New-York tribune., 1896-11-23
BOY LIFE IN ARMENIA.
CUSTOMS AND MANNERS IN SCHOOL,
RULES OF THE PLAYGROUND.

SWIMMER AND sKIr'UL FISHER PRO
F1cIENr AT BARN BALL AND AN I;N-
PERT WITH THE JAcKKNIFE.
The manifest truthfulness of the old saying boys
will be boys Is just as true In the land or the SUI
tan as anywhere else for boy nature Is the same
the world over. For the last few years however
the natural boyish spirits Of the little Armenians
have been more or less affected all have felt the
influence OF the dark shadow of fallen or impending
calamity.
In ordinary times they Jolly sort OF fellows
full of fun. good od-tempered. active. auick-witted
mischievous. but never malicious. The hrst 'h'ns
claim tho attention OF an American traveller IN
Turkey is that only the schools OF the uinet
ont nationali,es Turks Greeks. Jews and Arnlen-
ans quite distinct but that the boys. though next
door nsighbors never play together II sina' "ieN
boy lives In the very next house TO an Arn'e"'f'''
and just across the road from Turk. they never
think OF starting off TO school together or joining
company the playground. or go TO the woods To-
gether to catch birds with waxed sticks fastened 10
the evergreen branches: no. nor even TO play 'he
fascinating game Of 'Chun kush III 'te street
That would never do, SO. according 20 lurhiS"
custom Greek Gorgy betakes himself for compaf--
ionshp 10 Greek Demetrief though he may live
blocks away: Armenian Hovhannes goes IN search
70 his comrade Krekor. and little Turkish Mehfne'
spends his leisure hours with Osman.
When the Armenian school Is dismissed 'he
teacher arranges the boys OF each street IN a 'ohs
procession putting them in line according 10 the
number OF their houses. For instance. the BOY Nv
ing frthest away would be at the head. ana the one
who lives nearest the school at the foot OF the line
Every dav a different boy is appointed as 'heutel-
ant" TO walk along and keep the line In order this
important Office being bestowed upon the boy VINO
has made the best record for the day. AZ the little
procession moves along with book-bags ana gayiy
pa lntcd luncheon baskets made OF reeds hanging
from their shoulders by string the children now
ctp0 Mace OF the NdtlOUdl ans
which they used 10 sing The latter are now for
hidden by the Government.
When the boys reach homo most OF them are sent
10 tho stores bring provisions for the dinner arer
which they have the time until dinner 70 play IN
tho summer the boys OF Ncomeda rush down TO the
sandy shores OF the Sea OF Marmora, In Suinaua
,hcy ev 10 the beautiful Golden Horn. put on their
bathing suits. and plunge in. Nearly all are goou
swimmers. They also skilful hshers never US
ing n pole but merely throwing their line IN the
water They have artificial spoons nor iahcy
Hes for bait. good honest worm Is FAR more
tempting 20 the sgunru tekir. sort OF terra-cotta'
s,ubh,. u;fle fish that the boys very fond o.
In fishing the bows are careful 10 keep out or sight
% the Turkish officials. for the law is strict that
everything taken from the water must De carrie"
TO the officers of the Custom House. ana Il 'eh'h
set side for the Government
| SATURDAYS after all the errands are done the
bread Is carried to the public ovens to be baked
after the old Roman method and then brought
| hack again: the boys have the afternoon Tor
| holiday Sometimes they take their ploNlslohs
| and 70 of for a picnic TO Some pleasant grove,
where they swing and play after the fashioh OF
| the ancient Ionic dance.
Thev are very proficient, at barn ball. They place
one hand behind their head TO support ii. then
with the other. keep the ball bounding back and
| forth agalns, the house wall. often doing this
as many as $50 times without missing
| They are very expert with their jackKniNes
| making gr.at variety o. bird cages and traps
FOR one OF their winter pastines Is the catching o
birds They doubtless appreciate their knives al
the more because they know that as soon as they
nv. croun the Government will prohibit their car
| rying them.
| Al,hourh the catching OF the birds seems cruel
the boys never hurt them. but cherish them care
fully. Perhaps this may come In some measure
from tho teachings OF the Koran, when says ina
in Paradise some Of the true believers VIII o.
transformed into lovely green birds
Sometimes they catch tir birds In winter p'
shovellinr place In the snow down to the 2roun'
and sprinklng Il with hempseed. Then circula
,r,, made with a wooden rim. Ave or six inch"
wide with a nshnct stretched over II on one SIDE
is 80, up over the seed with stick 10 prop II up
\ cord fastened TO the end oi the SICK ~ osr 49,
IN the upp.r window OF the house where the youn'
hunter lies I'm wait Soon tho birds-chahinc heS am
redheads-comc huiierng TO the feast the sue
falls and the birds are prisoners men theS Al!
trausferred 10 little wicker cages ana carrie" ihV
the house. -. .rr,
! AZ another time the boys may select . smal
cvercr.en tree and. fastening waNed sticks 10 II
branches carry II and a Gagged h.rd 10 me "oous
IIore they hang the cage In the branches OF IN
REQ and retiring a distance. await drVeloI
rn.nts soon Ia" Gagged hird begins Vd'llls ~ ~.
lows who come fuiterng and chlrping from ever
d,rec,ion and settle down near their comrades
once comfortably located. they cannot ny away
and are readily captured ., . !,
In ali games where leader or rag IL 20 o
chosen-th. latter corresponding to the America
ho,,s ..it"-th. choice l. made by chanc" IN I'M
vev. one boy appointed by IN" resi- as chiei pr
| I'm taxes a small stone In one hand. ana thef
| douhlrg ND both fists that they look alike n
/ boiIs ,h.n ND in front OF him and says Is thl
I 'o."I IN ~ omntv9'' II the lad whom the ques
ION l. propounded answers correctly ne l. paSse
over but IL he mak.s a mistake he has 10 b
Tag" be 1T m ,. ,,.,,.
| pSt a hoy's playdays I'm Turkey arc short Vine
| n ~ dfte.n he il considered no longer a BOY.
mans duties await him. and he must PM ava
| childish things.
,ro,,,u rspONSTRTTJ JTTES