The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-11

1870 by Sevfet Pasha, polished gentle
man and an accomplished scholar, who
was the Minister of Public Instruction at
that time. The plan was to take girls
who had left the Rushdieh schools and
give them strictly orthodox education
which would fit them for teachers in
secondary girls schools and for govern
esses in the harems of the rich.
This, however, is not the only effort
that has been made to raise the standard
of education. In Constantinople and
some of the larger towns of the Empire
secondary girls schools have been
founded. The subjects taken up in these
schools are the same as in the Normal
School. No European language, 1t Will
be noticed, is taught in any of the girls
schools.
The pleasures of Turkish girls are ex'
tremely simple and limited. Shut out
from that limitless world of entertain.
ment which the literature of civilized
countries opens up to the European child
directly she can read, with the exception
ef festivities in the harem, en- red.lettel
days, her pleasures consist in an occs
slonal picnic or accompanying her elderf
on the visits which occupy such large
portion of Turkish ladY's time.
On household festivals or great relig'
ious feasts wealthy people will often or
ganize entertainments on very elaborate
scale. Gipsy dancers or troupe Of
clowns with some sort of pantomime Of
show, are engaged for the occasion, and
the neighbors, rich and poor, are invited
to the performance. The Turks being
exceedingly hospitable, frlend of tho
hostess is free to bring all her sisters and
her cousins and her adnts, with theii
families, on such occasions. These are
high days for the Turkish girl-for hel
elders, too-though an English child oi
ten or twelve would think the entertain.
ments very poor performances indeed.
The dances are at times rather graceful,
and the music, when one is used to it
everything depends on your being used
TO its not always excruciating; but
the coarse, almost british humor OF the
pantomimes, would be decidedly distaste.
full to western audience.
A more pleasant side of Turkish girl
life is that which may be seen any day
in early summer, at the Sweet Waters of
Europe or some other favorite resort on
the outskirts of Constantinople. The
family will set out in the morning and
spreading their rugs in some field, spend
The day there doing nothing, and ap-
parently very we'll contented with the
occupation. The women squat on the
ground with their feet under them. It
is not romantic, but truth eompels me to
state that all Turkish girls ultimately be-
come bandy-legged; the fine, wel'-made
women one occasionally meets in Stam-
boul are mostly Circassians. A few cakes
and some rahat lakhoum or other sweet
suffices for both young and old.
A stranger is invariably struck with
the prematurely serious air that Turkish
children wear. The elder girls do not
play and run in the manner that English
people expect of healthy children.
They sit or stroll about, quietly and
gravely, their yashmaks loosened and
forming snow-white framework which
displays to advantage their complexion,
as yet unspoiled by paint and powder.
On the approach of a man they will hast
lily draw over their yashmak, not so
close, however, that the stranger cannot
admire their face if he has fancy for
Turkish beauty, which, though in girls