The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-15
PRINCESS HAIRIE TELLS
STRANGE STORIES ABOUT
THE SULTAN OF TURKEY
Revelations of Turkish Lif9Which
Were Suppressed by the Aus
trian Authorities.
SECRETS OF THE H,AREM-
Abdul Hamid Schemer A. Love
Affairs as Well as in Ruro-
pean Politics.
SOMETIMES OUTW'TTED
Not All Women of Hisl Choice
Have Accepted His Msjes-
tvs Attentions. !
SECRETS OF THE H,AREM
SOMETIMES OUTW'TTEr

naiad. born Turkish princess, daughter or
Mahmoud Pasha Ben-Ayad. recently ad-
dressed a crowded meeting Of the Vienna
women's clubs and gave her auditors a
glimpse into the darkest corner Of the OF
toman Empire the harem. But il is what
she was not permitted TO say rather than
what she said that concerns this article.
Driven out-by too much freedom OF
speech about the Sultan-from the seclu-
sion of the Turkish realm into Western
civilization. the princess is devoting herself
to a campaign against the ignorance and
barbarism prevailing in the dOminions 81
Abdul Hamid. After lecturing in some OF
the principal European cities. the princess
has planned a visit to the United States,
where she hopes to enlist the aid OF the
progressive American women on behalf OF
her ignorant and oppressed Turkish sisters.
Lecturing in Austria is not the simple
matter that IL is in America or England
Before a public meeting can Toe called in
Vienna the permission OF the police must
first be obtained. and the chief OF police
sends representative TO the meeting. who
occupies a scat, on the platform. and has
the power to close the proceedings immedi-
ately if anything is said or done which is
thorities. In the case of a prepared lecture
copy must first be submitted TO the po-
lice for their approval and censorship. Prin-
cess Hairie's lecture appears to have con-
tanned many things displeasing to the OFF,
cial mind, and when she received the copy
back she found that considerable portions
of it had been completely cut out
Your correspondent obtained from the
princess the prohibited parts, and they fol-
low in her own words. Why the Vienna po-
lice should have been so sensitive regarding
the feelings of Abdul Hamid and his court
is somewhat difficult TO imagine; nut 1t is
easy enough TO see why Turkey Is not a
safe place for the princess. for this sup
pressed lecture shows, perhaps. the most
vivid picture OF the condition of Turkish
thoritative source.
Here is what the Austrian police wouldn't
let her highness say:
The Islam, in its proper sense. affords
to the Turkish wife rights and privileges
which might satisfy the most fastidious
European But the government forces tbs
Mussulman woman TO pine away under tho
curse of utter ignorance. At school. IL she
goes to school at all, she only mechanically
learns to read the Koran. The Koran, how
ever, being written in Arabic, she natur-
ally cannot understand a word OF IL. In
this way she does not even get 10 know her
own religion-for the interest of the state
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 all readng-even the reading OF
such newspapers appear after having
passed the censorship of the authorities.
II do not think take too gloomy view
when / insist that the entire country OF
Turkey scarcely possesses one hundred
educated women. And of these, not one was
brought Up in a Turkish school All had
foreign teachers ~
suit the Sultan. Three years ago he pub
lshed a law prohibiting Turkish families
from engaging foreign tutors or govern
Let me give a description of the ar
rangements for Turkish engagement OF
marriage.
1.-The female relatives Of the young man
wishing TO marry look about for maiden
for whom husband is wanted. once found.
the maiden is brought in clothed in her
most gorgeous attire and is hidden 10 seat
herself on a chair in the middle OF the
room. The visitors contemplate. belittle,
dsrobe her with their piercing glances.
The man has expressed wish for a plump
blonde with blue eyes This girl. however.
is brunette. is thin and has black eyes.
What matter If she finds favor in the eyes
of these relatives?
lone of the visitors-the young mans
mother. If she is present-presses a kiss
contract is made. II the girl does not please
them they withdraw without going through
even the formality of saying: Well, We
sndll see we may call again.
A TURKISH WEDDING.
when the day of the wedding has bee n
fixed an authorized person and two W.T.
nesses of the sutton go TO the residence Of
the maidens parents. where an attorney
and two witnesses OF the other party await
them, and in the presence of the invited
guests and relatives the ceremony takes
place.
ss~~r--
which. besides herself there are generally
only her mother, sisters and near relatives
The door is left ajar. The man who acts al
the attorney Of the maiden then asks her
in a loud voice. from the next room wheth-
or he is authorized by her 10 contract the
marriage. 1t often happens that the girl
gives no answer Three times her repre-
sentative repeats his question. and III the
martyr remains obdurately silent her moth
some relative. by punching her. cuff
ing her and dragging her by the hair. try
TO force her TO answer. IL she still resiets
one of the women often Initiates her voice
ard answers for her Yes After this doubt
full yes the marriage contract is finally
settled. The husband does not consider HIM
self the companion. friend - protector Il
his wife. Has he not the right. If so (
pleases him, TO put her out OF doors the
morning after the wedding
1T Is not seldom that girl OF fourteen
Is sacrificed TO man OF seventy. For this.
however. she has one compensation. She Is
n
women. Goaded on to despair, some women
try TO intimidate their husbands by every
means within their reach. particularly when
they are more clever than the men. When
Mavroyeni Pasha.. former body physician
10 Abdul Hamd, wished 20 leave his wife
she acquainted the Sultan with the fact
that his physician and confidant possessed
notes 20 which he daily added observations
made concerning his Majesty's sickness
There was a searching of the house by the
magistrates, the papers were seized and
the physician himself. after thirty years OF
faithful service. fell into disgrace.
The wife OF another OF the Sultan's ply
sicians. Emin Pasha. who was suspected by
his wife OF infdelity. notified the Sultan
that her husband was involved in a con-
spracy against the life OF the Padishah.
Emin Pasha was sent into exile. and TO this
very day his whereabouts are unknown
THE SULTAN'S ONE WIFE
According TO law. slavery no longer ex-
lists in Turkey. but. in reality. II hourishes
there as much as IL ever did. without any
authority daring TO irterpose. And that il
not so surprising II one considers that the
| Sultan's palaces are settlements OF slaves
| The Sultan's wives are all slaves-all. with
! the exception OF one legitimate wife. . wiz