The sun., 1894-02-04
REVELATIONS OF 4 TURK.
Popular Error. Correeted-Poiygsmyo ou the
Decline and ChrIsua. wives Fsshiorssie

Popular Errors Core reeted-Poiygnmy on the
Decline and Chrisus. Wives fsshiouseies
Jror ns R--. Bs-c.
Il Is generally believed in Christian coun>
tries that a Mussulman can marry as many
women as no pleases. This Ii an error. Who
ever he may be and 40 natter to what society
he may belong. the Mussulman can only have
four legitimate wives at time. IL is only the
number o; odalisks that is unlimited: and that
depends upon the amount Of mans fortun..
Hc can have as many odalisks as he 10 able to
support. The children born OF odslisks. or
even OF slaves. are recognized by law as just
on the same footing the children torn Of
wives. Among the Mussumsns there are ne
illegitimate children: and the fact that mans
mother was n slave is no dishonor and no dis
grace for Mussulman.
In proof Of this the following case is cited: A
few years ago a Turkish General who married
one OF the daughters OF the sultan father Of
the present ruler died at an advanced age.
lie left several children and large fortune.
A few days after his death two chocolate col-
ored mon presented themselves and claimed
their share OF the heritage. They were sons
OF the General by negrsss. The fact having
been proved. the two mulattoes were recoG-
nized as tho legitimate sons Of the General.
and received their portion Just like the other
children. without any objection on the part OF
the latter or on the part Of the Cheri. tho re-
ligious tribunal OF Constantinople.
Another error lie the belief that tho Sultan
can have an unlimited number Of wives. Tho
Sultan. like the Caliph is certainly more priv
ileRed than the ordinary run OF mortals- He
has the right to seven legal wives. which are
called hddine. and to fourteen wives OF thu
second class. which are generally called Ikbal
at the palace.
The harem Of the Sultan may contain hun
dreds OF women. but. except the seven irst
wives and the fourteen wives OF the second
rank. they are all odalisks. II one OF these
odalisks becomes a mother she acquires rights
and privileges OF special character: sho
takes the title OF Sultana but is never raised to
the rank OF a wife.
When tho Mussulmans are reproached for
taking moro than one wife. they answer that
Mohammed. by permitting the faithful to have
several wives. did not mean to give them facil-
tiles for leading life OF pleasures and orgies.
His purpose was more elevated. more prac-
tical. and better suited to the kind OF existence
whom he preached the new faith. Upon this
how Mohammed came to sanction polygamy;
One day while the Prophet was seated under
lowers. miserably clad. came to him and. in q
plaintive voice, began to tell him his troubles
any Get as narred said al T The ProphSt h an I'm.
perative tone The poor devil did not dare 70
port wife when he could hardly earn bread
for It: the man OF God commanded and he had
to obey He chose wife from the girls OF
es te lis G amy
despair he s9Egnt the pTOghst again
walked away from him without giving hun
TAKE q second wiier said the poor maa
my miseryr But h the T Prophet had II givsn ta a1s
order and he must obey, He took the second
despair; Again he so uGht the Prophet. He found
him ws!knG Ct the to9t ,6 Of
xiss SeSS t6s @ home Of the fI pSor made h,.
o%tS @ S'h 'sIE' to the % PS PrOsSss s %
hfSnG h@ II ni paterasl tSns: Thg third ws dS
not bring thee good fortune; take fourthl"
the unhappy nuspand. % AS As soon so 1sh' as she en- e
tered the house she took in the situation. She
ong the nSsHr SsS hES es time sws
to remain idls and good for nothing while our
r Come n my sster S worF % to ON WORK Shs
bought some thread a9d some cloth and made ,n
GI fEiS sa the sd and nS %
prosperity spread its wings over the house OF
nS Ward sR sRs W4n four Ss' %s sR
dressed. came again to see the Prophet and,
6d at M ss s.sf T Ggs III.
1t is beyond question that in our days polyga-
my is less pIaetised among the Mussulmans
monty believed in Europe. During the last
few years considerable progress has been
made, and monOgamy is implanting itsslt
more and more among the Turks.
Another popularity, which Is becoming
fashionable, is the growing habit OF Turks TO
marry Christian women At the present time
there are many Turks. and even high persons
ages. ia ConstantinOple who have French,
Italian. German. Greek and Armenian wives.
The children born of u Christian woman
are. Of course. brought up in tho
1lussulman faith. but the mother is not
required 10 change her religion, Her
husband never asks her TO AhIurs her faith.
The Mussulmans don't care very much 70 con-
vert women. There are many Turks. and even
former Ministers and Generals who had
Christian mothers. One worthy Turk Who
married q Greek lady. extended his religious
tolerance TO the door OF her church, lie used
to accompany her to mass every sunday. leave
her at the door OF the edifce and wait for her
in a neiGhbOring cafe. At the close OF the re-
ligious ceremonies he always went TO meet her
as she came out, and they walked home to-
gether. lie gave tho name Of Alexander
uskenderl to his eldest son. Alexander was
"a great man" he used TO say; who knows
but that his name may bring luck TO my boyt"