The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-16
TURKISH TRADE COMPANIES.
Privileges and Usages Dating From
Past Centuries

Many once wealthy and important
ESuaIs CT EUiIds found their occupation
goue-or ~ least considerably diminished
on he abandonment Of the ancient ORR
entail Syieud5T OF dress and equipment and
the adoption Of Western military uniforms
and weapons Of warfare which nave DIS
tiugulshed the nineteenth century. Trade
guilds are however still very numerous IN
Southeastern Europe. and especially IN
CUnStauIinCpie where. representatives Of
all the various crafts and caLngs prae-
JIceG in The Empire are TO be found, each
having one or more lOnJaS-ioHSes or CLUBS
in every quarter Of the city ana suburbs.
Each Esnat Is presided over by several
officers called respectively. according 70
thes rank. SheikS- N&lbS- OuSt2s- and
htaydS- presidents, vice presidents, su-
permit ezIs!eHts, and inSpectors-Wno are
annually elected by the members from
among JtS own craftsmen. and these OIL
GERS are recognized by the Government,
which holds them responsible for the good
behavior of their fel3gW-su lGSmeH-
\ few Esn&fS possess large revenues OF
ENJOY peculiar privileges granted by Narl-
Gus SIitanS in DygOHe centuries IN return
for services rendered at some important
crisis Among these are the shOemakerS-
who have special officers empowered to
judge and punish all offenders belonging TO
their fraternity without the interpOsitiOH
of the legal authorities. This eXtraordl-
nary privilege was. IL appears conferred
upon them in the sixteenth century by
Suleiman II. The Magnificent. This
Sultan being on one occasion greatly IN
ceused with the GveT-turbulent JaniSSa-
TlgS. y no. In sign Of revolt had usual
+ overturned their camp kettles SWoTe 1bat
with tie help Of the ShOemakerS only he
would break their rChr-llUgS spirit The
PaGishahS words spTezd with lightning
Xix. rapidIJy through the streets of the
bazaar occupied by the shops gf the Pap
outchdjis. who. rapidly assembling from
every ICuja IL the city presented Jhsn-
selves armed before the SeTal- an army of
forty thousand men. shouting the NoSleTn
Var CRY Allah Allah The sultan
Eratitied by their loyalty aad zeal in his
service received their officers in audience
baa- them name their own reward. and
granted the four privileges they asked
for OF which the aB.Ve named was one
= heU In" news Of these events reached
the barracks Of the Jauissa rieS- these in
SGicHt troops We're so dismayed that in
the words of a seventeenth century Chrou-
. lcisr- they we're ready TO eat not only
their soup, but their very treUCnsTS.
The apprentices to tn various trades
are when proficient rec rlnendeE by the
master under whom they have served
their time 10 admission 10 The guild 90
their craft, into which they are formally
admitted on engaging TO observe It's rules.
and paying the customary fee. 1t is
usual on these occasions for all present
10 proceed fOrI hwitl t. some favOritg
spot IN the neignbOrhpaf Of the city
where the rest Of thA day is spent IN
Teasing and meTryznaking. Some guilds
are composed entirely of MOSiemS. as Ger
tain CaifilES are exclusively in the hands
of the ruling race. others entirely Of
Christians Many however. include ad-
1T iFlfL- ti DUH GEttfS- anu rs uliJtTS
OF the same Esnaf, Christians. 5Sad Mos
lens allied by an esprit de CORPS and hy
trade interests. pull together much bet
ter, and eyiuce mutually a greater Ifbrr-
atty Of feeling Than IS generally display
ed IN the social relations of Greeks and
TURKS At their Al frcsc0 festivities
which are also held annually in honor Of
the patron saint Of the guild. the great
est harmony prevails. The amusenentS
INDUCED in after the conclusion of the
midday reoast include n variety Of Jug
Cling and acrObatiC performances. wrest-
sErtoS toroS-the long drawn classic
dance during the execution of which
their Turkish feIlOw-Cra ftsTnen. seated on
rush bGttOmed stools in front Of 4 rust IT,
coffee house. with long-Stemmed fcbi-
( bnulls- or Dubbling narghllehs passiveIv
enjoy their kali
Every Esnaf has its own special tr1di-
tipDai laws and uSageS which n. not less
binding than IS its kanOun. or written
constitutions and the social customs and
mode Of life Of their members aITcrd in
many instances curious and interesting
Illustrations OF native manners among the
laDoTlBS classes. OF these the JratrTeu
may be instanced. naturally very fu-
nGerous body ia 20 water jsirt 4 civ AZ
CoHStaHtinOplo- The ranks e this FsnaP
are largely recruited among Iu- yCEfhs
VINO come in great numbers from 3 sIa
Minor to seek their fortune III he caLI-
tai Half q dozen or more of the ir-1z,ars
OF bachelors, IS they al" .TWsd live
III common IL some humble lodging Tav-
ing q fixed sum .-cT Law or per week 10
an old man UbO acts aS their St=Sa- d
and cook. and also IS their counselor and
such a mixed household. Thei~ relations
with the master boa tmen. To whom thev
serve a long apprenticeship. are ais. Of
quite fiiaI character