The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-11-29

words. and temper. ween.
Is the gentleman truly refined. boysi
But. Whatever you are. be true. boysl
BE visible through and through. boys;
Leave to others the shamming,
11e: greening' and 'cramming.'
: sltfsn sad earnest, be true. boysf
MONEY.LENDlNG IN TURKEY.
The Constantinople correspondent
Of the Philadelphia Press writes:
Aoney-changing ank money-lending
are the most profitable occupation here
next to being Grand Vizier or Pro-
Governor. The chances of
plumber and extortion in the latter are
and unequaled, and rare is
the case In which the reslring function
arys poor though he may have been in
the frat place, does not retire with
oveeAowing Golfers. There is no fixed
interest for money. The Koran de-
nOunces usury, but no one hesitatesto
run coqnter 10 it's precepts when mon.
ey Is needed. The Turks do not amass
money. They live frugally. care little
for the Injuries of life, and are salts.
fed II they make both ends meet
Those who are rich have made their
monef In office, under the favoritism
of the sultan or patrons in power.
While their easily acquired fortune
lasts they lead q merry life, with q well
selected harem. an elegant Yai on the
Bosphorus, and spacious Konak in
town. Their outlays in tho way of
presents to the dignitaries of State, to
the servitors Of their patrons, and in
political intrigues. and dowries on
their SONS and daughters to marry
them well, soon run them in debt.
Recourse must then be had to some
Armenian Saraf or money-broker.
Notes of hand, indorsed or not, don't
serve. The only sufficient security is
. collateral in the shape of jewels,pre-
cious stones, plate, gold snuff-boxes
incrusted with diamonds that have
been received in gift from the Sultan,
or some other objects of tangible val
ne. Before the negotiation is conclud-
ed the qua of every object must be
tested, the in'x nsic and average sell
ing value ascertained, and then the
money is lent on such terms that there
is large chance Of profit and none of
loss. The discount may be 30 per
cent, or so even. and when the loan is
for term of years the interest is rare
ly less than 25 per cent Deeper and
deeper the borrower gets in debt ;loan
follows on loan, with new collaterals
pledged, until there is nothing left to
give Dc security. Then the creditor
rsalizes- He puts the precious articles
on sale In the jewelry department Of
the great Bazaar at StambouI, or he sells
them to . merchant there, and perhaps
he gets one of the ambulatory auction
GERS that frequent the Bezestan to cry
them OF to the highest bidder, as he
urges his way through the crowded
avenues of the mart Of trade. In any
event, he is sure to come out with a
handsome gain, such one as would
have delightedSbylock himself. Never
was the Bazaar richer than it is now in
rare, curious, and valuable jewelry,
gold ornaments, swords Of honor, dia-
monds, necklaces, and the spoils of
bankrupt harems and palaces. have
a 1ohhInH a I;tfla q, nroaf 4; N, ov. .1o ooI
they sre sold quite cheaply, and in car
pets, but my pocket is too shallow for
q speculation in the magnificent orna-
ments that once adorned Circassian
beauties Of the Imperial harems. Alb
dul Azizs widows and favOrites have
thrown q large amount of their treas
ures on the market, and the late Mus
tapha Fail Pasha contributed not a
little TO the enriching of the jewel ba-
Ear. 1 plead guilty to one weakness,
and that is to the Oriental carpet. The
Turkey carpet, az it is made In the
hand-looms of Ouchak. is a fabric that
in durability, wearing qualities, and
s0ftness of texture can not be surpiss-
ed. 1t is made in square pieces of va
riOus dimensions, but generally of
size to cover an ordinary room. The
colors are 80 stable that it is said bar
rel Of vinegar upset on it will. not
change color. For wear, time seems
to make no impression on it. Beneath
my feet is q Turkey carpet which is at
least 80 years ole, and it is at this writ.
ing as fresh as the day the last thread
was wove into it at Ouchak. There
seems to be no fixed patterns, for l
have never eeen any two alike. The
weayer's fancy determines the figures
and arrangement of colors. and that is
as fantastic ss an Oriental Imagination
always is. The carpets are SO heavy
that they rest on the floor with their
own weight, and need no tacks TO
fasten them down. AS they are not
secured to the floor, they are frequent
ly taken up and busted and are always
thus kept clean. When the staircases.
as well rs the rooms, are laid in these
solid heecy carpets, the house is as
still as ii it were uuinhabited, SO far
as the movements of it's occupants are
concerned. II is q curious fact that
while every thing else has declined in
price, Turkey carpets hold their own
in the East, one q quarter of a century
old selling near on to its original cost.
A HEART OF STONE.
Grx. DII ,,o,