The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-20
VIRTUES.
A Race Of People Who Are Clean,
VirtuOus and Strictly sober.
CoDsfautfnapl latter In Phfladalnhia Tele-


Virtuous and Strictly sober.
Constantinople Letter in Philadelphia Tele-
graph
Deep as is the interest that attaches itself
to old Stamboul, still ii is not the place 10
select for a residence, The toEtuous mar ar
seven hills of the second Rome are most
picturesque and most uncomfortable. IL
not agreeably salute the olfactory organs.
There is dirt in the streets, the mud Is
composed in part of garbage and in part
and blocked sewers. But how quickly the
dirt is forgotten, how quickly are the lungs
purified. when once an eminence Is reached
which admits or a view and enables the
sweet wind that always sweeps Constanti-
nople to reach you. Doubtless the capital
Of the Turkish empire would be one OF the
most unhealthy towns OF Europe did 1t not
occupy the position almost of an island and
were it not exposed to the purest air. This
air is ever in motion; for the swift current
waters and seas in the immediate vicinity,
supplies the motive power which never al
also be remembered that, if the town is not
drained, If the streets are not properly
swept, the inhabitants are exception
l Ssiag truly 70 religious religion mso; and whose Ss,
founder was to a certain extent a medical
the virtue of cleanliness. In the streets We
have constantly the edifying spectacle OF
the faithful washing their feet. ON all
supplied for washing. A wash is a part Of
a Turks prayer: and a very sensible, prae-
s%eh P Iirty streets TT Is. eSP Hot only IN is a Washing wash M,' a
part OF the Turks religion, but 1t is against
the law of the Prophet to drink alcohol.
Europeanized Turks, they are all total alb
stainers. Drunkenness is unknown among
them. In the Turkish hospitals, alcoholism,
the numerous forms of disease produced by
drinking, is absolutely unknown; and the
diseases that result from vice are very
rare. Nowhere are so virtuous and sober
a people to be found as the Turks. If there
is vice in Constantinople, it is in the
European quarter and for Europeans, that
Is, for the Christians; and l defy any
traveller to find in STEAMBOAT among the
Mohammedans a disorderly house or a dis
reputable woman. Such a woman would
lists: but the Mohammedans. of course. do
not care how much a Christian woman de-
grades herself.
| servance of the Mohammedan religion we
were all overwhelmed with admiration for
the physique of the Turkish people. We
were ninety members of the congress OF
hygiene. belonging to thirteen different ma
tionalities and to all sections Of the Chris
tian religion, and we were compelled unan-
the sobriety and the physical strength OF
the Turkish people. Never before had We
loads on their backs. Never had We ex-
amlned an entire population so sound In
limb and constitution. Then, If what can
be seen with the naked eye does not suf-
flee, let any doubling reader inquire from
an European who has held a command in
the Turkish army. They will all say that
the Turk makes the finest simple soldier
in the world. 1t is only in. the higher
walks of life that the Turk has decayed
He has lost his Mohammedan virtues with
out acquiring the good points Of Western
civilization. But Mohammedan virtues ex.
ist. They are a great. a mighty factor. and
the s~elf-conceited Christian has much to
learn from the simple folks in a Moham-
medan country.