Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-10-21
TURKEYS ELDERLY WOMEN.
Are Regarded with Great Respect
and Their Main Business Ii
Match making.

No one who has lived in Turkey and
had an opportunity to acquaint himself
with the domestic life of the people
could fail to recognize the important
part which women play in Turkish so
ciety, says a 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 "clt
woman" who, unless she is incapaci.
tated by age or sickness, leads life o.
great activity and usefulness. YOUNG
women look upon her with great respec'
as an experienced adviser, and men ar,
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 heI
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 CO. and
they negotiate all the preliminaries OF
marriage. The bride hunter for man
relative is called geurudje Zone who in
spects). When she visits house where
there are manageable girls she imme.
diately 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
full moon and the match maker puts
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
eff 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 girl's
parents in writing. This petition is
usually accompanied by a 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,
If 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 a 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 matter of a 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 f1ocks 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. 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 a
noisy manner. The bride, yelled In pink
gahze 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 a dais, he retires. Then follows
a 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 It 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 "Kismeti"-It was written.