DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68501#0051
INTRODUCTION.
31
THE VEIL.
The veil, that ancient and graceful covering for
the head, which has been, and still is, worn by almost
every nation of the world, is generally, in Europe,
composed of lace or gauze. This “ transparent shade”
is the most beautiful part of the costume of a bride,
and, in the words of the poets, “ adds another charm
to the loveliness it seems to hide.” Homer frequently
mentions the veil, as a part of the attire of the Grecian
and Trojan ladies. Of Helen, he says : —
“ O’er her fair face a snowy veil she threw,
And, softly sighing, from the loom withdrew.”
In the “ Odyssey,” too, we find that, in those days,
queens and ladies of rank wove them for themselves.
Among Eastern nations, to the present day, the veil is
very different from what it is with us. It is formed of
large sheets of different materials, which, falling over
the head, hang down to the feet, and, being held in
folds in front, thus envelope the whole person. Ladies
of distinction have them of silk, women of inferior grade
of linen or cotton. Ruth’s veil, mentioned in the Scrip-
tures, was most probably of the latter material. The
Turkish women make them of horse-hair; so that they
are transparent from within, but opaque without.
THE CAUL.
A caul is a very ancient head-dress; it is men-
tioned in the Bible, and by most old writers ; it was
usually made of net-work, of gold, or silk, and enclosed
31
THE VEIL.
The veil, that ancient and graceful covering for
the head, which has been, and still is, worn by almost
every nation of the world, is generally, in Europe,
composed of lace or gauze. This “ transparent shade”
is the most beautiful part of the costume of a bride,
and, in the words of the poets, “ adds another charm
to the loveliness it seems to hide.” Homer frequently
mentions the veil, as a part of the attire of the Grecian
and Trojan ladies. Of Helen, he says : —
“ O’er her fair face a snowy veil she threw,
And, softly sighing, from the loom withdrew.”
In the “ Odyssey,” too, we find that, in those days,
queens and ladies of rank wove them for themselves.
Among Eastern nations, to the present day, the veil is
very different from what it is with us. It is formed of
large sheets of different materials, which, falling over
the head, hang down to the feet, and, being held in
folds in front, thus envelope the whole person. Ladies
of distinction have them of silk, women of inferior grade
of linen or cotton. Ruth’s veil, mentioned in the Scrip-
tures, was most probably of the latter material. The
Turkish women make them of horse-hair; so that they
are transparent from within, but opaque without.
THE CAUL.
A caul is a very ancient head-dress; it is men-
tioned in the Bible, and by most old writers ; it was
usually made of net-work, of gold, or silk, and enclosed