The Washington herald., 1908-07-26
Turk Not as Terrible as He Is Painted

-st When a fire breaks our and 6eras.
iltes MS wooden dwellings. he calmly
SMOKES his pipe and says, 'Bes-I IIIa1. %
GOD IS great The suspected officers O.
TIE government sit outside the palace IN
q 1oat awaiting The order for promotion
OF lle DOU-srrinE. a cord Of silk -rftL
which offenders are strang gled II either
case, he only says ''BesrniIlah." and
calmly submits 20 the VIII Of God and
MS sovereign As he feels sure Of ever
.aSJl1s felicity, he does not fear death.
This gives him great desperation in bat
lls- de reads IN the Koran. The sword
IS the key Of heaven \ night passed IN
der arms Is worth more than two months
IN prayer Who falls in battle. has his
sins forgiven
Astonishing Religious FervoF.
Under all circumstances and IN al
places the Turk exhibits a religious fervor
That VII astOnish a Christian. His PRAYERS
occupy his first thoughts in the morning
nor does he ever omit the prescribed
number during the day. Religion s a
powerful machine, controlled By the
state When ali other resources have
failed. an appeal 10 the religious prin-
ciples OF the people Will arouse them to
tbs highest point OF desperation and
fury.
Il Is a false idea which attributes =
character Of feroclty to the Turks. iudg-
ing them only by their ferocity in time
oL war These atrocities are explained
oy their faEa1icisD. which causes them
10 look upon their enemies as assailants
OF their religious faith The Musslluan
Is noted for his charity 10 the Door and
hospitality. The OpUIent make 1t a duty
70 COnSecrate a tenth Of their reve-
nues 70 benevolent institutions This
cnar1ty- which distinguishes the AIuss11I-
man, IS based upon the precepts OF The
Koran The fai5hful who loves God
must also love his neighbor. Distribute
ANS oy day and night. in secret and in
geD-Ie- 1ou viii be rewarded by the
eternal Father" This benevolencs ex-
tends TO the animal creation. To KIN
animals, or even 70 keep them shut IN IN
cages. ls t1human in the eyes Of this
peopae- They are often seen buying
captive birds to set them al liberty.
Turks Honest and Temperate.
Honesty n all details Of their inter
course is characteristic Of the Turks
They cannot conceive Of any motive for
being otherwise Intemparance is a VICE
nearly unknown in Turkey. The Turks
Invariably tel the truth. because they
have 10 motive for deception. It IS r.
lated that an American captain. having
discharged q cargo On the wharf al Con
stauJlnople. when night came on ex-
pressed apprehension at the custou-house
that Il would be impossible to secure tha
goods before dark Give yourself no /
1neasiness." said the officer: they VII 1
be perfectly safe; there Is not a Christian /
n the neighborhood- The Turk Is par
1oularly calm. even under the most try
ng circumstances; but very inpulsive 4
he apparently never thinks. He VIII
inoke his pipe 70 the last Whit before 4
ipringing 10 cut his throat The power
y concealing their real feelings is even
more adroitly managed by them than By
ne American Indian When their pss-
ions are let loose. ike tigers from 2
age, nothing short Of physical exhaus-
ion subdues their intensity
Although very fond Of young children.
heir parental affection declines as their
Increases in years, until they
een 70 lose al interest in them. Love
or their wives. ike that which cemeats
uch relations in Christian countries. Is
ut Of the question They are destitute