Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-03
WIFE STIMULATES
ONF-WTFE HARENL.

But let me deal with the one-wife har-
EN- first. Often when a girl agrees to
marry she stipulates that during her
lifetime her husband shall take no other
wives. She never can exact this cOn6i-
ton from q man Of higher caste, how
ever, and infreQuently from one of her
own station in life. Though she does It
for her own protection she thinks, it gen
orally dooms her to intense loneliness
and ultimate disappointment. She lives
apart from her husband in 4 household
divided into the harem and the selam-
hk, the former being her own domain
and the latter that Of the man. Rarely,
however, does the husband cross the d.
viding space in that role, as 1t IS under
stood here. His wife is strictly portion
Of his private life; she can have no IN
Outstanding or sympathy with his bust
ness, his hopes, his public activities;
she is merely his diversion. and because
she never knows at what time her hus-
band may visit the harem she IS arrayed
always In her best and forces perpetual
gayety in his presence lest he grow weary
of her and take a rival.
And despite his promise, he generally
does, backed by the legal claim, - have
the right to love hundred women, but
you can love no one but me-"
WIVES HAVE
SOME RIGHTS, TOO.
That same law places some obligations
on the husband, too.
II his first wife cannot get on with the
other wives he may bring IN to share
her harem, he is required to provide her
with a separate establishment.
The husband is forbidden to take as
wife or odalisque any slave whom his
wife has brought from her fathers home.
Insist that the man marry her, and IN
less he already has four wives, and. In
the event OF his possession Of that num-
Der, he must support her and her family
OF the harems OF the rulers one learns
but little unless he is in a confidential
position. 1 have, however, Just seen
motion picture, "One Arabian Night"
which In its depletion Of one Of these
seraglios should answer many questions
For the truth Of it's portrayal Of harem
habits I can vOuch, having, as a doctor,
visited at least four Of the pretentious
palaces, each Of which housed over q hun
dred wives Of prominent officials
Therein the women are graded accord
ing to caste, and, as il all countries, she
Of the higher caste Will not recognize
the woman Of lower station unless that
beauty happens to win the favor Of the
husband. Then the favorite is in a posi-
ton to command respect
From birth many girls are trained for
the day when they will be admitted to
the harem Of a ruler; and even when that
much-desired object is attained, months,
or years, may pass before the husband
becomes aware Of her presence. Natur-
ally, she exerts all her wilss emphasizes
her charms, to attract him, for his favor
entails supreme luxury and relief from
a few minor tasks which she is called
upon to do, but which are irksome, be-
cause the performance Ct any duty marks
her as unfavored. In fact, If she reaches
the age of % without being numbered
among those acceptable TO the master she
is relegated TO motherhood and can
be married of to some official whom the
husband may wish to honor.
But let her win attention and hers is
an easy life, the only thorn IN which IS