The Harem Lady Comes Out.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1921, Page 4

The Harem Lady Comes Out.

By Kathie Herrick.

ALEXANDRIA, (Egypt). Never since Mahomet married his old tartar of an employer have-til© women „‘f the harem been as much in the public eye as they are in Egypt to-day. Shopping, walking, motonjig, and (lriviim- (in open ears and carriages,• ot cmirsm not the old-time “Black Maria dosed broughams) and at the races, they are as much in evidence as their unveiled sisters. The veil of to-day is, for the pretty ones, as flimsy as tho excuse on which it is dieavdod; in the concert hall, for cxamplo, when everyone, of course is looking at the artists; or on the beach, when there is no man, outside the family circle, nearer than, say, two Thinnest tulle or georgette suffices—for tho pretty ones. There are more Conservative women who stick to heavy, opaque silk or crepe do chine; but T a m heard it whispered that these are perhaps, a. year or two on the slu.d> K. of twenty-five, the age beyond which the Egyptian beauty tends t ovtT-ripoiioss. ~ t Islamic custom and tradition which .’. ,1,, .-oiliu< r of the fare—them is nothino about it, by th(i wy,.’ n "£:«* many people think- .* s.lcnt on the subject of feet and ankles. Humbler Moslem women still twill their voluminous wrappings ui the dust but tho harem lady display smart, shoes and stockings, when be u. U abroad, to the same extent as lie; Egyptian sisler and that in Aoxa did a and Cairo, is saying "good d al. TTnrem ladies are more than bios so—ing out. They are making themselves conspicuous. T was at a concert the other day with a. bevy of thorn, all (laughters of noble Egyptian houses. Each om changed her seat at least ten times. They were overpowenngly seentdl. Their chatter drowned the soft notes ~„d filled in all the singers’ dramatic ' 'ln the amount and the kind of jewell„rv thev wore fcliov showed ItOW LUliihev are r.-movrtL in matters of testis from the Hockniin hnde; such » T Jmve seen ill the jewellers’ bazaar of Damascus. with ' fifty English sovereign s strung across their tattooed foreheads, lil-,- a polo pony’s browltfnrf. In diet they are still “flappers. Pastrycooks and confectioners (make their fortunes in Egypt In literature tlicv have not. advanced beyond the flimsiest l-’reneh novels. In music they an- still in Hv grip of “C «-rny s Kseniscs.” Vet in tin- year or ~,,, j I icy have not hedP'led to l'lunge from the harem into politics l-’cw more path-lie si-hts could he in,a.dued than that of a middle-aged .native Iv-vuliaii pnhticuin interviewing a donut at inn of Egypt ian “siifl’ra cct 11" .’ ’ Thcv call tlu-lllse! VOS i.-ri,,, uro Mothers of Egypt”; 1 11, ~ ..yci. al i olil iciail friend of mine who lias snffen-d from their nh- *— • i>>ns. tells me that half the den'

|j,„. Ibal waited oil b—’ " "IV too yollllg 1,,. Ili.nl.iii - nf -mil things Hid the Oihm half would have to hurry up. Al iircM-iil i hey arc eniioentraliiig oil 111,. Indeiielldellee ol Egypt. W liou dial is achieved ihev mean to agitate for the vote.

Tlk-v an- a sad disillusionment Hi those of US who Imv read Pierre Loti. We e\peeled his “Di-sonelinnteex,” when they did ..merge from their bondage, to 111- such refined, far-seeing, perhaps rather sail and sober, but certainly wcll-manncr-il young people. It. is disappointing to sec them at large, these very-nearly-omaneipaled E .vntian ladies. After centuries of restraint their greatest need in dress, in ideas, and in manners— is still rest mint.