按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
three before my lady is ready to leave。〃
After a silence of some minutes； during which he appeared to be
turning these remarks over in his mind； the young Oriental resumed： 〃The
single men who absorb so much of your women's time and attention are
doubtless the most distinguished of the nation； … writers； poets； and
statesmen？〃
I was obliged to confess that this was not the case； that； on the contrary；
152
… Page 153…
THE WAYS OF MEN
the dancing bachelors were for the most part impecunious youths of
absolutely no importance； asked by the hostess to fill in； and so lightly
considered that a woman did not always recognize in the street her guests
of the evening before。
At this moment my neighbor's expression changed from bewilderment
to admiration； as a young and very lovely matron threw herself； panting；
into a low chair at his side。 Her decollete was so daring that the doubts of
half an hour before were evidently rising afresh in his mind。 Hastily
resuming my task of mentor； I explained that a decollete corsage was an
absolute rule for evening gatherings。 A woman who appeared in a high
bodice or with her neck veiled would be considered lacking in politeness
to her hostess as much if she wore a bonnet。
〃With us； women go into the world to shine and charm。 It is only
natural they should use all the weapons nature has given them。〃
〃Very good！〃 exclaimed the astonished Ottoman。 〃But where will all
this end？ You began by allowing your women to appear in public with
their faces unveiled； then you suppressed the fichu and the collarette； and
now you rob them of half their corsage。 Where； O Allah； will you stop？〃
〃Ah！〃 I answered； laughing； 〃the tendency of civilization is to simplify；
many things may yet disappear。〃
〃I understand perfectly。 You have no prejudice against women wearing
in public toilets that we consider fitted only for strict intimacy。 In that case
your ladies may walk about the streets in these costumes？〃
〃Not at all！〃 I cried。 〃It would provoke a scandal if a woman were to
be seen during the daytime in such attire； either at home or abroad。 The
police and the law courts would interfere。 Evening dress is intended only
for reunions in private houses； or at most； to be worn at entertainments
where the company is carefully selected and the men asked from lists
prepared by the ladies themselves。 No lady would wear a ball costume or
her jewels in a building where the general public was admitted。 In London
great ladies dine at restaurants in full evening dress； but we Americans；
like the French； consider that vulgar。〃
〃Yet； last winter；〃 he said； 〃when passing through New York； I went to
a great theatre； where there were an orchestra and many singing people。
153
… Page 154…
THE WAYS OF MEN
Were not those respectable women I saw in the boxes？ There were no
MOUCHARABIES to screen them from the eyes of the public。 Were all
the men in that building asked by special invitation？ That could hardly be
possible； for I paid an entrance fee at the door。 From where I sat I could
see that； as each lady entered her box； opera…glasses were fixed on her； and
her ‘points；' as you say； discussed by the crowd of men in the corridors；
who； apparently； belonged to quite the middle class。〃
〃My poor； innocent Padischa； you do not understand at all。 That was
the opera； which makes all the difference。 The husbands of those women
pay enormous prices； expressly that their wives may exhibit themselves in
public； decked in jewels and suggestive toilets。 You could buy a whole
harem of fair Circassians for what one of those little square boxes costs。 A
lady whose entrance caused no sensation would feel bitterly disappointed。
As a rule； she knows little about music； and cares still less； unless some
singer is performing who is paid a fabulous price； which gives his notes a
peculiar charm。 With us most things are valued by the money they have
cost。 Ladies attend the opera simply and solely to see their friends and be
admired。
〃It grieves me to see that you are forming a poor opinion of our
woman kind； for they are more charming and modest than any foreign
women。 A girl or matron who exhibits more of her shoulders than you；
with your Eastern ideas； think quite proper； would sooner expire than
show an inch above her ankle。 We have our way of being modest as well
as you； and that is one of our strongest prejudices。〃
〃Now I know you are joking；〃 he replied； with a slight show of temper；
〃or trying to mystify me； for only this morning I was on the beach
watching the bathing； and I saw a number of ladies in quite short skirts …
up to their knees； in fact … with the thinnest covering on their shapely
extremities。 Were those women above suspicion？〃
〃Absolutely；〃 I assured him； feeling inclined to tear my hair at such
stupidity。 〃Can't you see the difference？ That was in daylight。 Our customs
allow a woman to show her feet； and even a little more； in the morning。 It
would be considered the acme of indecency to let those beauties be seen at
a ball。 The law allows a woman to uncover her neck and shoulders at a
154
… Page 155…
THE WAYS OF MEN
ball； but she would be arrested if she appeared decollete on the beach of a
morning。〃
A long silence followed； broken only by the music and laughter from
the ball…room。 I could see my dazed Mohammedan remove his fez and
pass an agitated hand through his dark hair； then he turned； and saluting
me gravely； murmured：
〃It is very kind of you to have taken so much trouble with me。 I do not
doubt that what you have said is full of the wisdom and consistency of a
new civilization； which I fail to appreciate。〃 Then； with a sigh； he added：
〃It will be better for me to return to my own country； where there are
fewer exceptions to rules。〃 With a profound salaam the gentle youth
disappeared into the surrounding darkness； leaving me rubbing my eyes
and asking myself if； after all； the dreamland Oriental was not about right。
Custom makes many inconsistencies appear so