Evening star., 1902-01-03
LIFE OF TURKISH WOMEN
VARIOUS TYPES OF BEAUTY AND
CHARACTER IN THE HAREM.
The Wife Does Not Set at Table with
the acknowledgements
Matters.

THE fact that all Turkish women must
dress alike in the streets gives rise to the
impression of a sameness of character
that does not in the least exist among
them says Mary Mills Patrick, president
of the American College for Girls in Con-
stantinople. "A superficial observer who
meets these veiled figures in public places.
shrouded in a mysterious costume that
suggests great possibilities of beauty be-
hind IT. may wonder indefinitely what kind
of life these figures really lead. without
any clue to the solution of the problem.
Yet life in Turkish society is as real and
varied as in America, and often far more
dramatic
There are decided types among Turkish
women. There is the butterfly who lives
for pleasure: the domestic woman. and
even the strong minded woman. and. in
addition to these, class exists not found
in America. the women who belong to
court society.
THE butterfly is often a Christian wo-
man. and was perhaps brought to Con-
stantinople to be sold to the highest bid
der. and throughout all her childhood was
taught to look forward to a possible life
at the capital, to be made gay and bright,
with plenty of money and Irritation and
social success. She has, perhaps, the bright
blue eyes and golden hair that are so rare
among the Turks to give her the place of
eminence that she desires Because of her
beauty her husband showers her with pres
ents and fills her life with pleasure Her
eyelashes and eyebrows are painted, but
not very noticeably, and diamonds and
other beautiful stones flash from her hands.
her wrists, her neck and her hair The
dress which she wears under her street
robe is from Paris, and her shoes are low.
even in winter, with pointed toes and very
high heels.
Not Much Housekeeping.
great contrast to the brilliant creature that
we have just described. She is rather large
and stolid looking, careless as to her dress
and of a simple and amiable character.
She has a very easy life compared with
that of her American sisters. There is not
much housekeeping in Turkish house and
what there is is done by slaves and serv-
ants. who consider themselves perma nent
members Of the family and realize what is
expected of them. Rooms furnished with
rugs and divans are comparatively easy to
keep I'm order. There is a chef in the ktch-
en-, who sends his best efforts to the dining
room in the mems apartments. place sell
dom visited by the women of the house
hold. Their own simple food is served to
them at irregular intervals, when they feel
hungry. There is perhaps a French gov
erness to teach the children, who does not
like the irregular life of the harem, and an
exception is made in her favor, and she
dimes at the masters table, where the food
Is served more to her taste. Her apart
ments are. however. in the side of the
house belonging to the women, which is en-
tirely separate from the other half of the
establishment.
'The domestic Turkish woman does no.
look after the house particularly. nor have
much care of the children. When things
go wrong she Is not held responsible, but
the lord of the household calls up the serv-
ant or slave In charge of that department
OF work and threatens him with unknown
evils If he does not mend his ways. The
lady Of the house does not necessarily
know how to sew or even to read and write,
although that degree of ignorance is now
quite rare in large cities. She spends her
time in smoking, drinking coffee and over
looking the nurses who have the care Of the
children.
Educated MahOmetan Women.
"Let us now turn to that product of mod
ern progress, the educated Mahometan wo-
man. She may be found here and there.
perhaps in the harems Of princes, or of
pashas, or even sometimes in the middle
classes of society, although she is not
commonly found anywhere as yet She
reads English, French and German readily.
with a good pronunciation, having the apti-
tude for languages usually found with
Turkish women. She knows all about
American life. She knows that there are
four states in America where women vote
and often wonders when there will be any
voting in Turkey, either for men wo-
men. She reads the. daily papers and has
decided opinions In regard to all political
affairs. The advanced Moslem woman has
a private room, instead of living in the
rooms with the other women, and In this
room are found some unusual articles for
a Turkish house, namely, a writing desk.
some bookshelves, upon which stand many
of the new books of the day. and on the
wall hang some really fine engravings.
"One Mahometan woman has even pub
iished several books herself, and is at pres
ent writing series of articles for one of
the daily papers, which are of so progress
sive a nature that the censor Of the press
has Obliged her to cut out about half of
what she has written. She longs to travel,
but that is not yet allowed to a Turkish
woman, at least beyond the bounds of her
own land. She has been to Egypt and
Syria. but that does not satisfy her, and
she even dreams of going to Paris ana Ber-
lin to work in the libraries there. She
scorns the frivolities of ordinary society
and contemplates forming club where
kindred spirits may discuss congenial sub
jects, but that has not yet been possible
Her influence in the press is already felt
and one may foresee that she will form one
of the elements in the forces that are rapid
ly changing the conditions of Turkish life
'Harem life at court is much more COM
plicated than elsewhere, for everything
there depends on the will OF his imperial
majesty, the sovereign of the land.