The Owosso times., 1881-10-21

BY l.. r. GOULD.
Special Correspondence to TIE TINES.
SMYRNA, Sept. 27th, 1881.
BE thou faithful unto death. and soiH
gee Mee Groom Of Ve." Reo 2-10, (repis-
ed edliti0n.)
1t seems most appropriate in writing
about this old city, to commence with
the words addressed by St. John, eighteen
centuries ago, TO little baud of christians
which existed here. 1t is hardly an en-
couraging fact that the christians in
Smyrna number as few now as then, look
ing anxiously to the advancement of the
gospel-in the fact that now il is tolerated
and respected ia this benighted land and
needs simply more effort for education and
enlightenment of the people to make it the
predominant religion in time to come. And
the people are beginning to demand even
here religion of truth and substance,
rather than that of rites. ceremonies and
strict adherence to set rules, devoid almost
wholly of morality. But as we don't wish
to commence discussion OF theology or
religion, we'll just wade out of the deep
water and retrace our steps to the safer
position of simply telling. as best we can,
what we see around and about us at pres
ent.
The city Of Smyrna has always belonged
to the province of Ionia, but having been
almost destroyed several times its position
has been shifted materially each time. II
belongs now to the Ottoman Empire and
is under the rule Of the Sultan; its inhabi-
tants are of all nations nearly, and almost
every tongue is spoken here. The city il.
self is noted especially in the social world,
for the wonderful and endless variety of
every hue. shade and style of costume
which may be seen here-and rivals even
Constantinople in this respected every
style and for every rank in life, from the
sober, plain, black dress of the Greek
priest, to the gayest, gaudiest and costliest
outfit of the Persian dervish. These der.
wishes wear on the head small turban of
silk or satin, ungraceful, baggy-looking
trowsers, Gf you could call them by such a
dignified name), made of some light, gay.
colored fabric; loose short blouse of a
different shade, and over all long loosely
flowing robe of some attractive material
and color; it being by far the most pleasing
part or their dress. In the street they wear
a high, dark, grayish-colored hat, remind.
ing one of good sized earthen flower pot
turned upside down.
The population of the city is at present
about 200. 600, of these the Greeks number
12,OOO, the residue being mixture OF
Turks, Jews, Egyptians. Abanians, Itali
ans, French, German, in fact all Europe.
an nations are here represented, and there
are good many Americans, most of them
however, are simply traders or seamen and
visitors, who come for curiosity only.
The Greeks wear the cylindrical shaped
red "fez, having the usual long, black silk
| tasscl, fastened in the center of the crown
so that it bangles unpleasantly around the
head, striking first against one ear then
against the other or flying into ones face
and eyes, which thing from experience we
have found to be very unpleasant. But
with all this inconvenience these fellows
wear them day and night-eating and
sleeping-constantly until they wear them
out; consequently the head is bald 1t re.
minds one of the wearing of tight-fitting
boots and high-heeled shoes in which in
struments of physical torture our American
boys and girls are SO apt to incase thcii
feet, perhaps because it looks nicer to see
and have small looking foot, even if i,
has to be punched out of its natural shape
to arrive perfection. Just so these '"fczes'
with long silk tassels are snowy and pref
ty, so what care these vain fellows for all
the bother of having it striking them in
the face constantly, or threatening to twist
about their necks and choke them to death.
Verify all is vanityr and the preacher
was right. The Greeks dress in many diff
ferent ways, patterning after the Turk, the
Persian, Jew or European, as to their in
dividual fancies, but they seldom wear
anything on the head but the red or black
fez. AS to the Greek women, one of our
American writers has already said they
ARE all very beautiful--they average a
shade better than the
AMERICAN GIRLS,
which words pray may be forgiven me. ="
Certainly there is need of his asking par
don, but w. must leave it for the girls
themselves to settle the question of his for
giveness. for they are the victims of the
seeming injustice, they will be lenicnt with
him when they know 1t was Mark Twain
who said it, for all sensible people take
Marks sayings with grain of allowance
as to their truthfulness. 1t was moreover
very unpatriotic thing for Mark to say.
saying nothing about its being exaggerated,
We do not really mean that our dear coun-
tryman is untruthful as rule, but he
sometimes "sees things differently than
most folks" and in this instance we think
he showed himself prone to exaggerate.
But this can be truthfully and conscien-
tiously said about the Greek women, that
they are fine and substantial looking, If
not astoundingly handsome, or frivolously
pretty like the Italian women. The
PRINCIPAL STREET
of the city runs along the shore of the bay,
about one mile In length. On one side on.
ly are buildings, the other opens entirely
| IN the sea view II was formerly very mar.