Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-15
THE CHARACTER OF THE TURKS.

the character OF the Turks: IL know
people possessed Of the social vir-
tues to the same exent as the Turks.
The character of the Turkish native
must be studied in the provinces, es-
pecially in those parts Of the Otto
man Empire where the Turk alone is
to be met with. | shall here relate
certain circumstances which demon
strate the noble nature OF the TURK.
When the Hungarian and Polish refn-
gees proceeded from Widdin towards
SchomuIu, we halted fora single night
in Turkish village. | was conduct
ed to the house ola peasant, who has
tened to offer me his selamlik. ! ex-
pected a wish to see my luggage. "Ef-
tendim," said he to me, ''they are in
safe place." care you really GER
tain as to this place." I replied to
him, Suppose anyone were to walk
off with them during the night Z" |
added. ooh, SIR he answered with
astonishment, snow could anyone car
~ off in time of peace things which
did not belong to them? That can
only be done in time of war" He had
not even an idea of robbery.
The Turk dimes with his family in
the harem and breakfastsin the selam-
Xix. When The breakfast is ready,
the doors of the chamber are opened
and the traveller is shown into it.
The master of the house, without ask
ing the religion or name of his guest,
salutes him courteously, bids him
"hochgueldiniz." and offers him the
best place. The traveller, after hav-
ing eaten and washed his hands, de-
parts saying ''Eyvallah." The Turk
always thanks God and not man.,
"Eyvaliah" means "God be thanked
The Turk never beats child, mol
woman, nor even animals. He
never abuses his strength against the
weak. During my stag at Kutahia
an officer had a young Hungarian ser.
want who was impertinent and incor.
rigible. One day his master beat him
with horsewhip for having commit.
ted an objectionable fault. The
Turks were shifted with horror ii
consequence of this act of brutality.
In his pamphlet, the celebrated Da
vid Urquhart, speaking of the Turkish
and European customs, affirms thai
those OF the Turks are better ant
more rational than the manners ant
customs Of the Europeans, and say
these last-named are surprised tina
the Turks do not like advocates by
profession, asking, "How justice Cal
be done without advocates 2" Whil
the Turks, on the other hand, say
"Can Justice be done where there ar,
advocates, seeing that the trade O
these last-named is to alter the sens
of the law for the benefit of thei
clients Had | not my answer ?
said urqnhart to me. ''ln faith,
did not dare to contradict him.
Chance had brought Urquhart to Ku
tahia, where had to prolong my SO
journ for political reasons. We wen
to pay a visit to Mehmed Pashf
"The Turks of Kutahia,' I,said to hin
shave considerable talent for the i'm
itation of everything they find good.
| instanced on this occasion an ey
ample. 81 have changed into tn
European style the garden whic
was presented to me 10y the Imperi;
Government ] continued !; eth
Turks went to see it, and they hay
initiated it." ''That is true" reptile
the Pasha, "we should like the E,
ropeans to teach us what endov
them with their skill and their learl
inc. for our nation has remained b.
hind; let them, then, come among
to teach us all that is good; but
to this day they have not done S
They have only initiated us into ce
tain of the pernicious refnements
civilization" The conversation ha
ing then turned upon European al
Oriental manners and customs, t
Pasha told me that he approved
our habits with the exception of O
only, namely, monogamy. | int
rupted him by directing his attenti