Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-18
WOMEN CL|NGING
TO VEIL IN PERSIA
But Progressive Ideas Are
Noted in Them by Wife
of Diplomat Here.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

BY GRETCHEN SMITH.
Although law was promulgated by
the Shah of Persia two years ago per-
hitting the women of the land to go
< unveiled, only small percentage of the
2 fair sex has taken advantage of the
= freedom permitted them.
& Nine. Bader. French wife OF Abdol
: Vahab Bader, first secretary Of the
. Persian Legation and Charge d'Affaires
ad interim one of the newest arrivals
to Washington's diplomatic circles,
through a residence of many years in
! the country of the Shah, learned to
9 know and understand the pretty yelled
Z women of that land with greater in
timacy than is often extended to women
OF Western countries.
A graduate of the faculty of medi-
cine Of the University of Paris and also
of the Ecoles DIES Langues OrientaleS,
where she learned the intricacies Of
both the Persian, the Hindustani Ian
guageS, Nine Bader, shortly after the
war, was extended an invitation by the
Persian Government to take charge of
the work, as well as teach and lecture
at the Women's Hospital in Teheran.
Nine Bader says that she found plenty
Of work awaiting her.
Hospital Graduates Numerous.
1.-THE Women's Hospital in Teheran,
OF which I was the head for several
years." said Nine. Bader, NOW gradu-
ates every year woman nurses and doc
tors who have specialized in work to be
carried on among members of their
own sex. They have found many pa
ttentS among Persian women who turn
eagerly to medical women for assist
ance."
Although the Persian woman is now
allowed by law to go unveiled, some
thing practically unknown until two
years ago, the unveiled Persian woman
is in the minority" continued Nine.
Bader.
The wife Of the Persian secretary, a
perfect type of the blonde, fair-com-
pleXioned FTenchwoman of the Brit
tany country, declares that the shy
ness and modesty of Persian women is
only surpassed by their beauty.
Although not very tall, they have
lovely, graceful figures" she said,
(which they still conceal by the long,
flowing folds of the native chaddor, a
black satin garment which they wear
draped from the top of the head to
their feet Their clear white skins and
long black, shining hair is hidden by
their wells, known as the peecha, when
they go out, revealing only their great,
soft, black eyes.
<A1OAAOuB11 Gl4C ECISldll WOIIldU HAY
not, perhaps, take visible and active
part in political affairs, her influence
Is incontestable," declared Nine. Bader.
'She makes her influence strongly felt
through the media of her relatives and
husband"
Life of the women of sPersia's prov
inces has always differed considerably
Bader added. THE country women
have always had more work to do than
the city women" she said, land there
fore have gone without their wells for
many years. Rug weaving in the Prov
inces of Herman, Kashan, sAraq, Ispa-
han, Hamadan and Teheran is for the
most part done by women. In recent
years the women of Ispahan have also
developed a hourishing embroidery in
Bringing from another room two
lovely tableclotlls of embroidered linen,
Nine. Bader showed some Of the en-
broidery work Of the women Of Tspahan.
Nine. Bader added that teaching was
also a popular occupation for Persian
women and that girls schools, provided
with woman teachers, are constantly in
creasing.
Many Become Teachers.
''There are also teachers training
schools for women" she said, ''and as
Hospital is yearly increasing the num-
Der Of girls who are taking nurses
training"
Persia has always followed custom
which, although not prohibitory in its
effects, has had decided influence In
the prevention Of divorces. At the time
Of marriage, the bride does not bring
dowry to her husband, but ION the con-
trary by the marriage contract the
groom has to post certain sum OF
money, varying according to the social
status Of the bride, which in case Of
divorce, becomes the property Of the
wife The sum of money is only paid to
the wife in case of divorce. Yes" she
smiled, "it is frequently cheaper to keep
O wife than to divorce her"
"Of course" she concluded, divorces
occur, but in a far smaller proportion
than that Of European countries"
Altogether" said Nine. Bader, Per
sian women, though less progressive
than the women Of Europe, are happy
and contented with the quiet Of their
lives. Although they are not always
very learned, they are clever with a
natural intelligence which prepares
them to greet any form Of progress.
This Is significant in country which
is rapidly going forward under the
leadership of the progressive ruler,