National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-05
HOHE LIFE OF THE TURK.
LTIcTunE BY BISHOP soUrHaArE

LNTURE BY BISHOP SOUTHGATE.
Ghe Fails Church Lecture Association, on
TUESDAY evening, introduced to the public OF that
entexprising town Rev. Bishop Southgate, With
his address on ''The Home Life Of the Turk" 1t
q not unknown to many that the reverend gentle
man spent some fourteen years In the missionary
diocese Of Turkey. He therefore speaks that he
does know and tsstihes that he has seem" 1t !sa
sound principle that to know people we'll one
must dwell among them. The speaker took q
strong position when he said ho should neither
borrow from nor compare with the tourists, some
Of whom have written we'll and some very ILL
MANNERS OF THE TURK.
The Turk is "early to bed and early TO rise"
the hours Of morning and evening prayer, which
he is careful to observe being at sunrise and sun
set. The dIvertIng presence Of woman Is not per-
mitted in his public devotions. He Is rigid re-
lgi0nist devoted in the forenoon 20 his coffee and
pipe, an abstainer from wine, which his religion
ing prayer. The dtminutiVe cup OF coffee always
guiiiless OF milk or sugar, IL his talisman. With
Il he entertains his guest, honors his patron, re
gets rid Of bOres, poisons his enemy, sc. For It
he has q special service, several gredes Of special
servants and special apartment N his house d9s
and All are carefully consumed. The Turk fully
EQUALS the Frenchman in the variety and number
and
CURIOUS COMPOSITION OF HIS DISHES,
twenty or more served one at time, constituting
his dinner. The meal is taken BY the family, al
sitting upon cushions upon the floor, around the
one dish, presented at the time and II the print
are unknown at the meal, the food being so pre-
pared as not to require them; but Well-Washed
fingers are always insisted on. The polite man
ners Of the Turk are q great deep. He begins
dinner by dipping his own fingers into the one
central dish, the act being also accompanied by
an invitation to the company to help themselves,
yet, notwithstanding the liberty invited, no two
dip in at the same time. He knows no simple and
BUTTONS aMay co give thee ca a6undance,S &C. The
mark Of special favor 10 when the host picks out
a choice morsel and puts IT into his guests
custom and the giving Of "the sop by the Saviour
to Judas" The SaviOur's act was demonstra-
tion by such custom Of his divine principles Of
Indeed, existing manners and customs in the
East wonderfully illustrate and illumine the mar
ratiVe and teachings Of Scripture.
THE HAREN
The lecturer is sure that the harem has really
never been penetrated by masculine presence
other than its rightful lord, his own Curious en-
ing ii meeting only disappointment, and that
sometimes Of most ludisrous sort, and eVidenc-
ing that the inhabitants Of the harem, though so
carefully secluded in their feminine world, are
not at times wanting in masculine mind and mus
Gle. II is q mistake, however, to suppose that
Polygamy is In practice the rule with the Turk
teuest limits himself TO one. plurality involves
great expense, as q separate house for each is
0eCe1EAry.
fesses his wives do quarrel like dogs and cats"
and this is thing radically repugnant to him,
for above everything he loves 70 be quiet The
Quarreling, though, is inevitable In the system,
for Turkish women are strong In their loves and
hates. The Turk may, however, enforce order by
whipping, which is lawful with him, and the birch
Is not uncommonly hung up In the harem.
TURKISH MARRIAGES
are always contracted by the parents on behalf
Of their children, and at very early ages OF the
latter, in some instances hypothetical contracts
being made even before their birth. Bethrothal
involves q settlement Of doHry. The profound
reverence for parental authority always incul-
Gated makes the parties always compliant 70 the
ARRANGEMENT, and the fact that the groom never
secs the face Of his bride till after marriage re-
moves all temptation to demur. These early
Sffsrn xiTi sbonld he mSrSied or buredSa C.
count for the early aging and death Of the wives
They fade at twenty, are old at forty, and IN
case TOO, Is aggravated BY their addiction TO the
hot bath. Their traditional beautyfs tradition,
save as the mixture Of Circassian blood redeems
II, the trade in wives from that province having
long been active.
THE ANCIENT PATRIARcHAL SYSTEM
is still maintained in many parts Of Turkey, Il
being not infIequent 10 hnd in the country an en-
tire village consisting of one family and descend
ants.
SOCIAL CUSTOMS.
The Turks amusements are storytelling, music
and dancing, the latter always being spectacular
and done by hired professionals, the Turks con-
luQOleuCc lOEpluNluk any Adotc AoE
a diversion that costs him any exertion. But
everywhere in Turkish society there is apparent
the want Of the open and active influence Of
women. Both sexes suffer. The men are ungen-
tie and ungallant; the women coarse and often
foul-mouthed. But there fingers that one trait
and teaching, which is the saving Of them as o
people, and which Western people might well
copy-respeet Of children for parents and the aged
and for the family relation.
The lecture was long, but claimed attention. A
touching feature Of the singing, under direction
Of ]. W. Sargent, was the ehild-duet, "0nt in the
cold, ;" by the little Misses Sargent and Hogan.
The next lecture Of the course Is expected to be
by Rev. B. W. Pond. Subject: 1.-THE Moral Of the
QrindstOne."