Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-19
THE CHARAcTER or THE TURKS.

LuuhiS ho5oWt's wiz AluuSoi icu
patriot has written as follows upon
the character of the Turks: "Iknow
% people possessed of the social vir-
tues to the same exent as the Tanks.
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 refu-
gees proceeded from Widdin towards
Schomulu, we halted fora single night
in Turkish village. | was conduct
cd to the house ola peasant, who has
tened to offer me his selamlik. | ex-
pected a wish to see my luggage. SET
fendim," said he to me, ''they are in
n safe place." "Are you really GER
tain as to this placer" ! replied to
him, Suppose anyone were to walk
or with them during the night :" !
added. "Oh. SIR he answered with
astonishment, Show could anyone car
ry 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.,
"Eyyallah' means "God be thanked.n
The Turk never beats a child, nor
q woman, nor even animals. He
never abuses his strength against the
weak. During my stay at Kutahia,
an officer had 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 in
consequence of this act of brutality.
In his pamphlet, the celebrated Da-
vid Urquhart. speaking of the Turkish
and European customs. affirms that
those of the Turks are better and
more rational than the manners and
customs Of tie Europeans, and says
these last-named are surprised that
the Turks do not like advocates by
profession, asking, "How justice can
be done without advocates ?" While
the Turks, on the other hand, say,
"Can justice be done where there are
advocates, seeing that the trade of
these last-named is to alter the sense
of the law fol the benefit of their
clients ?" Had / not my answer p
said Urqnhart to me. I'm faith, |
did not dare to contradict him.
Chance had brought UrQuhart to ku-
tahla, where had to prolong my so
journ for political reasons. We went
to pay a visit to Mehmed Pasha.
''The Turks Of kutahia,' Isaid to him,
"have considerable talent for the i'm
itation Of everything they find good. "
instarced on this occasion an ey-
ample. II have changed into the
European style the garden which
was presented to me by the Imperial
Government continued "the
Turks went to see it, and they have
initiated it," THAT is true replied
the Pasha. .'we should like the EU-
ropeans to teach US what endows
them with their skill and their learn
ing, for our nation has remained be-
hind; let them, then, come among US
to teach us all that is good; butu
to this day they have not done so.
They have only initiated US into GER
tain of the pernicious retinements Of
civilization" The conversation hav-
ing then turned upon European and
Oriental manners and customs, the
Pasha told me that he approved Of
our habits with the execution of one