Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-11-30
MARRIAGE IN TURKEY.
fhe BusinessiilSe Methods Employed In OBJ
taining Wives.

tanning NtNtbs
While we American women are
thinking and talking of higher educa'
lion and emancipation we often forget
| that there are women in the world
who, besides not having the numerous
advantages which have become part OF
our daily lives, have to labor under
many a disadvantage and are kept
down by many weightwhich we have
never known. Few of us have any
knowledge of the life and standing OF
the Turkish woman; in fact, there is
no class of women in the world OF
whom, for obvious reasons, so little is
known.
The seclusion in which she has to
live has effeetually screened her; trav'
elers get as small ii glimpse of her life
as they get of her features under the
folds of her yashmak. Hence the ex'
aggerated idea that the Turkish won.
AN is either pampered creature living
in lazy luxury or slave at the beck
and call of relentless master.
During a long residence in the sui
L
tunity of becoming acquainted with a
large number of ladies of all classes
and have found them in very few re-
spects as had expected to find them
In the first place, it is not fact that
the religion of the prophet denies WON
an soul The superiority of man over
woman is distinctly taught, but she il
exhorted to lead righteous life and
the same promise Of future reward il
made to man and woman alike in the
koran.
The Mahometan scriptures permi
each man to have four wives; his frs
wife is chief of the household and abov,
the other wives AS n rule marriag,
among the Turks takes place at an ear
lier age than it does with us. The ar
riage are not made by the young NAL
himself In fact, he plays almost a
passive part in the matter as the CIR
does
When a young man is deemed mar
riagcablc by his family his mother o
nearest relatives look about them TO
suitable bride. All their friends tel
them about this girl or that, and tn
mother of the young man and other fe
male relatives make round of call
upon the different eligible maidens
one of whom is chosen if she finds favo
, in the eyes of the critical visitors.
In anticipation of this visit tn
young ladies are dressed out in thei
prettiest declsed out in as many jewel
! as the family possesses, and sit demurt
| ly by while their mothersvdiscuss tn
5 weather and other equally interestin
. and appropriate topics; of the actuf
/ cause of their visit no mention is made
i After sampling the goods, so to speal
the mother decides which girl her so
shall marry. A formal proposal is ser
to her parents, and if they are willin
the match is made.
4 Then. and not till then, may til
young lady see her betrothed, but a
ways in the presence of her mother {
) some other old haanum. According
law woman of age may refuse to ma
; ry certain man, but it is very seldol
that such an objection is made. TIL
: system has SO long been an accepted il
! stitution that girl no more thinks {
refusing a husband chosen for her tina
she thinks of choosing one for hersel
y and that would never enter her heat
s. After the engagement the famil
. jointly agree as to the time of the we
{ ding, and great preparations are mad
{ for the important event, especially if
Il is the young mans first venture in Il
Ii matrimonial field. AS the importal
: day approaches the house is decorate
according to the means of the familie
,. furniture and ornaments, rugs for II
a floor and illuminated texts from I'll
"a koran or the walls are brought
o. from various sources. -Philadelph
- Press