SWART WOMEN OF THE EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1929, Page 6

SWART WOMEN OF THE EAST

(Br Lady Denison Boss, who, lias ■ just returned from touring the Middle East with her husband, the Director of •' the School of Oriental in London.

One hears a great deal, nowadays, of the Westernisation of the East, but wlmt I have recently seen and heard in Persia leads me to. believe that, however great the changes may be elsewhere, the ancient customs relating to women there will not quickly pass away.

Persian women—even those young ones who, having learned to speak French or English and play lawn tennis, are beginning to feel the restraint of the old order of life rather irksome—recognise the purdah (the seclusion of women) confers many privileges still worth keeping. Under the immemorial system of seclusion they are always sure of-pro-tection from the rough world, they are well provided for and well looked after—and tney are free to indulge in the immense pleasure of gossiping among themselves. Also, they have plenty of leisure in which to make themselves beautifuk All Persian women regard personal appearance as an enormously important thing, and attend to it as a ritual.

•No Persian woman would ever dream, of having grey hair. So soon as age begins to creep upon her she dyes her hair to the lustre of its original blackness. Western women might ask why she should bother to do this, as nobady outside her home ever sees her hair. The answer is that she takes as keen a pleasure in her appearance as her husband docs. With the henna for her finger-nails, the many perfumes which she uses so delicacy, and all- the various other aids to beauty which she employs, the Persian woman makes a most elaborate toilet, but the result justifies it. Practically the only apparent Westernisation of Persia lias been effected by silk stockings. Gone are the characteristic black woollen stockings and slipper-like footwear. To-day' every Persian woman wears pink silk stockings and very smart and elegant shoes. In Teheran, indeed, a large percentage of the shops are filled with beautiful shoes, so great is the demand for them. One is able to buy almost anything in Teheran’s shops—even frocks and hats of the latest European fashions, made by the Persians themselves. In fact, the Persians are such excellent copyists that their carpenters will furnish your house in any styleyou care to name. t' ■ !—! day of its visit. One can recall now the mellowed voice of the old actor standing outlined in the shadow of the proscenium, the beautiful and- affecting tableaux shown behind a transparent curtain, and the droning of the harmonium when the wagon-top stage was darkened for the changing of the scenes.