New-York tribune., 1903-05-08
n RIDE IN M4CEDONIA.
Notes by an 4dDenturoas Core
spOndent Among the Turks.
Uskuh. Macedonia. A

est did not attend, because the district
through which it would be necessary to
pass, to put it mildly, was dangerous
telegram was sent, however: Greetings in the
name of the Lord Four days after the DIS
patch was filed an armed Turk raped authori-
tatively at the door of the American school He
wanted to see Dr. Bond the head of the mis-
sonary movement. In few minutes he had
an audience. Who is this Lord?' the Turk
asked under his breath, holding a tight clutch
the telegram lest il should be snatched from
him by the guilty man to remove the trace OF
his crime
DR.. Bond explained the matter; but the Turk
with characteristic suspicion, would not depart
until he had cross questioned the missionary.
Was that Lord Russian who had got 1Pto
the country incognito? DR.. Bond assured him
that the Lord was not Russian, but was born
in what had subsequently become part of the
SuItan's empire. The Turk persisted in in
quiries Was not the Lord an Austrian or an
Englishman, or a Frenchman?
The Turk is nothing if not polite The visitor
apologized a dozen times, bowed graciously ana
held the mssionarys hand for ten minutes.
Then he joined his escort who had guarded the
door to prevent an attempt to escape and rode
away. The American missionaries witness daily
such scenes and absurdites, and are exposed
TO indignities a hundred times DR. Bond
the day dull without experience of the
kind. The day after this adventure the same
Turk returned. He had communicated to his
Vail, the governor who could not believe his
explanation, so he had come back TO get it
in writing from the missionary. That ended
the case, but even at that late date the tele-
gram did not go. and the money, which had been
paid in advance, was not refunded
You cannot believe that the Turk is the i'm
possible creature that he is until you have
struggled with him in Macedonia. The official
Turk is a suave person who offers you cigar
cites and coffee the minute you enter his pres
ence who fatters you till you blush, and speaks
not one word of truth during the whole inter
view. If the truth is all in his favor, he VIII
exaggerate it to such extent that 1t is
stamped lie. If the truth is against him, well,
of course he lies. From Constantinople to U.s.
kub l interviewed whose positions com
pare with those of John Hay, Eiihu Root and
other leaders in Washington, and not one of
them told me an honest story. had been pre-
vented in one case from visiting the scene of
some fearful atrocities and from questioning
eyewitnesses. This was after / had the word
of the Minister of the Interior at Constantinopie
that / would be allowed to go wherever
pleased and see whatever liked l entered the
Office of the governor of the district to protest.
| began to tell the Pacha where / had been.
He held up his hand to stop me, and named
every village in consecutive order that L had
visited since crossing the border. 1 knew that
the system OF espionage in Turkey was some
/ thing wonderful; aware that my footsteps
had been logged from the time 1 entered the
country; but 1 had idea that man of his
position would be interested1h, or have the
time to learn by heart, every little movement of
mine This Turk had been educated in Europe
and had sense enough to know that it was riaic-
ulous to lie to a who knew the truth: but
he was no better than the rest when he thought
you did not know.
why" 1 asked, was 1 prevented from going
any further into the country"
Because the 'committajes' (revolutonlsts)
are numerous in the district, and go about in
the daytime as ordinary peasants. You cannot
tell which is which, and the oommittajes have
threatened to shoot citizens of other nations.
There were no atrocities to hide from me?'
"Of course not
1T was simply for my safety that 1 was
stopped?"
Nothing else"
WHY then when an escort of twenty men
had taken me into the town at which l was
once told 1 could go further, simply for my
protection as you say. 1 allowed to retrace
my steps TO the railway line and come all the
here WlthOut d
He reflected a moment and then said he would
wire the Kaimokam of the village and take him
70 task for such negligence. He added that II
was a wonder had not been shot. know that
the guard was sent with me not so much TO
protect me as to keep from going around
the town and finding my way to the scene Of
the burned villages. When I started back
was followed just out of sight by half dozen
horsemen, whose duty it was to see that L
should not turn out Of my road. Had not as
covered this 1 should have changed my route;
but of course the Pacha did not know L knew
IT. and he in turn, could not let me know IT.
I had read and heard Of the Turks dupllcity,
but had no adequate idea of it until 1 suffered
from it.
A Turk considers a Christian soulless Great
ure or one with a soul already condemned. His
name for Christian is Swine" 1t is a pity 1t is
not dog" for any man who kills dog IN
Turkey goes TO the penitentiary. Tne TURK
does not consider dog a sacred animal out
he reasons that he is of the Almighty
creatures and should be allowed to live Ihis
demonstrates the inconsistency of the Tnrk.
Whatever they do to make life miserable for an
..unbeliever' or an "infide' to aid in his
determination is good work for Allah. This
is taught TO the children OF rieh ana poor peloie
they reach the age of ten.
Education association, later studies are
powerless after that seed has been implanted
by an ignorant fanatic of slave mother or a
real wife just as ignorant and fanatic. to eradl-
cate the conviction in the mind Of Turk that
the Christian is d thing despised by MS Maker
Fear is the only thing that will compei MIN
to respect the Christians existence LII is rear
now that is forcing the Sultans offickais 10 at
tempt reforms in Macedonia.
The dogs in Constantinopie are the scaVen-
oars The moment the refuse is thrown into