Women Not Admitted

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7177, 30 May 1891, Page 4

Women Not Admitted

The Mosque of St Sophia is one of the most interesting buildings in Constantinople to visitors. It is in the form of a Greek cross, and has a central dome 100 ft above the floor ; it was doubtless once much higher, as the gilded cupola could be seen a hundred miles at sea, and was a landmark for ships coming up the harbour. The inside is very beautiful, with its sixty columns of marble and granite and porphyry, some brought from Heliopolis, some from Baalbac, some from Athens, and others from the temple of Diana at Ephesus. It was built 531-538 a.d., and is one of the finest speciments of Byzantine architecture. But all the grandeur and all the beauty of thiß magnificent Mosque is for male eyes alone. The peculiar religion of the Koran, as proclaimed by the priests, has set a rule of inhibition against the Mohammedan women visiting the Mosque j if permitted to enter on any special occasion, they must sit in the galleries, with their faces closely veiled. This iB the intolerance of a superstitious religion, but it will not do for the descendants of thoße who hung old women as witches at Salem to denounce this Mohammedan discrimination too loudly. We are growing more tolerant as we grow more intelligent, but there are still physicians who will not prescribe, but proscribe, Warner's safe cure solely because it is a proprietary remedy, though they know it is the only known specific for kidney troubles. The more intelligent, following the true inspirations of the healing art, knowing its virtues, do not hesitate to use it in their own practice, however, and readily recommend it to those afflicted. The proprietors of Warner's safe cure have published many physicians' testimonials during tho past five or six years, and Dr J. M. Card, of St Mary's, Pa., .writes June 24, 1890 : — " I have used Warner's safe cure now for the last three months for my own benefit, and am pleased to certify that it has done me more good than any medicine I have tried for kidney trouble, and I am recommending it to all my patiente."