The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-22
TURKEYS ELDERLY WOMEN.
Are Regarded with Great Respect
and Their Main Business Is
Match WaLing.

No one who has lived in Turkey and
had an opportunity to acquaint himself
| with the domestic life of the peopJe
could fail to recognize the important
part which women play in Turkish So
clety, says traveller who has Just re-
turned from the land of the sublime
porte, according to the New York Trib-
une.
Especially is this true of the "old
woman, who, unless she is incapaci-
tated by age on sickness, leads a life of
great activity and usefulness. Young
women look upon her with great respect
as an experienced adviser. and men are
AFRAID OF her tongue. Gray hairs. how
ever, are regarded as a crown of honor.
and to Turk his mother is his truest
friend; he pets her tenderly, goes to her
for counsel in all his difficulties. and re-
lies upon her to watch for opportuni-
ties to advance his worldly affairs when
out 'gossiping."
But the main business Of the old wom-
en- OF Turkey is match making: they
talk OF weddings wherever they go, and
they negotiate all the preliminaries Of
marriage. The bride hunter for a man
relative is called a geurudje Zone who in
spects). When she visits house where
there are manageable girls she imme-
dlately announces her mission. and while
the maidens are being made ready she is
served with coffee. Then come various
civilities, such as Your daughter is like
a full moon" and the match maker puts
a series of questions to the mother. who
thereupon proceeds to descant on her
daughters eyes. plumpness and accom-
plishments. The visit ends with the as
surance on the part of both women that
If fate so wills it, they will be happy
to arrange a marriage
The match maker reports to her son
about the lovely angel" and the next
step is to ask the consent of the girls
parents in writing. This petition is
usually accompanied by gift of fruit
and flowers, and then day is appointed
when the lover is to ride by the young
woman's house and be examined by her
through the window grating. The re-
suit OF this inspection is reported by the
parents. and if it is favorable the lover,
il wealthy, makes a gift to the girl of
about $1,000; this counts as the brides
first installment of pin money A few
days later formal betrothal takes place
at the home of the bride-elect in the
presence of priest. In the interval be-
tween betrothal and marriage the lover
is not allowed to see the girl of his (moth-
er's) choice. but he is not forbidden to
send presents to her. However, this in
terval is a matter of few days only.
On the day of the marriage the house
and grounds of the brides parents are
! thrown open to the public and a mob
of both sexes fiocks to the garden to see
the bridegroom appear in his best on
horseback. = To appease the populace
and to assure the people that he is not
stingy, a number of porters precede him,
scattering fruit and small coin among
the crowd. Alighting at the door of the
house the bridegroom at once ascends
the staircase between two rows of friends
of the families of the contracting par
ties. who proclaim their blessings in
uOlSy llldlltl. ut Ntllbu Ill pluh
gauze and attended by two duennas, is
at the top of the staircase. To her the
bridegroom makes a low bow and then
takes her by the hand and conducts her
to a salon, when, having installed her
under dais, he retires. Then follows
procession of the friends. neighbors
and beggars before the bride, who has
meanwhile lifted her veil.
After this ceremony the imam is heard
calling the faithful to evening prayer
in the gardens, and as the guests respond
to the summons the bridegroom escapes
to the harem, where he at last is per-
mitted to see his brides face 1t is an
anxious moment, for the bridegroom is
not sure till then whether the bride is
plain or pretty If he is satisfied it is
said that ''the stars of the pair have
met" If he is disappointed he simply
says "Kismet! 1t was written.