The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-05-01
RECONSTRUCTION OF TURKEY.
4 Returned Missionary's Opinion of
the Ottoman Empire.

Mrs. Baird. wife Of the Rev. ]. ". Baird.
missionary for the past twenty-five
years in Turkey. is spending q few days
with her college classmate. Mrs. j. ID.
Croissant, sci North Carolina Avenue
southeast. Mrs. Baird has spent most OF
her life in the land OF the Turk, having
been a missionary there before marrying.
She is a keen observer and fluent talker.
and her long experience with the races
that inhabit this ancient country make
her narratives very interesting.
Mrs Baird said to Times reporter last
night that it was not such glorious thing
to be an American in a foreign country.
II you are wronged or misused. it is like
appealing to the Sphynx to ask the Ameri-
can representative for protection What
the American Government should do she
remarked earnestly, lis to send few men
Of war into foreign waters, and make their
visits frequent. These vessels have very
salutary effect on the natives and induce
more respect than all the argument and
protests hat can be made.
Turkey today is waiting for something
to happen" said Mrs. Baird in speaking
OF the country from a political point OF
view. They have taken out new lease
Of life, and have an idea that they have
conquered all Europe since this last war.
the hostilities with Greece. and said It
was the hope of many people that some
thing would be done to free the country
from the domination OF the Turk IL was
amusing to see the interest that IS now
being taken in Macedonia by the diHerent
European Governments. and the various
politfcaI propagandas that are being en-
forced there by them. Bulgaria Is spend
ing a great deal OF money there for school
purposes to ingratiate herself in the hearts
of the people anent the division OF the
country Greece, Roumania, Servia- AIDA
MIA. and Bulgaria are also interesting
themselves in the political welfare OF the
country and each is assuming remarkable
degree of responsibility and power
English or German supremacy Would De
hailed with delight by the masses OF the
neople according to Mrs. Baird. while that
Of Russia would be regarded as tyrannlcai
In the present chaotic state OF anaiTs tax
alton and governmental rules are made
very oppressive. The farmer. Tor IN
stance is required to pay one-tenth OF his
crop to the Government fhis ttne Is
required before the crop can be marketeu-
There is no way in which it can be taken
ont except by the taxgatherer, and that i'll
dividuai takes his time in coming arouhd-
This makes IL necessary for the farmers
to fee the taxgatherer. and by the time
his crop is marketed his own portion sell
dom ever amounts to more than three-
tsnths of the whole.
The country is wild and dangerous the
farmers have TO live in villages 1or their
own protection from robbers. This makes
another hardship as il is necessary Tor
then, to take long journeys every morning
and evening to reach their land and then
return again.
The life of the mechanic In the villages
and cities is also arduous- Seventeen
hours work is often done. The work
begins several hours before sunrise IN the
morning and Is completed at SHUTDOWN
There is never anything going on In the
evening. The only social function that
is allowed after dark is wedding Tne
houses are usually destitute OF furniture.
There are no beds, the custom being TO
sleep on the floor on mats. which are taken
up in the daytime. Very few houses nave
chairs. and the table is circular affair
about a foot high. This is taken up and
hung behind the door when not in use.
There is generally but one meal a day
when the whole family is gathered to-
getber This is an hour and half after
sunset.
Mrs. Baird says the life of the mission
ary In Turkey has very little in it except
work. The Greek Church holds domina-
| ton. and it seems TO be considered that
man who becomes a Protestant has also
| given up his patriotism. The young men
| of the country, since the war. are fast
degenerating morally, and consider their
| liberty license.