Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-01-10
TURKEY HAS UNIONS.
SOME OF THE GUILDS POSSESS
LARGE REVENUES.
Government Holds oficer Responsip E
for Conduct OF Memb.rs-Saoe makers
pu,ish off .nders Without lnterpos--
tioa of Legal Authorities.


esnafs or guilds found their occupa-
ton gone-or at least considerably III
minished-on the abandonment OF the
ancient oriental splendor OF dress anu
eauipment and the adoption Of west
ern military uniforms and weapons Oh
warfare which have distinguished the
nineteenth century. Trade guilds are
however still very numerous In SOUTH
eastern Europe, and especially in Con-
stantinople, where representatives Oh
all the various crafts and eaiiings prae'
ticed In the empire are to be founu'
each having one or more lonJas-iouses
or clubs-in every quarter OF the CITY
and suburbs. Each esnaf Is presidea
over by several officers called respec-
lively according to their rank, shieKs'
noibs. oustas and kiayas-or presl-
dents. vice presidents, superlhtehuehts
and inspectors-who are annually eiect-
ed by the members from among us
own master craftsmen, and these OF
ficers are recognized by the govern
ment, which holds them responslpie
for the good behavior of their 1elo"
guildsmen.
A few esnafs possess large revenues
or enjoy peculiar privileges gfantea
by various sultans in bygone centuries
In return for services rendered at some
important crisis. Among these are the
shoemakers, who have special officers
til nd IL
offenders belonging to their fraternity
without the interposition of the legal
authorities. This extraordinary PRIV
ilege was, 1t appears, conferred upon
them In the sixteenth century by Su-
LEHMAN H., 1.-The magnificent" ms
sultan on one occasion greatly incensed
with the ever-turbulent janissaries,
who. in sign of revolt, had as usual
overturned their camp kettles, swore
that with the help of the shoemakers
only he would break their rebelilons
spirit. The padishah's words spreau
with lightning-like rapidity through
the streets of the bazaar occupied by
the shops of the Papaooutchdjis, who'
rapidly assembling from every lonJa Ill
the city, presented themselves armed
before the SERIAL, an army of 4o,ooo
men. shouting the Moslem war cry,
"Allah! Allahw The sultan, gratitied
by their loyalty and zeal in his service
received their officers In audience,
made them name their own reward and
granted the four privileges asked for
of which the above named was one.
The apprentices to the various trades
are, when proficient, recommended by
the master under whom they have
served their time to admission to the
guild of their craft, into which they
are formally admitted on engaging 10
observe its rules and paying the Gus
tomary fee 1t Is usual on these oc-
casions for all present to proceed
forthwith to some fayorite spot in the
neighborhood of the city, where the
rest of the day is spent in feasting anu
merry making. Some guilds are com
posed entirely of Moslcms, as certain
calllngs are exclusively in the hands
of the ruling race; others entirely OF
Christians. Many, however, include
adherents of both creeds, and as men,
bers of the same esnaf Christians and
Moslems, allied by an esprit de corps
and by trade interest, pull together
much better and eylnce mutually a
greater liberality of feeling than is
generally displayed In the social rela-
lions Of Greeks and Turks. At their
al fresco festivities, which are also
held annually In honor of the patron
saint of the guild, the greatest har-
mony prevails. The amusements in
dulged In after the conclusion of the
midday repast include a variety of
Juggling and acrobatic performances,
wrestling matches, and for the Greeks
the syrtos horos-the long drawn
classic danee-during the execution of
which their Turkish fellow craftsmen,
seated on rush-bottomed stools in front
of rustic coffee-house, with long
stemmed tchibouks or bubbling mar
ghilehs, passively enjoy their kali.
Every esnaf has its own special ira
ditional laws and usages which are
not less binding than is its Kanoun, or
i written constitution, and the social Gus
toms and mode of life of their meni-
bers afford In many instances curious
and interesting Illustrations of native
manners among laboring classes. OF
these the boatmen may be instanced,
naturally a very numerous body in so
water-glrt city as Constantinople.
The ranks of this esnaf are largely re.
cruted among the youths who come In
great numbers from Asia Minor to seek
their fortune in the capital Half
dozen or more of these bekiars, or
bachelors" as they are termed, live
in common in some humble lodging,
paying fixed sum per day or per
week to an old man who acts as their
steward and cook. and also as their
counselor and arbiter in any disputes
that may arise In such mixed house
hold. Their relations with the mas