The San Francisco call., 1904-06-19

uEuEnLeT
Ben-Ayad. recently addressed a crowd
ed meeting OF the Vienna Womens
clubs and gave her auditors a glimpse
into the darkest corner Of the Otto
man empire-the hSrem. But it is
what she was not permitted to say
rather than what she said, that con
Germs this article.
Driven cut by too much freedom Of
speech about the Sultan from the
Turkish realm into Western civlliza@
tior. The Princess is devOting herself
TO campaign against the ignorance
ard barbarism prevailing in the do
rrlnlons Of Abdul Hamid. After lee
turing in some Of the principal Euro
% san cities. the Princess has planned
a visit 10 the United States, where she
hopes TO enlist the aid of the progress
sive American woman in behalf of her
ignorant and oppressed Turkish sister
Lecturing in Austria is not the
simple matter that IL is in America
or England. Before a public meeting
can be called in Vienna the permis-
sion of the police must first be OBJ
tanned and the Chief of Police sends a
representative to the meeting, who oc-
cupies a seat on the platform and has
the power 10 close the proceedings
Immediately If anything is said or
done which is likely TO be at all dis
pleasing to the authorities. In the
case Of a prepared lecture copy
must first be submitted to the police
for their approval and censorship
Princess Hairie's lecture appears TO
ing 10 the official mind and when she
received the copy back she found that
considera bic portions of it had been
completely cut out
] have obtained from the Princess
The prohibited parts and they follow
in her own words Why the Vienna
police should have been so sensitive
regarding the feelings Of Abdul Hamid
nd his court is somewhat difficult TO
imagine. but II is easy enough to see
why Turkey is not q safe place for
the Princess. for this suppressed lee
ture is perhaps the most vivid picture
OF the condition of Turkish women
that was ever given from an authori-
tative source. Here is what the Aus
trian police wouldn't let her Highness
saws.
COMPELLED TO BE IGNORANT.
The Islam. in its proper sense, affords TO
the Turkish wife rights and privileges which
rrlrht satisfy the most fsstidious European
But the Government forces the Mussulman
woman 10 pine away under the curse Of utter
ignorance. At school II she goes TO school
~ all. she only mechanically learns TO read
the Koran. The Koran, however. being writ
ter in Arabic. she naturally cannot understand
"a word CT IT, In this way she does not
even get 70 know her own religion-for the
interest n the state ordains that the Mussul-
man woman be made acquainted merely with
her outward form not with her true spirit
For the same reason. first her parents and
later her husband generally forbid the woman
al reading. even the reading Of such news
papers as appear after having passed the cen
sorshp Of the authorities.
7 do not think I take too gloomy a view
when insist that the entire country Of Turkey
D CO rcely possesses 100 educated women and
Of these not one was brought up in q Turkish
school. All had foreign teachers But even
this Goes not suit the Sultan. Three years
ego he published a law prohibiting Turkish
families from engaging foreign tutors or
Fovernesses. Let me give a description Of the
arrangements for a Turkish engagement OF
marriage.
The female relatives Of the young man
wishing TO marry look about for a maiden
for whom q husband is wanted. Once found.
the maiden is brought in clothed in her most
gorgeous attire. and IS bidden 10 seat herself
or chair In the middle OF the room. The
visitors contemplate. bslittle disrobe her with
their piercing glanoes- The man has expressed
a wish for a plump blonde with blue eyes.
This girl however, is brunette thin and has
black eyes What matter II she but finds
favor in the eyes OF these relatives?
one of the visitors-the young mans mother
if she be- present-presses kiss upon the fore
head Of the article and the contract is made
u the girl does not please them they withdraw
without going through even the formality Of
saying. We'll. we shall see. we may call
again"
A TURKISH WEDDING.
When the day Of the wedding has been fixed
an authorized person and two witnesses OF
the suitor 80 70 the residence OF the rnaiden's
parents, where attorney and two witnesses
~ the other party await them. and in the
presence OF the invited guests and relatives
the ceremony takes place.
The chosen one IS placed in a room IN which
besides herself there are generally only her
mother sisters and near relatives The door
IS left a5ar. The man who acts as the attor-
ae Of the maiden then asks her in a loud