Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-02-12
WOMEN OF TURKEY.
THEIR LIVES NOT ALTOGETHER DEVOID Of
PLEASURE.
A Female Minister and J~udgs-POwar Of Some In
mates Of Hsrsms-HOw They Employ
Their Tims-Ths Saltan'S Mother.

mates Of Harsms-HOw They Employ
Their Tims-Ths Sultan's Mother.
Co1aaptiaop,e Letter IN san Francisco Chron'oe'
It seems to be quite the fashion to regard
the women of Turkey as almost unlVers-
ally subjected to the same kind OF disclp-
line as were the LJor wives OF bluepearu'
Often I have seen travellers in this land
manifest a feeling akin to disappointment
when told by an old resident that much OF
the eommiseration and sympathy they are
inclined to bestow so lavishly is wasted
that in their ignorance and childlike sim
plicity these women count themselves as
favored above their Christian sisters, es-
p~ecially those Of the aristocracy, who
are so carefully shielded and guarded;
while those ofthe middle and lower classes,
instead of being kept under lock and key,
ara "a free to 90 and come, and to labor Tor
the support of their lord and master-to
he. in short, the real breadwinner for the
whole fsmily-as are those OF the same
class in some Christian lands. l have even
seen them at work in the fields, like the
neasant m of Italy or Germany, but
always in purely feminine groups. nave
never vet seen them yOked' with an OK a
donkey, as we hear of in some countries
not under Moslem rule. Here they are
generally employed at home on some OF the
deft needle work so much sought Tor u
admired-or, az in Brusa 1.-THE ancient
| Moslem capital) and adjacent districts,
they are engaged in the culture n manu-
facture of silk.
Though always closely yelled and ap-
nearing shy and taciturn when met abroad,
women of this class are by nature emf
penrtly social and sufficiently pugillstlc
when they fancy their rights are in a de-
gree irtriuged upon. In fact, the only
| ~listless and really idle women one meets
in this country are either the wretcnediy
door, or the inmates of the seragllo or
some wealthy pasha's harem, Thu latter,
especially the young among them, com-
plain bitterly OF the monotony OF their
| life. Two beautiful and sprightly young
gir.s-daughteTs OF a high govern
ment oficial-recently discoursed most
eloauently to US of the delightful free
dom of their life when at their
summer home on the Bcsphorus. Here,
said they, I'VE can ride on horseback In
| the lovely country or TOW over these bright
waters, aud are almost as free as other
Young ladies; soon, though, when we re-
turn 10 our town house, We can only goou
in a close carriage, or when wrapped Ikea
mummy in a vashmac or terezle." Ihese
Young ladies were being educated by Eng
fish and French gOvernesses. Sometimes,
I an told, these women rebel en- masse,
and nearly discard the close veil or some
other Regulation" raiment, aud little no
tice is taken of it until there is some scan
dial evolved and reported to the Sultan,
Then the screws are frightened.
Long years ago the wiseacres WHO ruled
here assembled in solemn divan to discuss
the cause of their decline in military
proves; and it seems they came to the
deliberate conclusion that it must he traced
to the fact of their women having donned
the European high shoe in place Of the low
red and yellow slipper worn by them Tor
long generations. Immediately the decree
went forth that the Turkish women should
appear in public with her feet clothed "a
Ia Franka."
am told that even in the harems OF the
wealthy the 'honOum" (chiet LADY, often
spends the morning hours busily engaged
with her dOmesticS and slaves In the com
monest household duties i'll order to relieve
the te6ium OF her life of seclusion. They
must always have the consent Of the lord
of the household before they can go out,
even for "a short call, or to any of the
sylvan retreats where they so delight to
nicnic with their niondoi hat, Judging
from the great number Of yelled women
we see abroad on Friday their Sabbath
or on gala days, we must conclude such
consent Is seldom withheld. Though they
have always TO consent to being attended
by q lynx-eyed euniCh, they will still look
cheerful and care-lree, sitting about on soft
rugs, eating sweetmeats, slipping coffee or
smoking cigarettes, chatting with their
ueighbOrs.
The very poor have rarely many house
hold duties TO perform. Their children are
not allowed to occupy much of their time,
but are sent to the mosque school or turned
- the street to amuse themselves with
other children of their class. TIE actual
needs of the family are easily supplied, for
a loaf or two of the black bread OF the
country, the price of which is regulated by
government aud is very cheap, and a few
pounds of grapes or olives, also very cheap,
are for them quite sufficient daily bread, I"
and two or three simply fashioned gar
ments constitute the needful raiment.
There is no setting TO rights" Of rooms,
other than the rolling up aud slowing
away in closets of the pallets on which
they have slept Therefore, the mistress OF
a house is soon Mt liberty to curl up in a
corner Of her divan with her needlewOrk
ami beloved cigarette, if the weather is in
clement, OF if the day is fine can join some
group on o grassy hillside and spend the
entire day in the most frivolous gossip,
with their children playing about them
in all the freedom of unrestraiued child
hood.
1t is counted in Turkey a deep disgrace
for a woman TO remain unmarried. Both
sexes marry young, the girl often at II or
13, the boys at 16 or 13. A girl must secure
a husband, no matter what the sacrifice.
1t is not an ncommon thing to see Z
smart young woman married to a superan-
uated old man and obliged to carry IN her
young shoulders the burden Of providing
for the whole household. One such l know
well, who, in addition to taking in washing
to provide food and raiment, performs the
various duties her husband as imam-or
minister Of public worship is now utterly
disqualified for by the inirmities Of age.
The office Of imam in a small village EN-
bodies that Of a Judge rs well, for Mahom-
etan law ard religion are so closely
connected that the expounder Of each
can be united in one person, thus
forming one body in the hierarchy. The
imam of a village may thus be properly
considered the president of the village,
The wife of the imam Of whom l speak now
embodies in her fat little person all the
dignitjes of his office. No Mahometan
house eau be entered by the police unless
the imam of tie parish takes the lead and
is the first to knock at the door and cross
the threshold. He must also settle all dis
putes, grant all licenses, collect rents, etc,
all of which aud much more is we'll per
formed by this competent little wife. AL