The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-26

you know" continued the young lady,
and has made = large collection Of bal
lads, songs and popular tales When
was child she often favored rs with .
couple 10 entertain visitors a. the hareIn.
The literature of the harem, written by
four Turkish women, 5 very extensive. SO
many. weary Of their monotonous, soli-
tary life, turn 10 writing novels and love
stories. They write for their own pleas
ure. and seldom enter into the history of
literature. And yet il is 10 the 'nameless
poets that We are indebted for the largest
number Of our fables, songs, fairy tales
and aphorisEs."
What do you mean by the 'nameless
poets7'"
You must know" she explained, I'VE
listeners. Most of our poets become sue
cessfal by reading their works n public;
and 1t is wonderful how quickly q poem
passes from mouth 10 mouth. | read
'Assus' only 10 8 small. select circle, bQ.
now the shopkeepers OF Pera could repeat
some Of my poems 20 you This fact also
explains why Turkish poetry lacks depth
20 excite admiration by immediate effects.
He seldom produces anything by inspirs-
ton; !. IS nearly always the result OF a
mental effort. and a5ounds, therefore, N
metaphors, hyperboles and araoesque-liks
ornaments"
Il am afraid Turkish literature is not
much patronized outside Of the country"
/ remarked
Hardly; we have TO thank Goethe that
1t IS known at all who opened up 20 Eu-
rope the roads to our literary treasures"
She seemed well acquainted with the
masterpieces of the worlds literature, and
spoke and wrote the German and French
languages Auently. Her command Of the
English tongue was also praiseworthy.
Besides, she IS al amateur painter and
musician.
Pointing 10 writing desk near the win
dow, she remarked: There / wrote most
OF my poetry Do me favor and take 8
look at our neigh0orhood. She stepped
TO the window and lifted the curtain.
Far below lay the deep blue waters Of
the Bosphorus, its shores bordered by huge
square stones. To the right the Golden
Horn. surmounted by sparkling terraces
and balustrades, picturesque villas. old
feudal castles and the Moorish kiosk. OF
the Old Serial, and still higher, the nina
rets and proudly gllded cupolas Of Con-
stantinOple
To the left the surface of the M.rmora
shITQmered like gold in the setting sun.
and opposite glistened Scutari, with IT'S
dark green shady cypress woods and the
magnificent white and golden palace of
Abdul. Hanid, the padisha.
The very physical conditions of Turkish
scenery, Its dreamy skies, its brilliant COL
orlnc, It's langGorous, soft elm ate, IN con-
nectlon with the popular temperament and
tendency OF thought, causes one 10 expec.
that every form of their writings should
De put IN the glowing language OF magma
ton.
Then she spoke Of the restrictions Of her
sex, of the narrow limits in which the
most enlightened Turkish women are
o0ilghed TO move, while she twitched the
cigarette nervousiy between her tapering
myers, causing me TO admire her pink
stained nails.
She seemed an incorrigible pessimist.
The conversation contained the same
euphony Of language, devotion OF thought
and depth of feeling had admired when
reading the book of "Sighs." No; her
grief was genuine. and found il pIriful TO
hear young woman talk in that strain
She criticised her own works with the fol-
lowing words:
All my writings are subjective-in this
am modern, but my fiction IS out OF date.
Il is the Old romanticIsIn which modern
writers denounce as falsei"
On my expressing q wish TO hear some
OF the peculiarities Of Turkish poetry, she
made me acquainted with a few of its
prominent traits. II IS difficult TO get TO
the spirit OF Turkish poetry and take
liking 20 Il, except one is willing 20 study
mysticism Their poets are dreamers, 10
whom all animate and inanimate life is
but shadow of things TO come, and they
consider their language inadequate TO ex-
press their vague and inexplicable long
ings for the future. Hence the symbol
ical, metaphorical and fgurative charac-
ter OF all Oriental poetry. The reader
must also be well acquainted with the
Koran" otherwise he might find il
vain labor. Never does an image in q SEN
tence really mean what the language
seems TO convey. The very words, which
TO the common reader would only convey
q common meaning. would reveal TO the
Turkish scholars echoes of deeper har-
mony. ceaseless and passionate aspira-
ton OF the soul, longing 10 return 10 its
original home
But mysticism is not the only charac-
teristlc OF the representative literature of
Turkey; IL also has distinct national and
chronological character. And vet, taken
all in all. fear Turkish verse must look
very fantastic and extravagant, particu-
larry TO Americans. And IL is true one
viii search Turkish poetry in vain for
genuine, truthful description OF nature,
such as can be met with IN almost aIl other
lteratures.
Have you many writers 81 the present
day." | enquired.
YES, in abundance, but few who would
interest foreigners. only know one-be-
sides perhaps myself-Murad Efendi, the
author Of the drama Selma ILL., which
has been produced in several European
Countries
The shades of evening had already en-
veloped the room. and my hostess, motto
ing the darkness, interrupted our interest
ing conversation.
But pardon me, sir; it is getting late
Ut was $50. our neighbors will have
something 20 gossip about if you stay
longer"
She accompanied me 20 the garden gate,
again covering her face with the veil.
Farewell" she said, quite simply. "If
ever your way leads you 10 Pera you will
be welcome" She bowed gracefully and
stretched out her hand like Partisan
lady.
John L. Sullivan's Kind Heart
New York Recorder.