Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-19

ly proficient in four or five different languages, able to read the classics in the originals. trained to appreciate all that is best in music, art and liter ature, we learn of the treasures that lie in the world outside only to know that they are not for us.
 Loaded with jewels, clad in Parisian dresses, surrounded by luxuries of every description, the reinements of civilization are ours, and these are supposed to satisfy all that the heart of a Turkish woman can desire; to compensate for stifled longings, to still the yearnings to be something more than a chattel, to have the right to think, and live our own life.
 ASK Turk with family of three sons and three daughters how many children he has: Three" he will an- swer, and this is symbolical of our position; we simply do not count; we are possessions, not factors in the economy of life. Existence in harem is captivity within captivity; there is no privacy. no locks or bolts to the bedroom doors, and the servants come in and out as if the place were their own. When we go out it is in close carriage, attended by a slave and a eunuch-the latter nearly always black, so that he may be distinguished by his skin. We must not leave the country without the special permis- sion of the sultan. which Is difficult to obtain, even when health and life itself depends upon the concession. We may not have as much as our photo- graphs taken as a souvenir for 6 friend without the same august au- thority. Our letters, papers and the little possessions dear to every woman are not our private property. but are liable to he turned over, confiscated, or burned at the whim of husband. as a punishment for some supposed misdemeanor, or to gratify his love of power.
 There is little break in the monot. ony of harem life; study and sewing, sewing and study. with an occasional tea party; but this is not of frequent occurrence, for, when one visits lady | friend, all the men of the establish. 1 ment must leave the house-an incon. venience not to be lightly enforced.
 By law. a child does not owe obedi ence to its parents after the age of Is but this is ignored. and never had effect. Parents are tyrannical in their i authority. and marry their children to 1 whom they like. making arrangements and settling details without reference to the wishes of those 1t concerns most. A girl looks on her marriage as a great catastrophe. a part of the en durance which is a womans lot, and goes to the man she has never seen and to the unknown life that lies be fore her. hating. hoping. fearing. She may not love her husband when shs knows him: she often hates him. yet she must vie with his other wives ir seeking his favor: he preferred today to be sighted tomorrow. endure tn, humiliations. the TivalTies. the petty jealOusies which are always a part o harem life. and go through the awfu scenes which often ensue when tn. lord and master has left. Any pref erence shown-the gift Of a jewel a word of praise or admiration-i enough to rouse the dormant passions suppressed until the husband leaves but which then break out into a hun ricane of jealous fury. in which the. fear one another's hair out. They ar, jealous of one another's children sometimes of their own. and there i m outlet but physical violence for tn rage that consumes them CompeIlei to live in the same captivity vitl hated rivals. the irritation is neve allowed 10 die out and tragedies fol Iow-hushed up. but none the les tr1gedies-of menta. misery and reel less revenge