The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-06-15
THE TYPICAL TURk.


4 was caught by the ingenious face Of a
handsome Turk, who sat smoking on
his stall, with his legs coiled under him,
with an air of supreme ocInplacency.
He was vender of the perfumes for
which ':Araby the Best" is famous.
1t was pleasant to stand and sniff the
mingled aromas that surrounded the
spot. Jars of various essences and
boxes of spiced shrubs emitted fra
granco ravshing to the nose. AS we
examined his sweet scented wares, |
glanced occasionally at their owner,
whose conntenance continued serene
and impassipe He might have passed
for static. so perfect WAS the reposc
of his features and att5tude. There
was not the least indication of solici-
tude as to our intentions We would
5uy if the Prophet so ordained. We
purchased some altar of roses and other
extracts, which we're no cheaper than
IN Parls, but far more genuine. After
the parcels were made up, | felt in
cEned to have some chat with our mar
chaEd- Though sedate and reticent, as
all Turks are, yet there was frank
mess rn bis visage that was encouraging;
and SO bade my interpreter to ask
hin if he could be tempted to leave
smyrna and go to my country, where
his rare perfumes would yield him ten
times the profit he could hope for here.
At the end Of q few years he might re-
turn to the East a rich man.
A look OF undisguised astonishment
overspre ad his face.
"Whatl" he exclaimed, 'fleavc the
land of the Prophet to go among inf
dels Abandon my home, to accumu
late money | do not want? ] have
enough to eat snd drink, and my pipe
to smoke. l have a wife, and, please
Allah, hope some day To nave another.
What more have / to desire. | am
satisfied" !"
This sample OF Turkish philosophy
was ROT little staggering.
"But tell him" | continued to the
interpreter, that in my country he
would be under the protection Of the
law, where no sadi could either i'm
prison or bowstring him. He would
be instructed, would have books and
papers to read, and might learn what
was passing in the world; also, in that
happy country the padisha is chosen by
the people to govern them, and he
could take share in his election"
This enticing description of the adj.
vantages of a superior civilization was
all thrown away on the incredulous. il
not contemptpous, Turk.
What are these things to me, ," he
answered. would they make me
happier? Could eat or drink more in
your country than in mine Could i
smoke more or love more? My fathers
have always lived in this holy land.
Why should | leave it until Allah calls
me away, when shall go to Mahomet' 9
paradise, where hours innumerable
await mey Do YOU think | would give
up this home to 60 to your unknown
world ?"
] felt that It was idle to hold ont in
telleetual delights or political privi-
leges as bats to this true SON of the
Prophet, whose faith in the Koran was
'Enplicit--far more 40 than that of most
Christians in the Bible As was NOV
ing off, / said with smile, he little
knew what he lost by not listening to
my suggestions. Suddenly thought
struck him, for, taking the amber
nouthpiece from his lips, he inquired
If women were cheaper IN iny country
than in Turkey. | told him that no
one III my iand was allowed to have
lnore than one, and then only with her
consent. This settled the business. A
scowl of unutterable scorn darkened his
fne physiognomy, and replacing his
pipe, he raised his eyes to Heaven, evil
IDENTIFY in a spirit of thankfulness to
Allah that il had not been his cri,el