The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-08
THE TURK AND HIS COUNTRY
The Lecture of Gen. Lew Wallace at
Plymouth Church Last Evening.
An Enchanting Glimpse ofScenes in the Turk
ish Empire-The lecturer Greeted by
Large and Appreciatiye Audience.

brilliant audience, one that filed every part
of the spacious Plymouth Church, greeted Gen.
Lew Wallace, last evening, on the occasion Of
his lecture on Turkey and the Turks" It was
given for the benefit of the Indianapolis Orphan
Asylum. Events of the kind, marked with such
distinguished success in attendance, and the en-
joyment the auditors in turn derived, have been
few. The lecturer received the closest attention,
disturbed only by hearty applause at the finely
rounded period or some humorous relation Ma
jor Calkins introduced tho General with de-
served compliment to his services to his country
as soldier and diplomatic, and to his literary fame
The lecture abounded in historical facts. elo-
quently related, descriptions rich in effective
word painting, and anecdotes that brought forth
smiles and ripples of laughter
Beginning with reference to the territorial
loss Turkey has sustain ed within the last fifty
years, he said. for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of the empire every of the six
European powers carried a Ratchet Lost
provinces have fallen about Constantinople
like chips at the bottom of hewn trees. The
population of the empire is divided into 1000, 900
Armenians. 100000 Greeks, 5000, 900 Arabs
Moors, Bulgarans. Gypsies and other nationali-
ties. while there are only 100000 Turks. Here
large majority is dominated by minority, but
the Turks are ono of the heroic races Of the
earth. Such they have been, and such they are
yet They sprung from the broken tribes
about the Euphrates in the twelfth century.
One day a sheikh and his herds
man were resting when the beating OF
drums and braying of trumpets signaled the
approach of contending armies. They came to-
gether, and long time the fierce battle waged
in the presence of the sheik. At q moment
when one army was ready to break, the sheik,
at the head of his hcrdsraen. dashed into the
conflict and turned victory to the side of the al
most vanquished soldiers. His reward came in
large possessions of fertile fields. Thus began
the Turk, and from that he went upward
among the people Of the world until the time of
Suieiman the Magnificent. No such empire as
the one he governed had existed since the tri
umvirate parceled out the Roman territories af
ter the death of Cesar.
Constantin0ple is the present seat Of Turkish
power, but the home of the nation is in Asia
Minor. This led the General to q brilliant pct-
uring of Bosphorian scenes, upon which the eye
cannot look without being fascinated. There
was much in them to remind him of Venice.
Fishing was never so easy as there. Children
drop their lines out of windows and catch red
muileSs for breakfast. About ships of all
nations but one. 1t made American gorge rise
at an apathetic Congress that refuses to do any
thing for the shipping of this country During
his four years residence at Constantinople he
saw the American flag but twice, once flying
from the mast of third rate manof-war, and
the next time from James Gordon Benefits
yacht
ne ulSIk6U 10 mar LH6 Impressions Oh OOu-
stantinople as seen from the Bosphorus On
entering the city, all illusions vanish, except as
to its antiquity. A walk from the custom house
gives one the idea that only two guilds possess
the place-dogs and beggars. The dogs belong
to no one, the beggars belong to everybody.
The lecturer then described the striking features
of the city, and passed to estimate of the per-
sonality of the Turk. His model could be found
in the bazaar, where he sat, with legs crossed.
slipping sherbet and smoking the chibouko
10 q in md HCfa Uh0Y
starts, smiles or mods. Or, he eau be seen in the
barracks horseback. He rides with high
strrups, holds himself erect and keeps his eyes
to the front. Boots without spurs he dsdains.
But the model also appears in the justice Office,
where the Koran supplies him with all equity
needed and its fnaxims foundation for his
Judgment The Turk is suspicious of
strangers. He used to be hospitable, and
is SO still in the country; He can
be relied on to keep his word. The difficulty
lies in getting him to give pledge. He is not
artistic in any sense. An antipathy to images
he takes from the Jews. When the Sultan was
young, negative was taken of him. He had
that destroyed, and not another can be had.
There are photographs of the Sultan, but all are
contraband. His reflections are religious and
from them there is but one step to frenzy.
Strange to say, the Turk is tolerant of other
creeds and faiths The American Protestant
missionaries find their chief difficulties arising
from the jealousy of their co-laborers There
so-caled Christians who would do well
to initiate Turkish virtues. The lecturer
had seen on the streets of Constantnople many
a drunken man, but never drunken Turk. His
love of children is intense, and kindness to
dumb animals is part of his religion. He has
a great respect for women The armed soldiers
who act as policemen would turn and run at the
approach of mob of women. Once the lect-
urer called on Minister of the empire. Wait
ing for him a crowd of women, the wives
and mothers Of soldiers who had come to demand
arrearages of pay. The Minister dared not face
them. and when asked how he wonld get out,
said THE man who planned my house, may the
blessing of the Prophet rest upon him. provided
secret way. By that came in; by that will
60 out"
The Turk is polite, sincerely so. The English
man never is, and the Frenchman is mostly
grimmaees. He is the most devout Of men. He
has no faculty for mechanics. ALI business is
left to the Greeks, Armeniaus and foreigners.
The genuine Ottoman believes himself born to
be a soldier. The failure of the Turks in the
late Russian war was due to the ignorance and
Jealousy OF general officers, not to the want of
valor among the rank and file.
The General then discarded his manuscript
and gave an interesting description of life in the
harem, pronounced hareme. He sought to dispel
mistaken notions in regard to this mystery of
Turkish homes. No one but the master of the
house can enter tho harem-not even the brother
father. There is no terrible or stupendous
slavery for the women. They are not miserable
or wretched. but perfectly happy in their condi-
tiOu. 1uolf luLSii6ct Is Iudt OIL CHllureH. lHoy
have no need of books schoolmasters since
their sole ambtioa-one that is instilled ia them
lis to become the wives Of podishas.
The Sultan. his appearance, mode of daily life,
kindness. politeness and intelligence supplied
very entertaining portion OF the lecture. Dur
ing his nine years reign he has never signed
death warrant The lecturer had never met
man who was more perfectly informed as to his
own country. He needed no map to point out
places on roads. But ne did not know much of
n "a danger
He is the busiest and hardest worked Of men,
for he has undertaken physical impossibiiity
He has taken upon himself the entire care of his
empire He lives in magnificence. but is, him
self. the plainest of men.
In closing, he asked the indulgence of the
audience to give minutes reference to the East
ern question. He would like to enter lengthly
into it, but time would not permit The ques