Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-07
IN A TURKISH SCHOOL.
SLOW ADVANCE OF GENERAL LEARN
ING AMONG THE osMANLI.

How Education Is Conducted in Stamboul.
An American Traveller Inspects an In
stitution of Learning-Strict School Disci-
pline-oniy a Glimpse.
After the destruction of the janssaries,
which some one reviewing the terrors of their
reign called ''only the execution Of 10000
murderers," that remarkable monarch, Nah
moud Ii, began the task of ruolding Turkey
somewhat after European model, and,
though the country was distracted by in
ternal feuds and weakened by wars with
Russia, he set on foot many needed reforms
and did not overlook the cause of education
Academies were established in Constanti-
nople, Adrianople. Trehizond. Salorica,
Smyrna, Brousa and Bagdad, where literature
and the sciences were to be TAUGHT. Military
and naval schools were also instituted, some
of which still exist. One, the college of
Artillery and Engineering at CONSTANT
nople, is divided into four sections of twenty
five students each; the course of study ex-
tends over four years and is said to be re-
markably good, as is also that of the military
college at Pancaldi. The supply of students
for these colleges is drawn from the prepara-
tory schools above mentioned There are
also several elementary schools in Constanti-
nopie where the languages, writing, draw
ing, mathematics, geography and a little his
tory are taught, Inquiry has shown me that
the means of education-for those especially
who are TO be military men-are not wanting;
but the masses of pupils are confined still to
the mosque Schools where instruction is
limited to oral lessons from the Koran, which
the presiding hodja tteacher) delivers to them
in the original Arabic, perfect gibberish, of
course, to the children until explained, and
he, am told, Is sure to translate only the
most dogmatic and intolerant portions.
AN INSTITUTION OF LEARNING
1t was our fortune to stumble into large
Turkish institution-part orphans home,
part school-one day when exploring old
Stamboul, where We found so much to inter
est us that am tempted to draw the picture
for you. We were told that the imposing
building before whose massive iron gateway
we brew up was school for girls. An air of
mystery surrounded the exterior The gate
at which our driver was knocking looked as
If it had never been used, and our effort to
gain admittance there proved vain AT
length another gate was found, and after a
free use of the knocker we succeeded in
arousing aslespy looking porter, who scanned
US lelsurely and then announced that School
is In session, but | will 60 and see if YOU can
be admitted" During his absence we looked
| about and decided that though surrounded by
high walls Of solid masonry this was no girls
| school, for the windows had neither curtains
| nor blinds, and were devoid Of those clost
| lattices which always screen the Turkish
| wom2 from the gaze of man
| Soon the porter returned and conducted
| our entire party up the well paved walk an6
a fight OF marble steps and, without waiting
| for cards or the slightest introduction, W.
were shown into the private Office of the di
| rector, who received US very eourteously
| even before he learned We were a party o.
Americans. 1t was most gratifying to oul
national pride to see his face brighten ant
| note the pleasure with which he extended t,
| US the usual hospitalities when he Learned
our nationality. He escorted US through tn
| establishment and informed US in prett'
| good French that they then had 400 orphan
boys, besides large number of day scholars
all of whom were required to don uniform
and submit to a rigid discipline He showet
| US through room where hundreds of uni
forms were hanging, all numbered, and whel
| walking through all immense dining hal
where covers were laid for more than 400, b
pointed to table at one side where .sth
naughty boys were fed on bread and sal
alone"