New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-03
LETTERS OF AN ExIL.E-No. VIII.


ewes upon the moral and intellectual condition OF
the Musuln an nations, we End no greater encoor-
ageneDt do not find my models here in STAN
Boal, where Imitation Of European customs has
wrought wonderful change-if not in the hearts
and minds Of the true believers at least IN tnei'
outward appearance. When foreigners "aiA'ns
through the streets or the bazasrs OF Staln0'''
see Turkish noblemsn stuffed in bis 1dils COAT
tight trousers, and French vanished Ooo.s' 'ney
eandidly admire the powerful action OF clVi ana
political reform and proPhesy thai tne 4urAS WA
aeon oin the Christians on the path OF civilization
and nroeress. How little do they-thOse who
iudgs in This way, from superficial appearances
know what dirty persons are wrapt up in those
rich and elegant clothes, or what real barbarism
il hidden under that outward show Of good
breeding and humanity. Let them cross the Bos-
phorus or sail down through the Dardanelles land
ct scutari, Ismid, Smyrna or Beyrouti proceed
into Asia Minor or Syria, and they will soon be
convinced that no seed OF prosperity or retorma-
tion has been cast abroad by the pretended re-
formers OF Turkey that the whole bulk OF the
Moslem laws is intended to prevent the progress
of the people in civil life and that nothing short
of q total remuneration Of the Mohammedan super
stitions canredeem them from their inveterate and
almost desperate wretchedness.
The mutual relations between man and woman
in Turkey are little known TO foreigners. Men
being completely excluded even from the sight
of q Turkish female, they generally and implicitly
adopt the absurd notions which circulate abroad
about them and their unhappy condition. When
we bear Of Turkish household we most com
monty represent it "a the abode Of at least a
dozen 6ayaderes, ell only intent on pleasing
their lord and MASTER who, after having lent
gratifed ear to their singing, and pleased eye to
their dancing, throws the sighedfor handkerchief
70 the favorite Of the day. We think the posses
sion of that handkerchief the supreme object Of
their wishes, and the obtaining it the reward o.
their utmost exertions. Timid, trembling, injured
but not resenting, modest, retiring, loving and
graceful; such do we behold them in our fancy
whilst their despotic masters appear TO us all tina
is fierce, oppressive and tyranncal. Such were
indeed the models which the legislator had in
view when he framed the chapters Of his Code
concerning women, marriage, etc.
Butone thing worth cur attention is, that woman
has never rebeed at, nor shrunk from, the lot for
which man has destined her, though that lot be as
hard as human nature can endure. But let it be
observed Also that women never and no where
fail to exercise about the same influence, let their
exterior condition differ as much as fate will have
It. The wife of the Indian Chief who dares not
lift her eyes to the face Of her husband, knows
how to lead him toward the object of her wishes
as well-bettcr perhaps, than the French lady
knows how to hold her sway over the circle of
her admirers.
But il there is no difference in the degree OF In
nuence exercised by women upon men in the
most unlike stations of life, there is great deal
of difference in the manner in which that in
Huence is exercised. A good or bad effect goes
with the openness or the steathness Of its nature.
In country where feminine influence Is
openly aAdlawfully exercised for right and proper
objects, that influence must be Of the most sau
tsry kind. But the more stealthily it is used for
selfish ends and through shameful means, the
more immoral it's action muet be- And so 1t is
with the Turks. Women are source of corrup'
ton in their state Of society, and contribute in
strong degree to its debasement.
Turks have natural good feelings in them they
even possess an instructive delicscy of soul which
preserves them from utter ruin. That deicacy,
and those good feelings are quite vident in their
behavior to their women whom their laws enable
them to treat more like beasts than like slaves.
Nowhere is the feminine sway more absolute than
in Turkish harem. A true Turkish husband
may sometimes try to alleviate his sorrows and
his troubles by stealing tender look at some
pretty slave of his lawful spouse, or by calling
younger and milder partner to divide thesharems
scepter with his sour.tempered dame. But even
such things, though rather common IN the families
of some Christian countries, are not OF easy or Ire
quent occurrence among the Mussulmsns The
husband has no right 70 NEEDLE or TO interfere IN
his wife household, and if she discovers an IN
trigue going on between her lord Rnd,one Of her
women, her fury and herrevenge know no bounds
The woman can be beaten TO death by her mis-
tress without the husband and master daring to
interfere In fact he had better look to himself
because, though in Turkey you never be-
hold husband beating his wife, wife beating
her husband is by no means so rare an occurrence.
And though the man might retort in the same
manner ne does not and would be ashamed OF
doing it. know Of some husbands who have had
the honor and ornament Of their chins cruelty and
wholly plucked out by their wives, without ut
tering single threat or curse, or offering the
least return. They smiled end blushed, shook
their heads and tried to disengsge their boards,
but without evnoing any symptom Of anger. The
admittance of second wife where a first is al
ready installed, never happens hat with the con-
sent Of the latter. She is sometimes so stupid
and so weary Of her monotonouc existence as
gladly to accept a companion, though this will
rob her Of the affection Of man she does not love.
Sometimes the first wife is too old 20 bear chill
dren and If the exiStepca of n male heir il neces-
sary TO the welfare Of the family, she gives,
though reluctantly, her consent But then her
happy days are closed indeed, for iiman never ".