between parents and children, and brothers and sisters, is unusually strong in the Greek families and nothing strikes the stranger more forcibly than the simplicity and genuine love of the members of the family for each other. No widow suffers from want among them. The first duty of a son is to provide for his widowed mother; and if she has no son, a widow is the charge of the next kinsman. The affectionate

GRECIAN WOMEN OF ARGOS, CORINTH, AND SPARTA.

care of the brother for the sister is such, that no young man who is left with sisters unprovided for thinks of marrying until they are suitably established; and an old maid is as hard to find among them as a young bachelor.

Most of the Grecian women are handsome and agreeable, particularly the blue-eyed Peloyonessians, whose wreath of golden hair flows so picturesquely about their shoulders and their white upper garments, when released from the restraint of the cap of blue and gold. But these lovely creatures are as shy as gazelles, and can with difficulty be prevailed upon to sing to the stranger one of the melancholy but passionate songs of their native land. In this respect they differ greatly

from the Italian and Spanish maidens whose frank manners and playful tricks have been so often recounted by travelers. This almost childish bashfulness may be traced to the influence of oriental customs and habits, which are more decided as intercourse with Europeans diminishes. In the interior, the girls, and particularly the married women, are so closely restricted to their fathers' houses that there is very little opportunity for that romantic affection which in other countries frequently outruns parental plans. Direct courtships scarcely ever take place; the wooing is done by a friend or relative, and frequently, as in the Island of Chios for instance, children are contracted to each other in infancy by their parents.

The gay inhabitants of Pera are a curious study. Nothing is more amusing than their apings of European fashions and habits. Each tries to speak French, admires French customs, holds her little court in imitation of a French salon, in which she receives her admirers from day to day, and coquets, and is flattered from morning till night. This usually takes place in the "Shahınishin" a lofty and spacious building with more windows than walls, a sort of conservatory in which these fragile flowers bloom and wither. They meet in these halls, rave about Paris, and listen while their toilette goes on to the gossip of their gallants; whether Gambetta is married, and what took place at Madame Grevy's last levee. The acme of their wishes is to reach Paris, and they would gladly peril their souls to obtain it. Failing in this, the Shahnishin is their world. There, as young girls, they gossip and lie, making the veriest hobbledehoy believe he is the object of their adoration till they can find something better, growing into glibness of tongue as their charms mature, until they are led to the altar, usually by some decayed old beau with varnished boots and false teeth and hair, the older the better, provided the requisite solid qualifications are forthcoming.

The Roumanian woman is a near relative of the Greek in thought and feeling as well as in blood. Equally superficial, she is quite as fond of copying French models, just as much given to gossip, and as remote from real intelligence or culture. Neither reads a book of any kind. Both are preternaturally keen in intrigue. Both make

"ducks and drakes" of the French language, for the sake of which they affect to forget their own. But the Roumanian is mistress of her own house, and her own movements; and while, among the more conservative families, there may still be found traces of simplicity, and the homely virtues of their fathers, the sphere of the woman even there is less restricted than among the Greeks. The Roumanian Boyars or nobility of the better sort

are highly hospitable, and prone to extravagant expenditures. The young Roumanians gamble to excess, and the whole people are given to pleasure and seldom deny themselves either pomp or luxury, if it is within their reach.

A chapter might easily be devoted to the Magyars, the singular people who for centuries have maintained their unity and in some respects their institutions upon the banks of the Danube, and whose heroic struggle for independence attracted the sympathies and the admiration of the whole Western world. Many Magyar women have distinguished themselves by noble and heroic qualities-among whom we can only mention Elizabeth Szilagyi, the wife of Janos Hunyadi; Helen, the famous daughter of Count Peter Zrinyi; Caecilia Rozgonyi, the Hungarian Joan of Arc; and Anna Tarezay, the heroic defender of Tarko. The Magyars were a nation of heroes and warriors, and their women have been in all ages worthy of their husbands and their fathers. Vibrating between extremes, ready to die for a passion or an idea, casting their whole souls into a question of state, or an air from a Gipsy orchestra, they are among the most loveable as well as lovely of women.

ROUMANIAN GIRL.

The Magyar peasant woman has the same sterling honor, boundless hospitality, and fidelity in intention and dealing which distinguishes

her nobler sister. Girls and women are patterns of physical health and beauty, to which a somewhat singular dress adds a piquancy and picturesqeness. A short frock with many folds of red, dark blue or black cloth, an apron, and a close waist, with a kerchief of white linen, a hood or turban of loose cloth, and high boots-made like those of men-make up her toilette. Her hair, which is rich and abundant, is braided and wound around the head. The young girls tie the braids with a lace or ribbon, and allow them to hang loosely.

TOILET ARTICLES.

2. The Slavonian Women.

ROM the White to the Egean Sea, stretches the great Slavonian district, which contains the richest mixture of races in the whole world. These numerous families divide naturally into two great groups-the South and East Slavonians in one, and the West Slavonians in the other. These groups sub-divide into Serbians, Montenegrins, Bosnians, Bulgarians, Croats, Raizes, Slavonians, Wends, Dalmatians, Russians, Tschechs, Slovaks, Poles, etc., etc.

Certain customs and usages are common to almost all of them. Among them we find patriarchal institutions, deep family affection, and a low position for women.

The Serbians, whom we shall first notice, have a singular custom of community of goods among different members of the same family or several kindred families, who unite for mutual assistance and protection, in what they call "Zadruga." At the head of this association is a "Domatchin," who is chosen by the whole family as its leader. Next to him in authority comes his wife, who directs the general household affairs, and the education of the children. The respect shown to these officials is very great. The members call their leader master, concede him the place of honor, and the choicest food at the family table, rise when he enters the house, do not smoke in his presence without his permission, and neither darce nor sing in his absence.

The relations between brothers and sisters are particularly close and tender, and persons of both sexes frequently agree to be brothers or sisters to each other, binding the union with an oath, a breach of which exposes the offender to condign punishment.

The Serbian disposes of his daughters, hand at pleasure, but a daring young fellow sometimes agrees with the maiden of his choice to