The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-26
a TURKS MUSTACHE SACRED.
Great Indignity Inflicted on Stu
dent at Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA Jan. 25.-For a dozen
or more students to jump on one Of their
number and shave his mustache because
he is foreigner evidently is conceived to
oe feat OF great cleverness and surpass
ing humor by the undergraduates of the
Medico-C
This is the treatment which was ac-
corded yesterday to John Loutfian,
Turkish student, at the college in this
city. The foreigner, because of his igno-
rance of our language and customs re-
ceives little more courtesy than the
average individual at the hands of fair
minded and welI-bred persons.
Loutfien said today: Ever since have
been studying here a dozen of the men
have lost no opportunity to insult me be-
cause of my nationality and my religion
believe in the Koran, they believe In the
Bible, and who is TO say which is right?
II submitted TO their jokes and hazing
because | thought they were meant good
natgredly and though l am unusually
strong. / have never lifted a finger TO
harm the smallest fellow in the college.
They took off my trousers, which was
thought humorous proceeding. They sent
me insulting notes and pictures. l over
looked all this because | had four years
to stay and l wished to get through as
amicably as possible.
II have tried to be always courteous and
obliging. as they must acknowledge.
They sent me note, telling me | must
shave off my mustache. For the first time
I went TO the dean, and said: While the
shaving off of the mustache is a trivial
matter to Americans and means nothing
in MY country it is a disgrace, brand
of infamy 1t is question OF religion with
me. If the threats of the students are
carried out I shall appeal to my consul
and bring suit for redress If necessary
In spite of my protest l was blind
folded after class yesterday, ald over
powered. My mustache was shaved and
my face washed with an offensive solu-
ton. Today | am badly bruised from the
treatment could have whipped two or
three of them, but not the number that
jumped on me.
Il rave informed DR. Shoemaker and he
will bring the affair up at the next faculty
meeting If nothing is done I shall bring
suit against these students.
THE dean had told them that It was
not the mustache in itself which / objected
to losing. but because 1t meant breaking
one of the commandments of my religion
which was as much to me as their re-
ligion to them. In spite of this knowledge,
they persisted, and swore and cursed me
as they haZed me.
at is such q disgrace for a Turk to be
without a mustache that l can go nowhere
among my Turkish friends now. / cannot
even go to see my sister. Americans can
not understand this, but it is So a for
eigner like me is under a disadvantage
here that no one can comprehend until he
has been through IT, The language is diff
ficult he has no friends and no influence
What would the American people say II
crowd of Turks supposedly belonging to
the educated and respectable class. should
take one OF their missionaries aud shave
his head. cursing him the meanwhile. and
call it all joke?'
It is possible that the affair may lead
to the demand for an investigation of col
lege hazing by the Turkish Minister.
When Loutflan was allowed to get up he
shouted that he had been disgraced, that
his mustache was worth ten dollars
hair. and that he had been disgraced by
being shaved by an infidel. One of his
tormentors made out a bill, Zone mus
tache five hairs on one side, six on the
other-eleven hairs, at $40 each, s110,"
and gave it to the Turk. telling him 10
present 1t to Uncle Sam for collection.
This enraged Loutian and he went to
the dean and then to the superintendent
of police. lodging complaint with each.
Later he announced that he would ac-
quaint the Turkish Minister with the facts
and ask that the hazers be punished for
the indignities to which he had been sub
iected.
Or. John " Shoemaker, president of the
college. said today that If the students
who had taken part in the affair were
caught they would be severely punished.
as the college had large number Of
students from foreign countries, and for
the good of the college, if nothing else,
they you'd be protected.