The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-10

The Turks are not a drunken people. and
travellers In Turkey are not shocked by the
scottish habits OF the country. We are sur
prised by reading In tho Independent n letter
written from tho ancient. the battle
mentej. and tho bazaar-coverc Turkish
city OF Sivas. by o Christian Clergyman.
giving an account OF the prevalence OF
drunkenness among tho Mohammednns Of
Turkey. This clergyman. tho Rev. DR.. Eng
LIsH. tells Of witnessing spectacles In Turkey
which. We feel sure. are not likely to DO wit
messed by other travellers there. He says that
many OF the Turkish officials are habitual
drunkards, that there is much drunkenness
among the common Turks. that Turks can
often be secn drunk in tho streets of Con-
Btnntnople. and that drunkenness Is rapidly
spreading everywhere In Turkey. even among
tho villages OF the far interior The Rev. DR..
ENGLISH says he knows OF popular Governor
OF a Turkish province who drinks himself
drunk every night. and OF other Government
functlonaries who arc often stupefled by drunk
enness. He knows OF ordinary Turks who.
when drunk. beat their wives and carry on Just
like Christians who get drunk; and. as II mat
tor OF course. cases OF delirium tremens. or
jmjams. are frequent among tho Turks. Tho
drunken Turks OF tho seaports drink all kinds
OF drunk producing beverages excepting
wine. the use OF which in this world Is pro-
hlblted by tho Koran. tho enjoyment OF
which Is the reward OF true believers in Para
disc. The Turks living In tho rural regions
drink raki, a fiery alcoholic liquor. strong err
than Kentucky whiskey. stronger than French
brandy or Jamaica rum stronger even than
Russian podki. and far stronger than tho In
toxicatinR preparations made by tho Peru
vians or the Chinese. The hard drinking
Turks drink this raf till they are solidly
drunk. drink 1t at dinner. and drink 1t In secret
at night The Nov. DR.. ENdLIsH's account OF
tho drunkenness in Turkey must griove tho
souls OF tho readers OF the Independent.
Wemay here remark. however. that many OF
the Eev. DIR. ENaLIsHs statements will GER
tainly not DO sustained by all tho other people
who have travelled in Turkey. or who are ac-
quainted with the habits OF the Turks by por-
sonal observation. The Moha,nmcdans OF
Turkey have always had the reputation Of
being far moro temperate. SO far as tho usc
OF ntoxrants Is concerned. than the people Of
any Christian country in Europe. Those OF
the true believers who accent tn, words Of tho
Prophet OF Mecca In literal sense. refrain
wholly from the use OF intoxicating bever-
ages. 1t Is shown by official reports that tho
amount OF these beverages consumed In
Turkey Is very small In comparison with the
amount consumed in Christian countries 1t
is surely incorrect to say that many drunken
Turks areto be seen 10 the streets OF Constan-
tinople. or in tho streets Of any other Turkish
city Tho rites and ceremonies Of Mohammod-
ism. rs practlsed by all true believers. are in
compatible with drunken habits How. for
example. can man pray lvo times every dav,
when the times OF prayer arc announced from
the minarcts OF all the mosques in tho Moham-
medan world. II no be habitual druhkurd
How can Mohammedan who is drunk main
tain the ablutlonary requirements Of his re-
hSlonf And 1t must bv remembered that