Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-19
REGARDING TURKISH BABIES.
Some Information That Will Have the
Merit of Novelty.
al

Some Information That Will Have the
Merit of Novelty.
Especial Correspondence
CoySTANTINoPLE. Dec 2S.-A Turkish baby
has rather hard time of it when be first
reaches this planet. 1t is supposed by his
adoring parents that there are no end of evil
spirits waiting for it, and no end of evil eyes
only biding their time to work their malevo-
lent designs upon the helpless babe. There
fore is blue bead Immediately hung around
the tiny neck, another on the left wrist and
still another sewn upon its cap. No evil
spirit or person can harm the child who wears
these, and the father goes behind a door and
calls out the name 10 be given the child in a
loud voice, SO that the evil spirits will shrink
away in fear, as the name is always given In
the name of Allah.
Then garlic and oil are rubbed On its chest
and head, after which the little creature is
wrapped in a narrow and long bandage from
feet to head, having nothing but the head
free. a thick piece of linen is drawn between
the tender legs, and they and the arms are
strapped firmly so that the baby is really as
stiff as mummy. The only garment the
child has on is a little shirt, and a wadded
quilt tied around him on the outside This is
kept on the child night and day for six months,
being opened once day TO battle the baby.
At the end Of six months this is laid aside,
and the child, if a boy, put into pantaloons
and jacket, with little gegelik, or wadded
dressing gown. If girl, it is put into
dress, as near like that of her mother as posi-
BILE. The largest and most vivid patterns in
chintz are preferred for both. Sometimes .
six months old child will receive. through
favor, the rank OF captain. colonel or general
in the army, with its pay, and thus it often
happens that q baby will be taken out of
swaddling clothes and put into a miniature
edition of the Turkish uniform.
Turkish babies have their ills and ailments,
as do all, and the mortality among them is
very great. There is rarely a doctor called
for one, the nurse and all the other old
women trying their hands first, after which
an imam is sent for, who writes a verse from
the Koran on the wall above the little suf
ferer's head in chalk This is then carefully
scraped off and given the child. IL he gets
well, it Was the imam who cured him; if not,
it is kismet, and even the mother is en- Joined
not TO cry.
The Turkish women are very loving moth
ers, but they have no discipline over their
children, and they are given over completely
to nurses, who have Sole charge Of them,
and they are allowed to do as they please and
eat anything they like, a. 1T is held a crime
to cross child's will while it is small. The
consequences are disastrous to q childs di-
gestion.
Turkish babies have queer toys. Their
dolls are made of rags, and they seldom have
any other kind. ] carried French doll TO
enc once and the child never seemed to real
ize that this was doll u be played with and
cared nothing for il. Cameis, goats, ele-
plants and other animals are fashioned out
Of calico of the most ford patterns, in crude
shapes, stuffed with wool, and the children
play with these. Gourds small souashes, fowls
made by CHUNG feathers On rag bodies, and
such things Of domestic manufacture are
about all Turkish baby mas 10 play with,
and in fact they about ali they want, for
at six the BOYS are taken To the mems depart
Inent, where they rem ain and rapidly devel
op into grave, sedate men themselves, Whale
the little girls leave OF their playtaings early
and learn to eunroider and the other small
accomplishments q Turkish girl may learn
There are few lesxons, for scarcely any Of
them ever learn to read, and the period Of
their Childhood is 30 short that they really
seem to need less toys than our children
Turkish children, however have tng. n
good a time as do teose Of any other naszon,
If one can judge by their happy little faces
and merry laughter, aRd they are treated
with extreme tenderneaa. though the indgi-
gence IN their vhiuas might De restrained
with benefit Turkish children can play 10
gether freely until they are FIX years cid,
and then the brothers separated from the
rest Of the family, an nsy be sid u have
become grave, silent little men white on
boys ara fairly beginning their rough, bo4s.
ferrous boyhocd- 1ura ~ children are rsos.
respectful to sheir pareHts