Evening star., 1902-01-03
JEWELLERS IN BOSNIA
CHRISTIANS AND TURKS WEAR TUR.
BANS AND zoUAvE TROUSERS.
The European Costume Being Adopted
by the Progressive Glasses
of the People.

VIM E. Curtis In the. Chicago Record Herald.
Strangers find great difficulty in distin-
gushing between the Christians and the
Turks in Bosnia, for both wear turbans,
embroidered waistcoast, loose open Jackets.
zouave trousers gathered at the knee. and
heelless shoes with toes that turn up like
the arms Of a crescent, the same that you
see In the windows Of shops that sell Turk
ish goods at home. The ordinary European
costume is rapidly being adopted by those
who wish to be considered up-to-date. The
rich families of the middle class buy all
their clothing at Vienna or Budapest, and
1t Is difficult to distinguish them from the
Austrians. Nevertheless there are little
signs by which those familiar with the
country can always tell whether a man he
meets upon the street Is a Mohammedan or
Christian. The peasants adhere more te-
naciously to the ancient customs. and by
going into the country one can get a much
better idea Of what Bosnia used to be than
In the cities, although the latter are still
picturesque and interesting.
In Turkish times Christians were COM
PEELED to wear a certain costume Of dark
colors to denote their servile condition. and
1t was as much as life was worth for any
one to wear green, the color OF the prophet.
The Turks considered 1t sacrilege, and the
penalty for violating this unwritten law
was so terrible that it was seldom broken.
NOW, however, any man or woman, Chris
tian or Turk, is allowed to wear anything
that pieases the taste and fancy. and YOU
see mixed costumes as often as any, the
fez, which was formerly the distinguishing
badge Of the Mohammedans, being fire.
quentiy worn by Christians and Jews.
Women Becoming Free.
Z. The same change has been going on
among the women. Formerly they were re-
stricted to the harems, as in Turkey, but
now they may be seen In the streets and
bazaars, and even in the fields, where be-
fore the Austrian occupation it was I'M
possible for them to appear, because Of the
danger of insult from any passing Turk.
They never ventured far from their homes
and the protection Of their husbands and
neighbors. It has never been customary
for Turkish women to work in the fields
like the Germ ans and Austrians; but this is
all changed, l throughout Bosnia these
days their brI. = costumes illuminate the
landscape In every direction. They work
size by side with men, as in Hungary.
Nowadays. also, many Mohammedan hus-
bands in Bosnia allow their wives and
daughters to be treated by Christian doc-
tors when they are Ill, Notwithstanding the
superstition that 1t is contrary to the will
of Allah. Enlightened Mohammedans who
have observed the advantages Of the So
eia., agricultural and administrative re.
forms introduced into Bosnia, and have re-
fected thoughtfully upon them, are grad
ually yielding to their better Judgment, and,
while they will never yield In their attach
ment to the old faith, are adopting the
customs and habits Of the western world.
The lives of women are thus becoming
enlarged. They are being released from the
degraded position which they occupy In all
Mohammedan countries. They tell me here
that the popular impression that the Mo-
hammedan religion denies souls and immor-
talitV a
teaches the reverse, and admits them to the
hope Of Paradise; and it is custom rather
than religious injunction that prohibits
them from entering mosques at the same
time with men. Certain hours are allotted
women for prayer In most Of the mosques,
but some of them they are not allowed to
enter.
The Turk Sometimes Good.
The Turk is not altogether terrible. He
has many admirable traits. There is much
to be admired in his religion and in the
spirit with which he observes the injunc-
tions of the Prophet. The Mohammedans
are curious contradiction Although it Is
asserted that ninety out Of every 100
cases In the Turkish courts are settled by
bribery, and the official class is absolutely
untrustwortny, yet 1 am informed by those
who have had long experience that the
word and still more the oath, of Moham-
medan may be accepted implicitly wherever
1t affects members of his own faith. Their
religion teaches that those who are guilty
OF falsehoOd shall have no part in the next
life. In Egypt and in other countries the
rule is the same as in Bosnia, that when
suit is being tried between two Moslems the
defendant, If he has justice on his side, will
insist that the plaintiff be compelled to tes-
tify, feeling confident that he will tell the
exact truth, If properly questioned. and ad-
init that he Is wrong Thus 1t is not be-
cause of religion. but In spite OF it. that
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