River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-07-15
Life in Turkey.

Swift English-built steamers now run
up the Bosphorus all day long Starting
from the bridge which spans the en-
trance to the Golden Horn, and links
Galata (the commercial quarter) to
Stamboul the true Turkish city, they
touch at both the European and Asiatic
sides of the channel, afiording to all
ranks and classes the opportunity of
swift and cheap locomotion. The long
summer days they are crowded with
men and women of all nations, in all
imaginary COstum es; and in the winter
they carry business people to and from
the city, stopping at nearly all the vii
lagos en- route. 1t takes nearly two
hours to reach the upper end of the
Bosphorus,-a distance of about twelve
miles. The scenery is lovely and unique
the Sultan's summer palaces, built of
white and costly marble, rise up from
the waters edge; these are succeeded
by some of the handsOmest k0ndks of
the viziers and other notable Turks;
the most extensive gardens, crowned
with tall trees and Towering shrubs, rise
up in long hills at the back of these
palaces. Elegant dispatch boats, and
the Sultan's nOt-to-be-despised small
iron-clad fleet, sit in state upon the deep
and limpid waters not fifty yards from
shore. Gay cdiques flash hither and
thither in the golden light Imposing
mosques reflect their tapering minarets
in the clear waters; Turkish villages.
with sprinkling of European houses,
nestle in the sheltered valleys, while
thickly-grown woods crown the SUBMITS
of the hills which stand out in bold re-
lief against blue and amber sky.
Great changes have metamorphosed
beautiful Stamboul" Repeated and
extensive fires have destroyed the older
and more picturesque dwellings. have
been told that thirty years ago Stamboul
lin the rays of the setting SUM shone
like a city begemmed with rubies and
set in gold This effect was caused by
the numerous golden cupolas to the
mosques, and the bright red and yellow
colors Of the wood of which the houses
were uniformity built. To each of
these was attached garden full of tall
leafy trees. The effect of these vivid
colors thrown up against a pure eastern
sky, and reflected in the waters of the
Marmora, was magical indeed The
golden balls blazed like miniature suns,
the marble kiosks and magnificent
mosques cleaned whittier than alabaster
through the dark expresses while tho
grand city lay bathed in 4 flood Of sun
set glory.
But at this hour, though the mosques
and the tapering minarets still stand,
the golden balls are no longer to be seen
the marble columns have grown some
what gray, the tall trees are few and
far between, the quaint red and yellow
houses have long been burned, and
more than half the dwellings are built
of stone and mortar
As among most half-educated people,
external reforms are the first adopted
in Turkey Corruption III every form
abounds: bribery is the only means of
advance to any post, or in any office.
The most ill-chosen people and the
most ignorant FIJI the high places" here.
The surest and easiest road to wealth
is BY usury and espionage" Money is
lent privately at enormous interest, and
without suitable present you dare
hardly ask help in any matter,-eyen
from friend.
Turkish houses are furnished with
large divans, upon which the master Of
the house curls himself up, smoking
his nargileh Ga kind of pipe), receiving
his friend or visitors without moving
from his place, merely giving Il kind OF
salam and motioning his friend to take
his seat beside him. Here they viii SIT
and converse for hours, refreshing them