The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-05-06
TRADE GUILDS OF TURKEY.
Special Privileges and Usages Thai
Have Come Down from Past
Centuries.


Many once wealthy and important
esnafs or guilds found their occupa.
ton gone-or at least considerably
diminished--on the Abandonment of
the ancient oriental splendor of dress
and equipment and the adoption OF
western military uniforms and weap-
ons of warfare which have distin.
guished the nineteenth century, says
Leisure Hour. Trade guilds are, how
ever, still very numerous in south
eastern Europe, and especially in Con
stantinople, where Representatives Of
all the various crafts and callings
practiced in the empire are to be
found, each having one or more lonjas
lodges or clubs-in every quarter OF
the city and suburbs. Each esnaf is
| presided over by several officers called
respectively, according to their rank,
sheiks, naibs, oustas and kiayas-or
presidents, vice presidents, superin.
! tendents and nspectors-who are an
| nually elected by the members from
among its own master craftsmen, and
\
| government, which holds them re
| .sponsibe for the good behavior of
their fellow guiltsmen.
A few esnafs possess large rev.
| enues or enjoy peculiar privileges
granted by various sultans in bygone
| centuries in return for services rem
| 1ered at some important crisis,
IL I.
Who have special officers empowered
% Judge and punish all offenders be-
| longing to their fraternity without
| .he interposiiion Of the legal authori-
| ties. This extraordinary privilege
vas. it appears, conferred upon them
in the sixteenth century by Suleiman
| IT,, THE Magnificent" The sultan
being on one occasion greatly in
cenSed with the ever-turhulent
.Ianissaries, who, in sign of revolt.
had as usual overturned their camp
kettles, swore that with the help Of
the sboemakers only he would break
their rebellious spirit. The padi-
shah's words spread with lightning
like rapidity through the streets of
the bazaar occupied by the shops of
the Papoutchdiis, who, rapidly assem-
bling from every lonia in the city.
presented themselves armed before
the Scrai, an army Of 10000 men,
shouting the Moslem war cry: al
lah. Allah" The sultan. gratified
by their loyalty and zeal ii his sery-
ice, received their officers in audience.
babe them name their own reward
and granted the four privileges they
asked for, of which the above named
was one. When the news of these
events reached the barracks Of the
JaniSsaries, these insolent troops
were 50 dismaNrd that, in the words
of seventeenth century chronicler.
they were ready to eat not only
their soup, but their very trenchers."
The apprentices to the various
trades are, when proficient, recon-
mendcd by the master under whom
they have served their time to admis-
sion TO the guild of their craft. into
which they are formally admitted on
engaging To observe its rules, and
paying the customary fee. 1t is usual
on these occasions for all present to
proceed forthwith to some favorite
spot in the neighborhood of the city.
where the rest Of the day is spent in
feasting and merrymaking. Some
guilds are composed entirely of Mos
lens, MS certain callings are exclusive
~ in the hands of the ruling race:
others entirely of Christians. MANY.
u
ctecds. and, as members of the same
csnnf Christians aud MosIcms, allied
by an esprit dc corps ana by trade
interests. pull together much hettcr,
and evince mutually greater liberal
itN OF feeling than is generally dis
n'aNcd in the social relations of
Greeks and Turks. At their al fresco
FESTIVITIES. which are also held an
nuallN IN honor of the patron saint
Of The guild. the greatest harmony
prevails. The am,Sements INDUCED
i'll after thc conclusion Of the mid
day repaSt include a variety of Jug
cling and acrobattc performances.
wrestling matches. and for the
''reckS the sNrtoS horos the ''long
drawn classic dance during thr
execution of whi,h their Turkish fcl
low craftsmen, seated on rush bot
toned stool, III front Of rustic cor-
fee house. with long stcmmed tchi-
honks. or buhbIing narghlrhs. pas
>ively enjoy their kaif.
Every esnaf has its own special
traditional laws and usnges which are
not less binding hat is IFS kanoup.
or written constitutions. and the So
clal customs and mode Of life Of their
members afford in many instances
curious aud Interesting Illustrations
Of native manners among the lnbor-
ing classes, OF these the boatmen
may he instanced. naturally a very
numerous body IN so water girt 4
city as Constantihople. I he ranks of
this rsnaf are largely recruited
among he youths who come in great
numbers from Asia Minor 10 Seel,
their fortune in the capital. Half a
dozen or more OF these bekiars, or
"bachclors." as they are termed. live
IN common in some humble lodging.
paying iiNcd sum per day or per
week to an old man who acts MS
their steward and cook, and also as
their counsellor and arbiter in any
disputes that may arise in such a
mixed household. Their relations
with the master boatmen. to whom
they serve long apprenticeship, are
also of quite filial character.
--------
Honest Labor.
Look at those, these, them!" said