New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BAKERS TURKEY.
TURKEY. BY JAMES BAKER, 81 A. Svo pp 90
Henry Holt Go.

nIOthCT of the celebrated Aiilcan eNp"icl' ch San
mel Baker has gathered the materials Tor inns Vo-
ume in frequent aud extended journeys through
Turkey in Europe. and residence in the country at
different times for q period of about three years
He was also brought INTO intimate contact with the
native and foreign officials. gaining much important
information ON the national finances. political con-
dillon. commercial aud industrial relations agricu!-
tural resources aud the social and domestic habits
of the people. of the opportunities thus Afforded
he has evidently made dgcnt use. and though
pcron OF slight literary culture OF practice, ne mas
produced a narrative Of considerable interest, Which
will be found not inopporluue ia The newly awakened
curiosity with regard 10 Turkish affairs. hls
work is written with very decided prep0Ssessiohs
in favor Of the Turks wo in his opinion have been
greatly nsrepresentod. and treated with not htte
prejudice and injustice. He undertakes TO eAiiot
the opposite side Of the picture and TO make known
the better Qualities of the Turkish character which
have been retained by the mass OF the people, IN
spitc of 80 anyyears Of corruption ana dodOie-dea
ing on the part of their rulers Colonel Baker makes
no attempt to conceal the errors and faults OF INC
Turkish Government. But he finds ample oce a'loh
TO excuse or paliiate it's worst shortcomings lhe
whole question is argued with sort of rough ana
ready special pleading. showing less suhtIfiy thah
zeal LEGS forensic skill thau eaIntStnesa OF e''lo-
ton. but apparently with no desire 70 color OF
1aiSIfg facts Tor INC Nthb VI H'i'''S 49,
cause. At heart he seems 20 cherish Ger
tain English sense of justice, which, though
his perceptions may sometimes be ciouded
Inv p,.iu.icc does not permit him tO indulge con-
scionsly IN sophistry OF article IL support OF his
po>itione In addition TO mis- personal Obsoryd-
lions Colonel Baker has studied the standard au-
thoritics on the Ottoman histoiy, bat clearly with
greater strength Of appetite thar poweroi Digestion
in tins fcid lac is certainly not at home. lie VIII
never shine in historical compositions, and has
greatly impaired the work of better writers than
himself by MS feeble and laugud diluiions. intact,
bv far too large portion Of the volume consists OF
the reproduction OF familiar statements which have
lost much of their interest and all Of their vitality
in passing through his hands. If the author had
been conyeTsant with the by-ways and highways OF
literature this might have been ascrbed To She love
Of book making but In the present case 10 is
10 doubt due to his ignorance of the functions Of
compiler and his innocent unconsciousness OF when
his usefulness ia that line has ceased, and be has
become a bore. His pictures of rc1l life are Of a
much superior order to bis historical sketches What
he has seen with has own eyes be describes clearly,
and often with good deal of spirit lis attempts
at humor are mostly forlcru but his descriptions are
usually animated and sometimes impressive. As nm
example If this, we may take his account OF the
Bulgarian peasgntry -
The interiors II the houses % the working classes arc
gencsaijy pL.s.ered wi,h mixture OF cocg'u"s a9d
The tur1tture comprised IN pos ana paus, aud some
Tuss Tor heddns lr,,iI catpct i'E E.au ~ ~ iI,
clothes and Treasures; and these. with an opeh hftiEe
and chimney form all tie household requirements % IL
RE rooms are generally kept clean and well event
but the exterior oi The houses more Its,n",S Wat We
GO about irish cabins. Il consists oil M lacosnr Wh
stable and sgraw-house, nut no garden Although me
land admirably suited Tor t, tAsy d. not "itehri 10
lrow VEG, tables family This neglect IS caused
Nv the narrow limits Of their wants. Good Ehe3ten
sl,ep- milk. cheese. and sometimes XII or iaab
roasted whole. high DAYS aud holidays, form ac Diet
q tire ordinary peasant. Ihv bet class % y om'n I've
n,ri,s LIED .. bonf..r' ana "A very good nt pastiy
peculat tnc B1lSauGu- aud made with i"1r cares,
ro-,,,'cit traveller TO ask FOR tfis when pass ing
Though Bulgarian towns. Tho people are deficient IN
personal cleanliness although iOnd OF arcs. auc an on
tiois of thc body during their whole lifetime on the
ne DIS OF To women and indeed Of TIE also, is
very picturesque. The former costumes o. brilliant
co0rs peculiar cgcI village, which 10 another sign oi
tHc power of me ~ lau 10 sihh ih l'alt 81 .n
common interest Inc village costumes are 'ciy varied
and brilliant but the colors Wen chosen ib"t e
effect Is hanonous aud lcs sing 10 Eye. Tncr r,s,
bracelets head Oruau, ns made from a0! ga saver,
handed down from mother to daughter rs family
heirlOOms. Curousy e4oneh TIC ioru o4 ths
sembles those OF the Luuscans which have oern
found auc nt excavations IA Italy IT is possible tat
this may forl q huk egnnoiUsy. Tie peasant women
would naturally follow their ornamental customs through
generations upon generations. The Busaans married
tue slayon women and is quite possible ,gt the
Gent Irsaans might en- Of the slayonc branch
The bulgarian women marry young, but from the
habit OF suciug their children mp 10 three and our
years of they soon lose tGcir yciui pea aoc'
aud al two-andtwenty lOos Oh ana hasgld ihty are
lttie 9narrcling probably h., au.e the Women have
their time fuzzy occupied or course there are orca-
siunai 81 litTcatm'ut and Wite-DeHiing, az ia
England hut 1t H. quite the exception and not the rue
Ceremony Is conspicuous among ITEM tspecidil at
weddings and bUrals. The former Is al occasion for
general feast village ami the peasant bridegroom
will spend much ten or fifteen pounds ia Vine ana
sheep the carouss which last for three OF four days,
accompanied bi almost CONTINUOUS d'heihg'
Colonel Baker was one dag invited to dinner by
rich yeoman il q Bulgarian village, who had risen
TO independence by agriculture, and was Low the
owner of landed property aud large tiocks of
sheep though he had commenced life with only
plow and a pair Of butlaloes His account OF the
feast is not uBiuyitng -
About g o'clock my Bulgarian host came to announce
that dinner WIS ready, aud proceeded 90 ms house,
where we werr sorod into the for there was Only
besides the family BEDROOM ENery tnins was sc!i,
rngs aud cushions and there blazing fire on the
Qrocnd in the ceutcr ~ the and upon II seye,al
copper pots which gave forth most savory smells
The female psst Of the establishment were there TO re-
ceve me ana they consisted Of the wives OF the host
and his son, together WIN d tSl- al "a Ia n!
plaiu heat The month wa JAY, and TIE room
lbr oven, while a. the hohorvu guest H'N 10
whispered to the VlceCousul that before dinner
and considerably suggested 10 oar nos. thdt as Il
wes lovely moonlight night. we myht dine ~ tue yer
anda HaDpy thought! our host at once cOnseht,d but
not without expressions from te ieac poioh oI ne
company that should die or cold although the thef
Ipolncfer WAS nj 100 Fahrenheit.
We were soon seated, crosseggcd and ik,s fashion,
ing on; in the center placed bu Oi soup, ana we
each given shallow iron rpoon WIN NiIeh we were
fbing winch cannot "sbidc" IL j. sitting cross-eg-ei
aud Turkish ashton on the hard ground me heei7 ~
where Away thought al soft and either ut $50 far
backward that iu danger oi rolling over go that
direction, 40 far forward mat have tas nYcarIhc.
OF saving my PRAYERS ,sdeS which gc the cramp; so