The Sunday globe., 1901-06-16

me1ous progeny, he is not considered a
yCluptuary, bat rather the contrary.
OF course, there are "lkbals' and
'Guezdes, but not as many as in form
er refgns, still few of our voluptuous
Department danes, who work their
way with their influence might cap
ture that dreamy eye of the Turk.
1t is worth trying.
"Now, a word regarding his ma
iesty's subjects at large.
Turks have no family names. For
example: A man named Mohammed
has a son named Ahmed and a daugh-
Ter named Sophia. The son will al
ways be known merely as Ahmed and
the daughter always merely as Sophia,
in the latter case even after marriage.
The result is that members OF families
after one or two generations become
lost to each other. In fact, the sisters
and the cousins and the aunts' busl-
ness is not much exploited here. One
may be talking to two brothers or
two sisters without the fact being
made known. There being no family
names or ties, there are no great fam
ilies-no aristocracy. The grand vizier
of to-day may have been canal driver
or a servant. His rise is not due to
any family influence or connection.
"As before stated, the Koran per-
mits a Moslem to have four wives, but
excepting in the case Of the sultan, of
high dignitaries and very rich men,
one wife is the rule. One reason for
this is that pOlygamy, even in Turkey,
is expensive. For each wife separate
apartments must be provided, as well
as special slaves, attendants, eunuchs,
etc. AS to the marriage ceremony,
some say It is entirely a civil, others
a religious ceremony. The manner of
it appears to be that the mother or
other female representative Of the
man. visits various harems to inspect
the marriageable inmates. When she
has found one that she thinks fills the
bill, the fact is reported to the young
man and his father. If they are sat
isfied with the report, the maiden's
family is informed and a betrothal
takes place by the groom that is to be
sending the girl such presents as his
position warrants, and he receives in
return such present as is deemed suit
able A sum of money is then sent to
the brides father by the young mans
father toward paying eXpenses-the
outfit, festivities, etc. Several days ar
terward the marriage takes place,
First however there is a contract
agreed upon by which the man engages
to pay a certain sum to the woman in
the event of divorce or death This
done. the groom declares three times
his desire to wed his Betsy Jane, upon
which the priest goes to the door OF
the harem-behind which Betsy Jane
is listening-and asks If she accepts.
When the affirmative answer is re-
peated three times the contract is sign
ed and the parties are declared mar
ried. They do not, however, see or
hold any communication with each 9TH
er until the wedding festivities are
ncluded-generally lasting a week.
During this peeriod the bride holds
receptions and flummeTies generally
sometimes to the verge of bankrupt
ing the family
when, finally, the bride proceeds to
her new home, she is accompanied by
an immense throng-the women in
carriages, the men on horseback, a
band marching, etc, The groom meets
her at the door and escorts her to the
bower in the bridal chamber-then
vanishes to his own quarters. The
bride then remains on view to her fe-
male friends until the evening, when
the groom, pursued by friends throw
ing shoes and giving him smart blows
upon the back, is ushered into the
bridal chamber by a eunuch, and for
the first time sees his wife unveiled
From all this you will see that Mr..
Ahmed and Miss Sophias marriage Is
Just about as large as Willie Vanderbilt
and Miss Fair-only the Turkish
newspapers are not yet Hp to date in
recording it all.
at not infrequently happens, how
ever, that a father may prefer his son
not to marry a free woman, in which
event a slave girl is purchased from
some great lady's harem. This neces-
states only the payment of the pur-
chase money and frees the young man
Fl ON the possible eXactions of a free
wOman's family Should the slave girl
bear a child, she becomes free and
generally marries the master
"The only males that an unmarried
lady of the harem may receive are her
father, brothers, uncles and nephews.
If married. she may receive her father
husband, husbands father, her sons,
uncles and nephews'
1t wouldn't be at all bad idea for
the danes referred to to send their
photos for inspection to the Turkish
Minister and see what their chances
are for selection as members Of the
harem.