The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-30
SOCIAL CUSTOMS IN TURKEY.
An Interesting Talk with Minister Wal
lace About MOslem Ways.
The Use Of the Veil by the WOmen-It. Is
Steadily Growing Thinner. Despite
the Efforts of the Sultan.

10 turkey as stated passed through the city,
last Friday, on his way home to Charlottesville.
He spent the few.hours that interviewed between
trains at the office of his brother, the Hon.
William Wallace, where he met and entertained
several friends, among them Journal reporter,
by talk upon some of the social customs of the
country where he has spent the past three years
of his life. During that time General Wallace
has grown quite perceptbly stouter, and
his mustache has accumulated a trife
OF the dust of age, but, on the
whole, tempus has dealt kindly with him,
and he returns, in the opinion of his friends i'm
proved in appearance. His old charm of con
versational power has been strengthened by his
intercourse abroad, and, combined with his
keen sense of observation. made his comments
on Turkish manners and experience deeply inter
esting to his hearers. OF course, the first ques-
ton asked was concerning the mysterious and
fascinating harem pronounced, by the way,
with short a and long e, the emphasis on the
last syllable)
1T is a curious fact that the first question
asked by the female American visitor
upon reaching Constantinople is VIII ether or
not visit to a harem can be arranged, and
the male visitor usually duplicates the question.
For man to make such visit is absolutely
impossible. 1 have been resident of Con
stantinople for three years, and in that time
notwithstanding my opportunities for inter
course with the people were at least as good as
the average visitor I never exchanged word
with Turkish woman. When you hear a
traveller telling how, when he was in Turkey,
he was enabled to secure his way into harem
listen to him courteously, of course, but know
that he is not telling the truth That is all
know about the harem"
"What is the peculiar characteristic of the
peeple7"
1.-THE exclusiveness of the women ranks first
in the opinion of travellers. Ladies of other
nations are sometimes permitted to visit Turkish
ladies at their homes, my wife has on several
occasions piloted friends on such excursions
Should the visit be returned, formal announce
ment is made of the fact, and the hour fixed
AS the time approaches, every male thing in the
house must vacate-'vamose the RANCH as we
say in the vernacular-and remain away until
informed that they can return. And, while
the general expression of Christian women
for the lot of the Turkish women
is one of pity and sympathy for
their lot as prisoners-for such, they argue the
unfortunates are despite the gorgeousness of
their surroundings-on their part am informed,
among themselves they hold pity, and some
thing akin to contempt, for the women who are
compelled to mix so promiscuously with men in
the ordinary affairs of life as do their visitors
''This exclusiveness extends even to the lowest
classes While they do not go about attended by
eunuchs and riding in carriages do those of their
weather. sisters, when compelled to appear on
the street they go heavily yelled, and
neither speak nor see anyone apparently.
1t is as strictly maintained in doors as out, too
On one occasion learned friend visited me, with
whom desired to visit and inspect a portion of
the city wall. 1t is tradition there that attach
ing to this wall in Stamboul are the remains of
the palace of Belisarius, but this is a mistake
However, there is remnant of the palace of
Lutchen, this is phonetic, as the reporter caught
it, and he does not vouch for the accuracy of its
photography probably the finest the world has
ever known. This is occupied by Turk and lis
family who are very poor, depending for their
livelihood upon the exertions of a little donkey
which its master hires out as a beast of burden.
My friend and l visited this house, being
piloted by a servant in my employ, who stopped
us as we approached the dwelling, while he went
forward and putting his head in the door, an
nounced that two Giaours (Christians) were de-
sirous of looking through the place, and would
the women please retire. We heard a scamper-
ing, ana, entering Jne mousse saw no indications
of women, only the implements of domestic life
with which they were engaged at the time of
our arrival"
'Well, do the native men mingle with the
women in their home life!
mot at ALL The women see only the head of
the house, or rather converse only with him.
Whenever the Persian ambassador gives a din
ner he requests one of the ladies attached to the
corps to oblge him by doing the honors
of the drawing room and table for him and
racO no Of GtO fha
is always honored. The wife of the host sees
and hears what is going on from latticed gal
lery overhead, behind which she sits yelled, but
is never seen by any of the visitors. While the
host will ask after the health of your wife it is
not good manners to indicate in any way a
knowledge of his wifes existence This embas-
sador has brother who is Persian consul
general at Constantinople, and in the absence of
the ambassador represents him as charge, who
has never seen or spoken to his sister-in-law in
the ten years they have sustained that relation
to each other, but she has seen him. This Per
sian, by the way, is quite abstemious in the
matter of wives. The law allows Moslem four
wives, but he may have as many concubines as
he can support"
How do the women compare with those of
other nations for beauty"
Altogether they are the handsomest women
/ ever laid eyes There are two sights oil
Fridays that all visitors to Constantinople wit
ness, to the exclusion of all others One is the
Sultan going to prayers, which is a most gorge
GUS affair, surprising description. This is over
at half past ], and then the women of Con
stantinople go to the sweet waters of Europe,
or to the sweet waters of Asia These are
fresh-water streams that flow into the Bospho-
Gus, one on the Asiatic side and one on the Eu-
ropean Thither the women congregate in
thousands on Friday afternoons and there are
seen, as much of them as may be, by all the
visitors.
81 have seen there the handsomest women in
the world, l believe"
'"Ihey are not all Turksl"
''Oh, no; the harems are filled with the women
of all surrounding nations, the Circassans fur
nishing large numbers. The beauty of many
however, is largely artificial In many houses
are kept artists who do nothing else except
adorn and embell sh the madame when she is
ready to go out, by means of all the paints and
rouges known to the toilet The wells that the
ladies wear heighten the impression of the
charms they only half conceal