Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-05

the birth Of daughter, he says, ga
yelled one" or ga stranger has been
given to me-" He is taught by the
Koran TO honor his wife, and TO be-
lieve that she will be, equally with
himself, a participation in Heavenly
felicity. This teaching ehectually
displaces the vulgar error that de-
clares the Mohammedans 10 believe
women have no souls. Polygamy
is allowed TO this day IN Turkey, but
1t is so surrounded with social aud
religious difficulties that i, is rarel,
practiced. The Koran allows
n usselman to marry four legitimate
wives, bur tells INN expressly that II
is meritorIous to marry only ONE
10 Corslantinople the ulemas, the
great bodies of government officials,
the navy and military officers, the
tradesmen aud the workmen have
generally only one wife. In the
provinces one wife IL even more uni
versally the rule. And now. ALI
great officers of state make a merit
of marrying one wife only, to show
a good example to their countrymen.
Nor is the wife slave entirely. In
her own apartment she is supremacy
mistress. She may receive her fe-
male friends aud her male relations /;
she may go out in the day time
(velled and attended !; aud her hus-
band consults her on all ms affairs
She rs not The painted doll we have
read OF. She is thoroughly domestic,
and IS efiectuaily protected by the
state from cruel treatment. The
Musseman is bound by law to main
tain her according TO his rank # he
fails in this she may claim divorce.
When he marrles her he gives a
present TO her relative, instead of ex-
pec:ing lower. as with US. She
has the care Of his household, and II
he be poor, she employs her leisure
in spinning. She has the exclusive
right. by law, 10 bring up her chill
dren-the glrls until they are mar
ricd. the boys until they enter one
of the public schools. If the Quo
mans have one tender chord in then
breasts, i, is that which is awakened
within them nt the sound OF the ma.
tern al name. Women may even
even perfnrm the functions oil the
Imam recite prayers, and under ord
inary circumstances, they may be
invested with political powers. Yet
undoubtedly, the turkish woman II
not vet free. The law allows her Il
see her distant relatives only once u
each wear, if her husband objects t'
more frequent visiting; her near rel
atives are also subject TO legal inter
ference.
The Ottoman at home, therefore
is not a Bluebeard-his vito 10 not
slave. Yet in his house he ha
slaves, whom he buys as sheep arr
bought. These slaves are said to b'
well used, and can, with reasonable
exer,ion, earn their liberty. Thu
the son Of slave mother is inconies
iiblv free. In fact these slaves repre-
sent very closely the condition of ih
Russian serf, but appear to be bette
treated. In Turkey man is com
. ,elled by law to feed and clothe HI
slaves he may not ill-lreai them: h
cannot force ar prevent their Maria
ges They are simply servants with
out wages, and in most cases person
ally and of choice attached to theI
masters yet the condition OF the fe
male slave is barharnus enough, an
verv shocking to any civilized ma
who may have an opportunity
watching their condition, aud III
terrible traffic Of which they are III
object. Then, the son of slave, be
ing free, has an equal chance in II
world with the boys of the most IA
vored parentage Tor in Turkey ther
is no arIstocracy.
The story runs that one day tn
Khallf Omer having received som
fine linen from Yemen, distribute
it amongst the Musselmaus. Ever
man had an equal piece, Omer r.
serving no more for himself than h
had given 10 the rest. Arrayed
the garment this share had bee
made into, he entered pulpit an
| exhorted the Mussulmans TO wae
war with the intidels But ma
present rose, and interrupting Il
D Khalf said, )" We will not obey YOU
$ Why notf" Omer asked.
Because you have Distinguish
Yourself from us all by a parlIcul
partially"
e "In what way 2" said the Khalil
!. "Llsten. When you pretends
: to divide the linen equally you d
ceived us, for our pieces do not su
fee to make garment like yours
You are man of great height, a
$ have retained enough to clolhe you
i self from head 10 foot"
: Omer, turning TO his son, sal
S I" Add llah, answer tins man."
: Whereupon Abd-Allah rose al
: explained. "When the prince
: believers, Omer, wished TO make
d garment of his portion of linen,
= found il insufficient. found II
; portion too much, SO gave him n
= surplus"
IS g Very good y Inc nuesiinnar lh,