The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-01-27
MANKATo FREE Press.
FOREIGN NOTES.
CoNsTANTINoPLE Dec. %, 1880.

ii isn't here. The day has been
gloomy and drcary. The streets were
empty and So were the shops.
spent The day in wandering about |
the city, during the morning. and
setting in my room in the afternoon
and evening.
/ had IN invitation 10 so to the
English Embassy where there was to
be reception. hut preferred to stay
al ho,nc and write. BY home. Il tray
eler generally means where he is
stopping for the present, for he gets
50 accustomed 10 quick changes of
base that whenever there is any sort
of comfort he calls it home.
am stopping in that part of the
city called Galata. with IN English
familywho have lived here some time.
They are very pleasant folks. socially.
hut outside of the social circle they
show thai oh>tinacy that charactcri-
yes the Johnny Bulls. My servant
Pat. they thoroughly hate and he re
turns il with cordial interest But
| guess have talked enough of my
self and think it is high time t @
tell something of interest.
If You ever want To lose yourseli
completely, come 10 Constantinople.
Three times have started out Ia see
the city and three times have ! lost
myself. The streets are narrow.
short and twisted into all sorts OF
shapes. In Constantinople proper.
which is ~ the west side of the Col.
den Horn. they are besides what |
have mentioned, dirty and ill.paved
and the constant crowd that is rush
ing through them. makes ii rather
dangerous walking for Il stranger, but
hire Il donkey and have IN attendant
with good strong lungs and You Will
come out with nothing more than
torn clothing AMI eyes ears and mouth
filled with du,t. La Galata and Pera,
on the eastern side of the Horn.
where the Christians live and III,
different Embassies have their post.
the streets are more regular and on,
can enjoy sightseeing without al!
danger.
But now. before l tell you what |
have seen OF the city, let ne attempt
To describe one OF It's Inhabitants an.
think he Is Il very good type OF III,
rest. have always Imagined ii
Turk 10 be Il heavy-bearded, tcroclous
looking person.adorned with asword.
that WAS equal III size 10 our butchers
cleaver, having rs many wives as oui
deceased cOuutrymIn Brlg. Dung
had, and doing nothing bat smoAv
aud SIT cros-.lcgsed All day. Bat |
have changed my opinion decidedly.
| md thai the Turk uocsu like to ac
called a Turh; he Is an O,,oman ii
Turk in his eyes Is Il barbarian. lie
has a great respect Tor the law. He.
aS a general rule, has but one wife.
The Koran allows him four, but says
il Is meritorious 10 have bat one.
LaZ!ness. rs we'll rs religion, has
something To do with this one vile
system, suppose. That they treat
their wives Is slaves is false, as /
have had ample opportunity 10 see.
In her oWa apartment the wife j.
supreme mistress. >Ae Is allowed To
receive her female friends and male
relatives. She may 50 ont walking.
but Nel.cd and attended. The custom
OF yelling Is falling into disusc.
Among the poorer CLASSES IL Is done
away with altogether. Ii Il Mussui-
man tail 10 maintain his wife accord.
Ing 10 his rank, she may claim Il d.
Norce, and the law protects her from
cruel treatment. But if | go Oh like
this / viii never get around to de-
scribing my worthy friend, ADD
Allah.
PAT and had crossed the ferry
that Galata and Constantinople. one
morning. when first came here ana
were wandering as near us | could
guess, 10 the Mosque of st. Sophia.
We had just turned the corner of !;
street, when Pat exclaimed. "By the
jumping Moses 1t was 50 sudden
that / thought something had hurt
him. but on inquirlng, he pointed to
small store just beyond us which
had over ii Il sign bearing the follow
ing inscription IN English:
Aida llah,
Tobacco Dealer.
Supplier of smoking materials to the
English, German and Dutch En-
basSieS.
To see an English sipnboard i'm that