New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-19
TURKISH LIFE.
Some Pleasant Skctches Of Eastern
TrGUeL

gl-rtSrsH r.rFr ~. town A,sT' ~oJ,sT TRY p
I..ry ~ Gsrurtt fyie '.r --an -, t--.--.
Edte5 BIZ w3.ta-a IIarlutf Da~TFonl p lst7at
81 issa ~ tu agf ID. D. -'rtu1rl.s sons
The n1taor or this vi~aoi~-s male voium'
49, taken pains 20 avct -Ne eKcessi'eis
g.oory view 90 ccrtal- sFpccs o. Turkish pr.
-.hi~', i,rs oriv 81 late pears begun 20 suieI
modification in she light or more sympatn ..i-
research 81 the country She confirms 'He
familiar testimony 20 the political corruption
permeatiuE Turkish affairs and 10 the eFils OK
administration under which the peasant groans
out IN describing the national characteristics
and the social Ife ~ the land she uses bright
ooiors For example. she denies the old as
sumption that Turkish women live in servitude
and misery. on the contrary, they enjoy legal
rights superior 70 those OF the women 81 Chris
xian countries Even now there Is q movement
or foot in favor o. their emancipation from the
restraints of harem life that are stil imposed
upon them. We ARE further assured that the
slave Elrls-lons THE objects of Western commits
sration--lesd a happier existence than do the
majority % domestic servants in Christian
communities. and like their mistresses. enjoy
nhe protection OF the kindly law Of Islam.
IN the matter o. food. q slave fares as well
a. her owners; and. whatever her faults ana
EhortcomiuEs she may not he cent adfiit INTO
maintenance. while az The end OF seven years
servtudo she fs entitled 20 her freedom. and
generally obtains b. with "a troasseau, as wen
o. "a husband Tor 10 establish wen ine women
who have for some years formed part OF their
household is question Of amour propre with
Turkish women. who naturally like 10 have their
generosity eKtolled by their neigh1ors-
Plural marriages are the exception and not
Che rule ln Turkey, and divorce S. go expensive
and incurs such odlum that the Turkish hus-
hand does not resort 10 q TO any extent. Two
wives. indeed" says the writer seem to DE
Ele extreme limit nowadays. End only once dur
tng my long residence in different parts OF the
country had 7 the opportunity OF visiting a
harem containing more than one" The ira
oitional feroc.ty and brutality OF the Turk
Airs. Garnett denies. when not under the En-
Guence of political or religious fanaticism he
e. kind, truthful and courteous. in the streets
there IS little OF the coarseness and vulgar
brutality common in Western cities" The
nath0r admits that the conditions q public
safety vary greatly according 20 the locality,
30 greatly. indeed chat 'in European SaIonica.
even under normal conditions. nc lady ventures
abroad. save. perhape. IN one or two streets Of
the Frank quarter. without the escort o.
gentleman or man servant" Burglary. how
ever. seems 10 be a crime almost unknown
g. Turkey" In regard 10 bribery the author
cannon pass such a favorable verdict. but she
nalvely informs us that owing 10 the persistent
neglect OF the government 10 pay the salaries
OF its officials they are compelled 20 resort 10
corruption En- order 10 1--we.
while the work is mainly devoted 10 dis
cussion OF the Turks several chapters treat az
the nom Turkish peoples-the Albanians, the
Macedonian nationauties. the Armenians, the
Gypsies and the Jews Again. there are sur
priees Morally. well as intellectually, the
jews 90 Turkey may be said 20 be far mcre
backward than any OF the other native races"
Yet the author later hnds herself impeued 10
observe that "in positions in which a Gentle
would probably starve the Jew viii manage
50 keep himself and his family in comfort" A
fruly remarkable achievement in % people low
g. the scale Of morality and intellect.