Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-11-02
Turklsh Domestic Life.

Every Turk leads two lives. He may
be in the society of Europeans during
six hours of every day. lie Is then well
dressed, vivaeious. perhaps intelligent
but this part o. his life is not the part
which forms his motives. II is not then
that the final causes are ut work which
govern his acts. His life, when he Is In
the busy whirl OF the world, is super
ficial and unreal. How artificial 1t Is
can be seen in the alacrity with which.
on his return to his harem. he lays of
his broadclo h clothes or his public ex-
istonce, aud dons the white baggy
trousers, the open-necked vest, and the
long gown dear TO his heart. He is only
ready to be at ease when he releases his
icet rom patent leather and from
stocking, and thrusts them into I'M
heeled slippers Then he is himself, for
he is at home. The harem is to every
Turk his haven ofrefuge. To 1t he may
Zee from every care. About the harem
cling all the sweetest associations Of his
life All his best feelings find ex 'rcise
in that sacred place His mother. per-
haps, is there, or hi, sisters. There
only he erjoys the prattlo OF his chill
dren. There alone in I'll the word can
the tired man find the balm Of sympathy
There he has his books, and can study
in peace il he will. There he enjoys
the riches of his splendid flower gar
den. In the domain of the women.
with hills and valos and moon-touched
sea before his eyes he dreams away lis
summer evenings under the subtle spell
OF nature. And here he meets the con-
trolling influences OF his life. The
women OF the harem mother, sisters and
wives. wait upon the man coming
WEAKLY home from his struggle with
life. They are 10 him humble servants
or merry compan oas, ~ his mood is.
They please him with his children. or
leave him alone with his books az his
behest. Sooner or later. however. they
assert their woman's right of talking on
serious topics, and then they have him
make the home of the Turks are rara,y
his equals in mental requirements. No
question OF blood rules the selection OF
wives among the Turks. a woman
born in mud bowel often rulos in
paSha's palace. At The very best, Turk.
ish women rarely have any education
beyond the primer. They believe in
signs and wonders; in the active agency
OF evil spirits; in the existence OF
great dragon who periodically attempts
10 swallow the moon; in charms and
incan;a,i0ns. In short. they gre nc
supc,stitious rs they can be after cen.
,urics OF hereditary ignorance. But they
are positive in opinion. and intolerant Of
opposition. Moreover. they are, above
all things else, arieut and bigotcd
MohammedaUs Such are the in
tci,ectual surroundings OF the Turks
during that part of his life
which he loves And when the
WON OF his house turn tue conv,rsa-
tiun upon public alllirs. the poor man
i, helpless in tier hsnis. b'cau-e he
knows the iu'I ity Of logic in such Dis
cussiOa. Often a pashl meets at home
petition which he has refused in bis
Office, and y.,laiaJ 10 sheer importantly
on the part OF his women, he reward.
tie shecwinoSs Of the man who has
found means " invoke such aids ONen
i. hiss happen 4 that the plsha disap
points an ambassador. and violates lis
promise To support new measure, be.
cause the women OF his household oil ct
10 the deviation from custom. H. must
yield 10 his home circle or break with
the m entirely. These women are under
no influences b. which their opiuiOns
may be- changed. rhey live in 4 world
OF their own. and are entirely unaware
OF An existence preferable to their own,
and know nothing of that outs de word
to which they are simply curiosities OF
antique origin.
This glance at the home lie OF the
Turk and It's influence upon him leaves
little to hope from the Turks in the
direction OF voluntary abandon ment OF
old systems and practices.-Har, cr's
Magdzine.