Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-03-04
TURKISH PROVERBS.
SAYINGS OF THE TURK THAT ARE
VERY LIKE OUR OWN.
Rrief sayings which Illustrate some A.
pe-.t, of the National Character
Proverbs nf Oppnrtuue speech
aud silence Friendship.


aud silence = Tirnuship
lpniou Spectator
On looking over u note book containing
several hundrcd Turkish proverbs. taken
down in the course of reading ami CunYcr
satiOn, or borrowed from a collection made
al the Oriental academy at Jenna. the
writer has amused himself 10y grouping
them roughly under certain heads, 50 a.
tu illustrate some ASPECTS Of the national
character and surroundings But hr,t II
NAV bc Interesting To remark how many
well known English and other European
proverbs have their enact counter art IN
Turkish. How far are these to be aC
counted for by contact with OF conquest
Of lndO European raCt>I or has 1t been
case of les beau csprts st frl-
rOnlrentr" For instance, We md y on
shall not look gilt horse i'll the mouth
in exactly the same ords, as well aS lie
that is born to bc Hanged will never be
drowned. the urR I~h version ha' ing the
advantage Of berg expressed in two
words The change of word, is but
slight in "Trouhlcd waters suit the fisher
~One flower does not make summer. and
The robe does not make the dcrvish
while in Turkey ii is not pot that says to
kettle, but negro TO negro that his face Is
black We are disposed 10 prefer The
nail saved TN, shoe, the Shot. the horse. the
Lur,r the man The. man the Kingdom. L.
our somewhat numbering fur want Of
nail the shoe was lost, etc.
often we are. reminded of >criptura!
nroyrrbs and aphurisms Nothing uu-
heard of in the world sounds solomon
ian enough, while - ut with the eve that
profits me not. The negro does not
whi,cn with washing, and That which
thou sowcsr. that also shall thou reap
are strikinrly like New Testament tea h
ing AGAIN and again We ind expressed
in Other words lessons of charity. CUusid
rrstcur,S. and Justice that would not hu
unworthy fac hri>tfn teacher. as The
strangers Iravcr is heard. The hearts
testimony is stronger than a thousand Wit
ursses " Among the blind. close your
ewes. - In truth Is right Justice Is half
religion. "Neighburs right, tod
right
The hcadin. under which perhaps the
largest numhrr OF proverbs can h,
grouped j, That Of oppurtuuc speech and
sIlcurC Ii the Turk as has hccL SAID
talk well hr also knows how to hOd b.
tongue III. looks down with the grratr>r
C,njrmpl Oh The idr ,hattrrcr, and doc
not even think that good manners rrquir,
him to make small talk when he has II tn
ing To say In fact, when on a visit to a
well bred Turk with whom you have no
common sub cyt> of interest to discuss.
after cNhaustUg those suggested by po-
litenes>-hIs health. your own. that OF
your family, the weather, and the water
"a most interesting topic IN III, enNt'-you
may safely ia lack uion that golden
silence which their pTU'eTb. IKE ours.
rates aLoye silver speech Hear
his comment on the chattereT There Is
no ass but brayS he dog barks, tht
caravan passes, "FtUL Is he whC
alone talks, and Is hi only listener, h,
fool wears his heart on his tongue. the
wise man keeps his tongue in his heart
He warns us of the mischief of evil speak
ing: " The kuifc.s wound heals the tongue
never" The tongue Stays more than Ia,
sword, and The tongue Is. bOne,css. buI
II breaks bones Again, he feels keCuiN
the danger OF free speech under CORFU /
and dcspotiC rule, viii he eAto!s homes
and good faith. and generally condemn,
lying. The latter l. Condoncd IN certain
cases. for some hes are better thai
truth, and We may lie. but with
measure The >uprcssio Ncr Is even
strongly recommended, for IS not IN,
"truth.tcllcr banlShcd out OF nine cities
while lie who holds his tongue saves hi
head. and There is no better answer
than this, i know not, saw not.
But 10 turn 10 something Pleasanler. ",
will quote "A few sayings. sill familiar IN
our Turks mouth, which have survived
the corruption Of the palace and O.hCIal
kings ii seem still to breathe the hardy
and independent spirit OF the old days
when courage and enterprise were the
oily passports to the highest places in
Conquer!ng empire Then II could bt
nnrrtS tho sword 10 linn who ,rir6s =,
on "Thp brave man. : word is a Co.t nt
mail Fortune is not far from the
brave mans head. The hero is known
on the battlefield, " and Fear not to
morrow's mischance Who but con
uuering race could have produced such
proverb as Power on my head. or the