A TURKISH GIRL’S DEBUT.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 6, 11 September 1906, Page 2

A TURKISH GIRL’S DEBUT.

Until a Turkish girl is eight years ©ld she is free to run about and nlay, the same as her brother. After that time she is regarded as a grown-up. She leaves school, and puts on a veil. She is forbidden to run about. No man except her father or husband is allowed to look upon her face, and she is not permitted to go into her father’s part of the house. | Her parents begin to arrange for i her marriage ; she has nothing to 1 say in the matter. She must be j married by the time she is 11, and I her husband will probably be about 117. In Turkey an unmarried man !or woman is unknown. Such a state jis looked upon as disgraceful-. A £250 WEDDING-DRESS When the wedding arrives the ccre- | monies last a week. The .wedding--1 dress, of a society bride is a most ! gorgeous affair, often costing £250, j being embroidered in' gold and pearls, j the prettiest part of the cere- | monies takes place one evening when the girl friends of:the youthful bride [entertain her family. Each takes a flighted candle, and forming a ..proI cession, with the bride as leader, | march about the grounds among tbe 1 flower-beds, through the trees. All ; are in bright-coloured chesses ; their | hair hangs over their shoulders. Songs are sung, sweet musical chants are heard, and the scene suggests nothing so much as a bit out of fairyland itself.