The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-12
A CONSTANTINOPLE MOB,
TERRIBLE WORK OF THE CHAPaIN
AND THE soFTAS.

1
AND THE SoFTAS. II
The Former the Rascals and Vaga-
bonds of the City, and the Latter
Theological Students.
X CONSTANTINOPLE mob is
~ spectacle that, once seen, is not
s sss,y Saso 1T the si as~ york cork
Tribune. The memory holds forever
after a picture OF frenzied faces
strange garments and gleamingIknlves.
The ear retains for a long time the
mad shouts of the pursuit or the ex-
ultant cry that accompanied the nm
ishing blow. 1t is not pleasant
memory. For the second time within
a wear Constantlnople has been given
mn to pillage and murder. The demon
| Of massacre that stalked through the |
CITY last September has returned more
terrible than ever, and he hos found
his efficient ally in the Constantinople
mob.
! In no city on earth can one pistol
shot call together mob that compares
in all savage qualities with the mob OF
Constantinople. Time and again be-
fore and since the destruction OF jan
issaries it has turned the capital upside
down and made the streets OF STAN
boul run with blood. 1t does not
change with time. Generation after
| generation it is the same IN compost
ton and in purpose. 1t has two OBJ
jects in view: first, to kill Christians
second, to seize their property.
The mob is composed OF two gSn-
eral classes, the Chapqin-t that is, the
rascals of the city, belonging to the
lowest class of the population, brutal
and vicious, and the Softas-that IS,
theological students. The former, as
poor. ignarant, ferocious and fanatic
as the hordes that Mahomet sent
against the city 450 years ago, are an,
mated bv the love of plumber and OF
bloodshed. In their savage breasts
there is no feeling of mercy, but pos.
: tive delight in the shedding OF blood.
: They seek not only to kill but to
mingle in killing. Toward Christian
thew have no sentiment of humanity
They are of every race Of Asia Mlnol
> that has adopted the religion OF Ma
homet. In their dark faces and IN
couth garments We can trace the char
acteristics of Lac, Kurd, Circassiao
, Georgian, Zeybeck and Osinauii.
ordinary times they lead a precariou
. existence, living from hand to mouth
!. working, when forced, as porters
y scayengers and laborers; but read
at the first signal to turn their ln
Elements into weapons and join th
i fierce cry. ssDown with the Giaours
The second class. aud the moi
= dreaded, is the Softas, Sofia or Sol
- kite. as the word was originally pr
- nounced, means something consume
~ in the fire, and is the name given
o. the students of the theological school
u who are, supposedly, consumed IN Il
:. 6re of zeal for knowledge. In Co
stantinople there are, at modera
estimate. 10, 600 OF these Mahometi
40 theological students. They are camp
. like great army in the city OF 7
% Sultan, and at the fain.est whisper
= reform or concession to Crete. a
. meria or Macedonia, or at the III
rumor of characterization on the pa
On OF the Armenians of the city, one hef
la' the ominous murmur, ''The Softas
20 rising" Many cheeks turn pale at I
'u u cry. 1t calls up too many scenes
Gu the streets of Galata and Stamboul
e,' helpless men and women struck do
-. by the heavy curved clubs In the hal
was OF these bigoted fanatics. In the RI
of last September and in the rec
~ awful slaughter in Constantinople
, Softas we're the principal tigur
ous Fanatic almost to insanity, cruel
ny hyenas, animated by sleepless hat
'eo of Christians, they are the centre
;. soul of every Moslem outbreak. .
Is Their method of warfare is disti
-. tive. They do not usually attack
'nAs large bands, nor do they attempt 81
nea GUS fighting. Armed with heavy clu
often curved into hook, they pal
10 the streets in bands of from do
.n7 to forty, or lie concealed IN mar
aie, lanes. There they watch for Il
70 : prey, and thence, of the sight OF q
fenceless .man or woman, they c
ness forth and club the poor wretch
Iol- death and trample on the mans
nicn form. Hundreds have fallen IN
Us . this way in Constantinople. y
N sionally the band varies the am
: I'LL ment by plundering the house OF
- poor, defenceless creature, and by
swer ing the women and children.
u la The dress OF the Sofia is unmis
'isea able, even in city that abounds
costumes. The Sofia of to-day is I
:. my like his predecessors for several
81 erations, in loose fitting trousel
a.. brown that grow smaller toward
nav ankle; colored cotton shirt, C
'ooA' less, and long, ample surtoot that
.u straight from the shoulders te
tops of the heavy boots. The d
l naG gushing mark of the Sofia. how
e. Is the band OF spotless white
VI wound around and around the
al something after the fashion OF a
aa'' ban. The face, whichs is sn
'Ss shaven, is likely in repose to be
and heavy.
The mosque is the centre OF th
,rman ta's life. 1t is in very real sens
e was .alma mater" 1t supplies him no