Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-14
WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT TURKS.


bines and the Naughty Eunuch.
From the Chicago Tribune.
"The Turk is not the man of many wives he
is commonly believed to be. 1t is an excep-
ton rather than the rule for the men of Turkey
to have more than one wife. The lower classes
never have more than one. 1t is only the
wealthy pashas who have two or three wives,
the latter number, according to the Koran, be-
ing legally allowed to every Mussulman"
That is what Carlos Rivero. q Spaniard who
is registered at the Palmer House, has to say
about life in Turkey. Signor Rivero is en-
gagged in the china trade at Consrantinople. and
calls the Turkish metropolis his home.
'Ihave lived several years at onsta.tinople. ~
continued the traveller, who speaks excellent
English, land have been as close an observer
of Turkish harem life it was possible for an
outsider to be. The number of wives legally
allotted to every Mussulman is exclusive of any
number Of slaves and concubines. Slaves and
concubines are not found in the homes of the
lower classes. The middle classes keep slaves.
but the heads of these households rarely have
concubines.
But when / say that polyeamy is an excep-
ton do not mean that there are not numerous
harems in the empire, for there are. The Turk,
however, who is at the head of the harem does
not have the royal time and many privileges
one is led TO suppose. He pays the bills, though
He calls on his wives when il Is convenient for
them TO receive him No acquaintance, b ow
ever slight, must he have with others than
those of his own harem- Sometimes he cannot
enter his own house. When lady calls on one
Of his wives she leaves her slippers outside the
harem door, should the husband observe
them he knows ladies are visiting and therefore
he must take stroll around the block smoke
a cigarette or do something else until the fair
caller has departed.
IF in public square or a bazaar he should
happen to see some Of his own women he is not
permitted to recognize them, even il they are
squandering his money ON something that
would be OF no use TO any one He NAV see one
OF his wives paying fabulous prices for silks
and jewels, and know the bills viii be sent to
him, but he must not object in public. What
be says or does at some subsequent time
know not Of, but there is no law know of that
prevents him from backing her eyes or pull
ing her hair when he gets her I'm her apart
"How are the poor eunuchs treatsd2" Sig.
Rivaro was asked.
..Poor eunuchsw remarked the traveller;
''the people of Turkey don't think the eunuchs
are abused creatures, and they are not Their
life 10 one perpetual picnic. They are the great
est personages in the harem: their power ID
almost absolute; they are CAPTAINS OF the girls,
and when the latter become unruly the eunuchs
are the ones 10 chastise them. They whip the
y
serious enough. But they are the most hideous-
looking creatures in Turkey. They have repul-
sive faces, short thick necks and, generally.
long legs. They are naughty and overbearing
in their manners, and when escorting their
mistresses through the streets plainly demon
strste their .contsmPtibls disposition when
clearing the way for the pets Of the padishah
They slsah about indiscriminately with their
'courbatch' and make things generally unpleas-
ant for anybody who h nos on the lookout
Besides being paid princely salaries the eunuchs
squssss Ill ehe money they can out Of the In
mates Of The harem, and large fortunes are
amazed by them.
''hntss are still employed by he sultan %
guards or attendanta This class d not OBJ
tained iron an asylum or anything Of that
Kind, but are manufactured. That brutal prac-
tics of cutting out tongues Of youthful ennnchs
in order 70 obtain attendants In the ollces uhere
o1aoiAl business b carried on = ain e popular
- ever. The youths are not only deprived q
nsam a epeesh, but svsryth slss = <ions 70
keep hem "a s1a>s a fgnoraaos- hay ere
ns1og poSuit6sA - sond q vri1o Ihh + ~
frufk- - I =