The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-26
JAN "a. 1897


JAN "a. 1897.
Thanks to the "COngregatiOnalist fund"
we have received money enough to keep 50
children year. We are to take so at once
and choose the others more deliberately.
am very happy over the prospect of over
seeing the making of their garments just
think of the fun of making 100 little gar
ments!
The Armenian Christmas comes on Jan.
IL, and in the morning we went to the
Christmas service, which began before day
light. My chief errand was to collect the
children afterward and take them to the
school room to drill for the exercises today.
The house was packed full. which doesn't
mean much to any one who has not seen
people sitting on the floor packed together.
l stood on the stairs leading to the gallery,
but where could see over Away up I'M
der the ceiling are tiny windows sxl2 inches
and the walls are IL inches thick. The gal
lery leads up by steps, and there in one OF
those tiny window seats were slowed away
two little children When we reached home
it was time for the tree, but only a part OF
the children came, as measles had broken
out among the orphans and many were sick;
but those who came received their simple
gifts with an utter abandonment of Joy that
was enough to make one weep, especially
If she thought of the hundreds of other or
phans in the snow covered mountains, bu
ried in straw 10 keep warm or dying from
exposure. / can hardly wait for the new
orphans to be chosen and brought down.
have told you that the Turks built a fort
at ZeitOon and moved the soldiers into it be-
fore it was dry and so many of them are
sick, that TO use their own words they could
not defend themselves if attacked SO they
are coming here to Marash while others take
their places My sympathy goes out to the
poor, ragged. half-fed, sick soldiers, sitting
against sunny walls this morning, looking
as if they wished TO die. They told the
gate keeper that they longed for their homes
and children, and said if they ran away they
would be shot, and if they staid they would
die. In Aintah they had to lie in the streets
with the dogs. l saw that myself when
there last fall.
Forced contributions are being taken by
the government for the Sultan to arm the
Moslems l suppose Over hundred Ar
menians were put into prison two days ago.
We have heard of the fearful prosecutions
in other cities over this blackmail, and now
it is the turn of poor Marash. l will copy
couple of items from letter from Harpoot
1.-Two or three weeks ago Christian Of
ficer was sent to Peri. Last week he was
cut to pieces in his own house in the night
Next day the Protestant pastor and other
leading Christians were imprisoned on the
charge of completely in the murder. They
spent the previous evening with the MUIR
dered man. These men are members of our
relief committee, aud 200 liras Of relief
money has been seized by the government
The Vail has telegraphed that the money
must be had in safe keeping. The murder
ed man was one of the best men on our cen
trail relief committee last winter. He was
native Of Eghin and was the last of six
sons who have been taken from their wild
owed mother in the last few months. One
hanged himself through fear of coming
events, two were killed in the capital and
two in Eghin, one survives"
1.-Two Bibles sent to prisoners in Mezrah
have been seized by the Mutaserif Mudir
and condemned on account of Dan. 1871.
He threatens to collect and burn all books
containing the passage"
The government relief committee have
been giving relief III Mezreh, and simultane-
ously the soldiers have been collecting tax
es. One case is given where the relief com.
mittee were in the house aud the soldiers
at the door to get the money for taxes
His Imperial Majesty's birthday was cele.
bratei here last week with Examinations.
including the Catholics aud French Con-
suls. AS the latter had used such strong
language New Years day we were surprised
There were rockets, and when Miss f. and
L went shopping next day we saw the dec.
orations. They were principally bits OF
rags, white and the sacred color of green
strung across the streets. They looked very
funny, indeed. NJ n