The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-24
TURKISH new WOMAN
Revolution Taking Place in
Oriental HaremS.
LONGING FOR THE FREER LIFE
Western Civilization Moving Fast in
the SuItan's Domain--A Young
WOman's Flight from Home and It's
Innuence-A Beautiful Persian
Who Defies Many Conventions.

All those who may have read Pierre
LOtrs charming last book. Les Desen-
chantees.' will recall the effect Of West
ern education among the inmates of the
Turkish harems. They will remember the
broader outlook and new horizons that
Il has opened 10 the young women Of
illis generation and of the humiliation
Of all these possibilities and Iongings by
the contract of the early marriages made
by the fathers of the youthful couples,
For long time this movement for the
greater emancipation Of women in Tur-
key has been agtated. and the opening
wedge has worked its way not only
among the upper classes, but also among
the women OF middle classes, writes Edith
Heyer IN the Springfield Republican.
These women of Turkey are not clam
oring for political rights. Of which they
have hardly an idea. but for few social
amenities, which may make their lives
freer and more worth while. The strug-
gle to overcome prejudiccs and fastbound
conventi0nalities which had their birth
centuries back. will be "a HARD, long one
but through courageous persistence and
ceaseless effort the Turkish women, like
other women, will gain victory and
break down old ideas and barriers. and
win. If not for themselves. for their tel
low-countrywomeu IA the future. q larger.
wider existence.
Pierre Lott has brought out strongly in
les Deseuchantees" the effect of this
newer. broader education, based on
Western Ideas in the harcms among the
young girls. and the sad uselessness OF
IL an after their early unhappy marriages,
when al hope Of a freer life is strangled
and womans life is at the disposition
OF an absolute monarch, called her hus-
band. The longing for "A wider outlook
for life crept into the harems when gov
erDesses were called from France. Eng
land. and Germany to educate the daugh-
tiers Of the rich Mohammedan merchants
Development of Young Girls
Young Turkish girls under this training
manifest remarkable intelligence. They
become excellent Iinguists and musicians.
as well as students OF philosophy and
science. Their minds are like fertile viz
gin soil. awaiting the sowing of the seed
of knowledge The soil is virgin soil, as
far as moral and intellectual seed goes
so one can fancy what the harvest may
be after the seeds Of good. broad purpose.
honesty. and truth nave been soWn.
The movement for the emancipation Of
the Turkish women received an enormous
Impulse through tine iight-from her homo
of Nouryo Nouri This highly educated
young Turkish woman proved 10 De re-
markably intelligent. full Of l0ngings TO
pursue her studies and :lee from an en-
forced marriage. such as her elder sister
had been compelled unfortunately TO con-
tract She could not reconcile herself 10
the thought OF this restricted. unhappy
life. 50 she courageously took her fate IN
/ her own hands and fed. This fight became
the subject Of no end of excitement, and
stricter watch was put over all the
harems Since Nourye Nouus flight
every Turkish woman has exalted her as
the champion OF their cause.
To-day all those who have entered
Turkish harems know that the life of the
/ younger generation is a totally different
thing from that Of the 5wO preceding
I generations. European ideas have taken
/ root French. German. and English books
1 have changed their standard of thought
and Partisan styles OF dress are willingly
adopted by the young women, who gain
little by the change. for their own soft,
clinEing silk garments are far more
graceful and allow greater freedom Of
movement to the body.
Take ID Photography.
/ The young Turkish women have taken
/ up photography. Every girl has a cam
era or kodak Snap shots taken within
and without the harem give many hints
as to how life runs along. 1t is strictly
+ forbidden to expose these phot0gra phs
publicly. but by some mysterious means
copies find their way into the shops OF
/ Constantinople and are sold. Every
/ trihing concession granted the Turkish
woman has been fought for bTavely.
/ One must now set aside the picture of
the women of the harem in silken gar
ments stretched out on low dlvans and
pillows. decked in pearls and iridescent
( beads and tinkling bangles. killing time
I 10y dev0uring Turkish Delight and
smoking cigarettes, for the modern
/ Oriental woman has turned over q new
! leaf in her existence, she has awakened
| from enforced slavery and thrown aside
/ the old shaCkles of tradition and Conven-
ton She hungers and thirsts for the
/ privileges and advantages that European
and American women accept as their
birthright To-day among this young
generation the old Turkish proverb. That
women should have long hair and little
or no intelligence will not hold good.
Among modern Oriental women perhaps
no one is as remarkable as the beautiful
n.
cred in Turkey an ultra-modern woman.
In Constantinople she goes forth unveiled
in European costume, wearing the latest
Partisan hat. Bellekis Haydar is well
known I'm Viennese society as a fascinat-
ing. accomplished woman. who at any
time could, if she would, become famous
in the world of song. for she possesses
a magnificent voice. which has been per
fectly trained in the best European
methods.
Abandoning the Veil.
Walking through the streets Of Constan-
tinople one sees how the veil, that half
revealed and half-concealed the features
behind it, grows thinner and thinner, and
how the modern Oriental woman shows
her splendid, sparkling eyes and pearI-Iike
teeth on all occasions; and even These
straws on the current Of change sveer
onward toward Western methods of emaD.
cipati0n. The picturesque, mysterious
yelled and shrouded phantom-like figures
viii in the course of time no doubt suf-
fer change and appear in modern cor
sets, tailor suits. and non6escript modern
head-gear-but some way it seems fmDos-
sibie 10 picture the new Turkish woman
so clad. She viii keep her own individual
charm. which even a liberal education viii
not destroy. but develop on new lines
"The old order changeth, giving place to