Page 247 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

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The Opening of Closed Doors

Ida UoNciis Staudt
Noth.—The Reformed Church in the United States is now co-operating with
us in the work in Baghdad. Mrs. Staudt is one of their missionaries and her
interesting article is printed by courtesy of The Outlook of Missions.—Kn.
T WAS July 19, 1924, when fur the first time in Baghdad graduat­
ing exercises were held for girls! One thrilled as one visualized the
effects of m> revolutionary a movement as education lor girls in
tins Moslem land, and though the exercises were crude they a Heeled
me as being singularly momentous. These girls taking a few steps uut
of their prison will he mild iconoclasts, hut they are the vanguard uf
the many who will follow them arid striding past them, will demolish
hoary traditions and leap into what? Liberty or license? Will they
be makers or breakers of life? The tide towards education in Iraq,
especially in Baghdad, has a tremendous surge and it should challenge
America to send out its best to help keep the Hood in safe channels.
As I drove through the streets to the school about 5 o'clock in the
afternoon the heat seemed the blasting breath of a prairie lire. Leaving
the carriage at the narrow street into which no vehicle could enter l
found myself in line with black-abahed, closely covered women shuttling
along on heelless slippers (one pair edged with fur), all headed for
the same place. The gate leading into the school yard was guarded
by three policemen, whose business, and business was brisk until the
close of the program, was to keep out the mob of women who had
unfortunately received no invitations. In spite of the police, over four
hundred uninvited women slipped through this cordon and the audience
which should have numbered six hundred was swelled to over one
thousand.
The songs the pupils sang were Arabic words fitted to Christian
hymn tunes. “Blessed Assurance” furnished the music fur the song
of welcome. The gymnastic exercises of the lower classes were those
taught by missionaries in the American schools in Mardin. The
Maypole drill was a serious affair, and when the ribbons tangled, the
children pushed and pulled one another desperately until llu* Miarl was
unraveled. Essays were read and dialogues rendered with a surprising
ease, and the audience found it necessary to sh-sh those in their midst
who responded audibly to the platform sentiments.
It was my privilege to sit facing the audience and my eyes fastened
themselves upon the women. Under the black abahs were all kinds of
costumes, from the regulation dress of the Moslem women, all made
according to one pattern, to the Parisian gown glittering with beads.
The majority wore their hair in the customary two braids, one hanging
over each shoulder, and the customary headdress made of two black
kerchiefs, the one placed over the head, the two ends falling over the
ears and held there by the second carefully folded and banded around
the head. Other women wore their hair in the modern wav—1 saw
but two bobbed heads. There were some benches in front and those
women fortunate enough to be on them slipped their feet out of the
slippers and sat in the comfortable crosslegged way.