New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-14
STREET SCENES IN CONSTITUTIONAL

THE INCREDIBLE BURDENS PUT UPON WOMEN
Dr Robert Barnes, in The Scaipel.
The err of roads and wheels IS preceded nv
the era OF beasts Of burden. These were, and
are i'm some countries, men ana Women-espe.
cia,Iy women-slaves. The extent to which men
end women are used as beasts OF burden may
be taken az measure OF the civilization at
tanned and Of the success In overcoming phys.
cal difficulties. We saw this strikingly proved
by contrasting Constantinople with Athens IN
Coustantinople any amount Of luggage enough
for A camel is piled on the back OF an Albanian
nortpr or "hamal," who trotS away with il
cheerily up the precpitous streets In Athens
half the load would be put upon cart
creek is not a porter: he scorns the mental
trade: but then he makes good roads. which
horse and carriage can work. Tried IN TINS way.
the Turks are not unfavorably contrasted with
some parts Of Italy. -,
Tho heaviest loads are carried up the hills
bounding the Lago Maggiorc by women: they
frequently carry enough to load pacKhorse.
have seen women carrying travellers on their
backs up steep hills women degradeu enough
in other ways, are rarely made TO 90 this in
Turkey Intelligence. energy ana humanity
concur in lessening the load the poor women
have TO bear. Where these qualities are found
roads and wheels soon constructed.
In Constantinople the roads are very bad. 80
wheels are still greatly supplemented by ami
mails The hest way 20 get about the town is on
horseback. The horses are very intelligent and
can take you through narrow, steep rough
streets where no wheel can go. Even the grand
street Of Pera. the main residential quarter. is
IN places 50 narrow that two carriages can
hardly pass. There Is rarely more IMAM one
footDath ana that is frequently broken and the
foot passengers have to seek what refuge they
can in dOOrways. or by iiattenins themselves
against the walls. ii dogs are not IN possession:
and the dogs Of ConStihtlhopie are Jei'ous OF
their rights. J.
From this grand street there divergc at all
sorts OF angles side streets or lanes mat run
down 10 the shore; These are indeScflDabe
,,y,p md 1erq
big holes narrow and intricate winnings. sharp
corners call for stout legs. SOUND Wlni vlgiant
lookout and all the patience the traveller can
commend TO carry him IN safety. and now and
then he must halt to draw breath to recover
from a stumble or to avoid a caiamltous rem
contre for many Of these internal -tnc word. or
something as bad, IL often eXtortel ny painful
wrcnches-way5 carriages go. "Guarfa, guar
dar' from the drivers is the warning answer
to all imprecatlJna.
II is upon the Whole wiser not - swear. No
cursing however loud and deep WI ever induce
the Turk to mend his ways; he IL the most
tyuicaI irnpersOnltiOn Of nOnch3 ance in the
world. his energy Is passive. his strength Is the
Wis inertia Why should he make smooth roads
fcr dogs AMI Giaours? Down many u these
streets the carriages go The hired vehicles
themselves are fair The brougham5 are
far better than the London grower They are
built IN London and Paris. They are worked BY
two horses )ne horse could not drag them up
the hills Tie drivers mostly Greeks. and
are smart enough in extortins excess fares The
easiest way OF circulating is on horseback
Horses with English saddles. stand for hire Ike
our cabs. They are mostly strong ahi'naS' tney
can find room where wheels cannot
Another way Of locOmotion. reminding one OF
historical times at home. Is by the sedan-chair
| tried one Two stout AlbanianS' carried me IN
an easy. swinging. elastic trot, WORKING syn
| enormously with the spring OF the poles In Pill
yate houses one Is kept In the hall. They bear
evidence OF the state OF the streets No DOUBT
our own a hundred years ago were not mucn
4 tat
use II will probably be long before they 90 OUT
OF use in Constantnope. What of cycles! IN
Constantinople they are impossible Blpeas
must tread the ground.