Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1907 — Mussulman Law Against Painting. [ARTICLE]

Mussulman Law Against Painting.

“Do you paint?” I asked, going toward the easel, disguising my surprise at meeting with such disregard of Mussulman customs In this orthodox household. “No, not. painting, just playing. It Is only an Impression, not a reproduction, of one of Allah’s realities.” Good Mussulmans do not believe in “reproducing Allah’s realities,” yet there stood on l the easel a charming pastel. Even orthodox Moslems I saw were not above beating the devil round the stump. - ' “How very beautiful!” I exclaimed. “Atehe Hanum, you are an artist” “Pray, pray, young Hanum,” she protested, a little frightened, I thought; “pray do not say such things. I am not an artist I only play with the colors.” “Let me see some more of your playing,” I persisted. Rather reluctantly, though wishing to comply with her guest’s desires, ■he brought out a large portfolio containing several pastels and water colors, and we sat down on a rug to examine them. Whether they were well done or not I cannot tell, but they were full of life and happiness. The curious part was that whenever she painted any outdoor life she painted It from her window, and on the Panvas first was the window and then through it you saw the landscape as she saw it—Demetra Vaka Brown in Appleton’s.