The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-12-28

wv
~ RENT and Occident are not
4 such strangers to each other
as they used to be in times
when travel was connected
with many difficulties. But, even at |
the present time, the various Moham-
medan countries are little visited by
those who seek pleasure or business in
Europe and Asia. The northern part
of Egypt, which country has ceased to
be a tributary to the Sultan of Turkey,
is an exception from the rule; for the
Suez Canal has made that portion of
Northeast Africa the principal gate
way between the East and the West.
The Turkish people are little under
stood and less appreciated, and it can
be safely asserted that nine-tenths of
all Americans have very confused
and totally erroneous idea about Tur-
kish life and customs. We are fond of
stigmatizing the sultan with appella-
tions such as '"''The unspeakable Turk"
"The sick man on the Bosporus,"
"Butcher," etc., and consider his people
as robbers, cutthroats, and as an i'm
moral and degenerate race. have no
inclination to break a lance for the willy
and rapac1ous present sultan; but his
people, at least the Mohammedan part
oft, possess many qualities we'll worthy
of emulation by even such superior be-
ings as most Americans and Europeans
imagine that they are.
80 III d6ii tsEtAd.
and frugal people, who avoid meddling
as much as they can. They are not
addicted to the use of intoxicants and
narcotic drugs, and the so-called "social
evil" is unknown to them. They are
very religiously inclined, and take
pains to live up to their religion. The
Koran, their holy book, possesses but
little originality, and is largely COM
posed of some of the best teachings
contained in the Bible, especially IN the
Old Testament, and of selections from
the doctrines established by Confucius.
In this book they believe as we do in
the Bible; perhaps even more so.
1A.4kliah (as'they cali Ged} is "A Allah,va and
Mohammed is his Prophet" IF we ex.
pcept that antiquated part Of the Koran
which recommends the destruction of
other believers, and the part which
permits polygamy, we can find little in
the Koran that conflicts with moral
right and wrong as understood by
Christians.
4 Occasionally we hear of daring rob.
sber exploits, and, sometimes. even OF
massacres in Turkey and Asia Min.
or. It is quite true that there are many
robbers aud cutthroats in those coun
tries, but they are not Turks, but Greek
Catholics, who live in large numbers ir
the sultan's domains, particularly ir
Albania and on the Balkan. These ar,
a very restless and daring people, to
tally unscrupulous, who would mucl
rather steal and rob than do anything
else. They are the ones who hav'
brought into disrepute Turkish peopI
and Turkish manners. Greeks proper
also, live in large numbers in Turkisl
territories, so that it has become
habit with the inhabitants to call al
foreigners "Greeks." The Jews ar
very numerous in Asia Minor an,
North Africa. They are unusuall
bright, good-looking and clean, an,
make far better impression than tn
Russian or Polish Jews. They an
the Mohsmmedans live in harmon
and peace with each other, but none o
them has any love for the Creek
And / cannot blame them. In thoa
countries / would not hesitate to trus
myself to either Turk or Jew; but nc
Ito the average Greek.
The Turks have many bad habit
Tho they. can be very diligent an
active, it seldom suits their fancy
be SO. Their very ffugality mak'
them happy and contented;; eyen
they have barely enonghsof tho actu
necessities Of life. Indolence, ther
for, is one Of their principal charact'
traits. The majority Of them are ul
4 S. 81 ls - k sS