230 
A CRUSADE IN THE EAST. 
pear in ball-rooms and opera-houses, with scarcely more than 
a piece of gauze above the waist.” 
Yusef.— “ And don’t they feel ashamed at all ?” 
General.— “ By no means. Those who desire to be dis¬ 
tinguished in the world of fashion, never feel ashamed of any 
thing that is fashionable. They take great pride and pleas¬ 
ure in making the exhibition. It shows a consciousness of 
purity ; because, if they were not certain that they could re¬ 
sist the effects of this display, of course they would not make 
it on any account.” 
Yusef (with flashing eyes).—“ I’d like to live there ! 
Above all things, I’d like that—in another people. Most 
wonderful are the diversities of custom. An Arab woman 
would be disgraced were she to adopt such a fashion.” 
General.— “ Of course ; that results from the benighted 
condition of the female sex in your country. Your people are 
behind the times, Yusef. As civilization progresses, we cast 
aside all these barbarous prejudices. We approximate toward 
first principles. There was a time, even in our country, when 
a lady could not display her charms in public ; but of late 
years we have become fashionable tourists. We go to Europe 
every summer, and import the latest improvements in fashion 
and morals. No female now is considered worthy to mingle 
in the most stylish society, until she is up to the Parisian 
standard. We dance by Paris—dress by Paris—eat by Paris 
—drink by Paris—and I rather think the most fashionable of 
us will soon sleep by Paris.” 
Yusef.—“ Inshalla ! where is all this to stop—especially 
in the matter of dress ?” 
General (a little confused).—“ Where is it to stop ? Oh, 
that I can’t tell you. Perhaps it won’t stop at all till we 
reach that primitive state of simplicity from which we orig¬ 
inally fell. The Parisians are an extremely natural people, 
in some respects—not at all restrained in social life.” 
Yusef (with a sigh).—“It must be a Paradise upon earth. 
But, then, I am told, that no man is entitled to more than one 
wife, by law. Can he send her home, or sell her, as we do, 
when he sees another more beautiful ?” 
