet tea and some confections (we hold our breath while we swallow these). Then they of fer us the water pipe, or cigarettes, and we refuse. We are sprinkled with rose water and perfumed with the Smoke of burning incense.
 A beautiful, frail girl, gentle and sweet. i..4o hA f, Lafi ,c oldest daughter. She is 12 years of age and soon to be married to an old and dis sipated man with other wives. He is a relative of the family and very rich. The girls father made the contract. She will not see her husband until they are married.
 Now an old, decrepit woman, the scan- dal-monger of the town, comes in. After she ilas satisfied her curiosity about the strange visitors she begins her recital. The latest birth. marriage, death. divorce and scandal are her theme. She is the womans newspaper-and a yellow jour na! at that! She is the young girls only textbook in the school of sorrow and of |iItrigue-the Moslem harem.
 Let me tell you some more about Fa- tima. She eats her meals in the com pany of her women. A Mohammendan man would not eat with a woman. She is sometimes allowed to go out in the evening deeply yelled and without Ian tern. Her slave women lead the way. She never goes out with her husband. He would not walk with a woman! Mentally, physically, spiritually, the Arab woman has never had a chance.