The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-12-28
"REMINISCENCES OF TURKEY.
IN TWO PARTS
Part H. The Home Life of the Mohammedans.

OF tne MOnanmeQanS.
~
clean to excess; dirt and flthiness
abound in all large cities. The street
cleaning department of Constantinople
is largely in the hands of-dogs, who
never get fed, but run at night in
hordes of hundreds through the streets
of the city, and devour with avid1ty
the refuse that has been thrown there
during the day. The Turks are not
what we would call a hospitable nation;
but this is due partly to their poverty,
and partly to their seclusion of the
women from all male society other
than their husbands and children. 1
have received many favors at the hands
of Turks for which I was not allowed
to make compensation.
Beggars abound in all those parts
frequented by strangers; especially in
Jerusalem, Cairo and Alexandria,
where you cannot 60 anywhere with
out the Baschi Ia presently being solic-
tied of you. The poor people have
heard so many fabulous stories of the
great wealth of the West, that they be-
lieve everybody who comes from there
to be veritable Crgsus. They are so
thankful for the few centimes given to
them, that it is almost a pleasure to
give. 1, certainly, have never be-
grudged to them the little amount I
contributed; while 1 sometimes felt
sorry for the excessive tips 1 was
anssi7e hligad 80 glye in Vienna, Paris,
/ London, or New York.
| Missionaries are not we'll thought Of
in those countries; but this refers prin-
cipally to English-speaking missionar-
| ies, as many of these come there utterly
unprepared in respect to language and
customs. The adult Mussulman is so
thoroughly convinced of the infalli-
bility of his religion, that he is under
all circumstances a poor subject for
conversion. Therefor the missionary,
when he comes to province thickly
settled by Mohammedans, generally
makes it his object to induce Moham.
medan children to come to his home,
or mission house. A child, gently, in
! telIigentiy and aovfngly treated, can
easily be convinced of almost anything
The missionary, no doubt, considers
that he is doing a good and God.
pleasing work, and that he is acting
solely for the spiritual welfare of his
young pupil. Very naturally, the
Mussulman cannot see matters in this
light; but becomes incensed at what he
considers an .unwarrantable interfer
ence. Let us be just in such matters
j Our constitution guarantees perfect
religious liberty to all inhabitants
Let us suppose that Moham
medan missionaries should come tt
this country, say to Boston, and there
try to invelgle children to their home
for the purpose of converting them tt
, Mohammedanism. No matter how
nice they treat the children, thes'
. missionaries would find themselves il
q prison in no time; or, more, likely
would have their heads battered int
: jelly, or be lynched long before the
could reach the prison.
i Once in a while it happens tina
Q Christian missionaries are driven ava
from their missions, or are maltreate
y in some way Then they appeal t
d their respective cOnsuls, who submit
Q the case to his ambassador at Cor
stantinople. Perhaps, in course 9
vi time, the cumbersome machinery of d
f plomacyi in London or Washington is sc
5. lin motion, and approximations al
% made at the sublime porte. These, 6
It far, have never amounted to mucf
It but they have afforded welcome oppo
ftunities to editors, who understood tt
s. matter very imperfectly, and wei
ID six Thousand miles from the scene, I
EoI wax wroth az the Turkish goyernmen
ss and everything that Is Turkish. Sue
If matters have often been yery expel
al siye; affairs to our government. I
O. rescue Mrs Ellen Stone from the hand
Of Of Greek Catholic bandits in Bulgari
nj alone has cost US over $85 900 Z
zs IS 81 + fsEf