The record-union., 1894-10-27
WRITER, WARRIOR And DIPLOMAT.
The Author of "Ben Hur" Lectures
Last Night.
A Large Audience Listens to General
Lew WaIlace's Address on s'Tur-
key and the Turks.o

Over hundred people who were tardy
IN making their appearance missed the
! opportunity last night of hearing GEN
eral Lew Wallace deliver a most inter-
esting lecture on Turkey and the
| Turks" Long before o'clock every
available seat was occupied, even the
| choir gallery and the steps being utilized
and hundred or more people stood up
| through the lecture.
Sparrow Smith introduced the lecturer,
who said he was compelled to ask the in
| duIgence CT the audience on account of
his throat and speak in conversational
tone. lest it give out entirely.
| To the question often asked as to which
is the best route by which to go to Con-
| stantinople, he would say through
Vienna, Varna and by the Black Sea, be-
cause 1t carries one through the Bos-
! phorus, which bears relation to Con-
| stantinople similar to the successive
steps by which the poet leads up to his
climax. Since the times when the Argo
carried its band of adventurous through
the straits, commerce has claimed the
Bosphorus for canal, but it should not
be looked on with contempt on that ac-
! count
y
In some places on the Hudson. He did
! not know whether or not the Bosphorus
! impressed every one like it did him, but
| one must be dull and unresponsive not to
! feel thrill at the announcement that on
| THIS nand is the eastern shore OF Europe
| and on that the western shore Of Asia. 1t
| Is scene ike gorgeous panorama the
| bluest OF skies overhead, while at his feet
| the water Is traversed by crafts OF all
kinds IN an endless variety, such as is
| found nowhere else. You never tire of
| looking at them. There are the wood
! boats, the tShermen's boats, the slender
caique OF the Pasha, and before that is
out OF sight here comes one more beauti-
! 1ul, with three oars, a black Aga in the
stern, showing that it is occupied by
| ladies of rank. You can take one glance,
but no more, as they pass, for the Aga
has pistol and legal right 10 use it.
You turn to the shore, no matter which
way, it is picture everywhere to fas-
clnaLe you. There is one row of houses
along the waters edge, the rock having
been blasted to make room for them.
They are like Venice, with water at their
doors. Back of them the mountain rises.
with orange and lemon trees and various
plants, and on top are the rock pines
against the sky. The bay, with ships
bearing the flags of every nation on it. Is
a magnificent sight, but if you are an
American your anger rises at the Con-
gress that does not foster and maintain
our marine.
'For four years." said he, II waited to
see our flag, and only saw it twice; once
on third rate naval vessel, and once on
Bennetps yacht"
He pictured in vivid English the ap-
prOach to Constantinople, with its leaden
dome of st. Sophia towering aloft, it's
domes, minarets and mosques. A nag-
niticent spectacle of colors and architect
ural designs outlined against the blue
sky. Ills city of delusions, and the
grandeur fades as you are landed at the
wharf and traverse its streets. They are
reeking with filth and foul smells. Were
it not for the fresh sea breezes waited
from broad eXpanse of saItiness, life in
the city would be unbearable. Dogs and
beggars swarm everywhere. Nobody
owns the dogs, but the beggars own
everybody"
Some idea of the population of the CITY
can be gained from the fact that over one
of the pontoon bridges connecting two
of the four cities 250,000 people pass daily,
of every nation, and clad in their ma
tional costume.
He describes the Turk as fair of skin.
with round face, brown hair and eyes.
and inclined to corpulence
Their boards increase in length with
age, and winning increased venera-
ton. He never saw drunken Turk, or
knew one to ill-treat animals, and thew
have a profound respect for women and
children. The Turkish policeman clears
the street of unruly men on the approach
of a lady, but flies before a mob of
women. The Turk is extremely devout
and his trust is i'll Gods goodness.
The Turkish home has two compart-
ments, one where the master receives his
friends, and the other where no one is
allowed but himself and his family, and
his slippers at the door bar even the off,
Ger Of justice or message from the Sui
tan. The lecturer described the harem.
the dress and behavior Of the ladies and
the tone OF their conversation with
strangers.
The headgear in Constantinople is the
most graceful in the world, but the ma
licious say the yashmaks or wells grow
thinner every year The Turkish woman
looks best in carriage, as when walking
she waddles like a duck.
There is nome life in Turkey, the rela-
ton of parents to children and especially
OF mother to children. as it is here. The
Turk never refers to his domestic affairs,
He may ask after the health of your wife.
but it would give otfense if you asked al
ter his.
In his first intercourse with the Sultan
he thought the kindness shown him was
diplomacy, but after he heard him de-
clare once In public that he had regard
Tor our country because it was the only
OhO IhoN hno hSNOI SOISplI0u against MIN
or coveted his territory, he understood
better the reason for his kindness.
lie PAID high compliment to the Sui
tan, and sad no European monarch is his
superior. He is well informed as to his
own country, but does not understand
European methods, or that there can be
more than one will in a country, The
charge OF bigotry made against him, the
lecturer thinks, is not well founded. His
manners are simple, ana he possesses the
rare faculty of putting his visitors at ease.
There is an impression in our country
that the Turkish Empire is hast
ening to its end. What stands in the way
is the greed and jealousy of the great
european nations. When they all agree
| the end will come, but the Sultan
shrewdly plays them one against the
other, and the end is no nearer than it
was fifty years ago.
General Wallace held his audience in
tently Till the last, and there was gem
eral expression OF the wish that he might
be heard here again.
WILL BE WE'LL GUARDED.