Oriental Women

by Edward B. Pollard

E-text prepared by J. P. W. Fraser, Thierry Alberto, Rénald Lévesque,
and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreaders Europe
(http://dp.rastko.net)

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WOMAN

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VOLUME IV

ORIENTAL WOMEN

by

EDWARD B. POLLARD, Ph. D.

OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

REBEKAH AND ISAAC'S AGENT, ELIEZER
After the paintingby A. Cabanel

Probably no feature in the social life of a people is of so universal an interest as its marriage customs, and there is no courtship, either ancient or modern, which has more enkindled the imagination and awakened the interest of men than that between Isaac and Rebekah..... It is a truly picturesque and even romantic story, which never loses its charm; and Rebekah, whether at the well or in her household, will always present a unique picture of womanly grace and beauty.
The ancient wooing of Rebekah is Isaac, though it is by no means typical in all its details, contains many elements that mark Oriental weddings..... The courage of Rebekah in consenting to mount the camel of a stranger and go into a far country to be wed is noteworthy. With all the apparent grace and gentleness of Rebekah, here was a pluck most commendable.