Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-19

he would have been summoned TO the
Yildiz Kiosk, and ordered to drink a cup
of coffee in which enough poison had first
been placed to insure his speedy exit from
this vale of tears.
But now such a deliverance has a far
different effect. 1t is said that the sultan
himself. who. instead of being Abdul the
Damned. heretofore. has now pro-
claimed himself to be a liberal. and pres
ident of Committees of the Ottoman
Union and Progress" is actually consider
ing the abolition Of his harem.
The sultan has 3G0 wives If he would
put them from him. and adopt the monog-
amous practices of the other rulers OF
the world, he would at stroke free him.
self from the odium of his past life az
representative of al that was black ty.
rannical ard ignoble to be the most en-.
lightened and progressive ruler the coun.
try ever knew.
Only the strong opposition of his cour-
tiers who. too. would be compelled to do
the same thing. In case Abdul set the
fashion. is said TO hold the ruler back
from the commission of an act which hs
is said to believe would restore his popu-
larity.
Undoubtedly such an action would win
the approval of the women. who are now
going around the streets dressed in tina
fashions of Paris, going to the mosques,
which previously was prohibited visiting
the Christian churches and theaters and
shaking hands with their Christian friends
on the streets
The men of the nation have taken no
rough advantage of this innovation. In
stead. they have either contented them
selves with cheering groups of unveiled
women. or in case one CHANGED 10 be- en-
countered alone, of respectfully bowling
or lifting the hat.
How astonishing a development this is
can best be driven home by recalling the
fact that the Turkish woman of year
ago dare not go unveiled anywhere in tia
world. Even when diplomacy took them
with their husbands into other countries.
the rules for their conduct remained just
as absolute as when in ConStantinople.
Life in the Harem
In Turkey the woman of the harem
never saw any man save her husband
father and brother.
Her liberty was most completely re.
stricted, yet barring this fact the treat.
ment was not unkind.
The day began with a cigarette ana
coffee. then followed a period in which
the wife waited on her husband bringin;,
him slippers, pelisse and chibouk Not
by any means was all of the day passed
in singing and dancing. Always has 4
fair portion of the time been devoted to
homework and the care of children
The Turkish girl comes into wedIock
early, and the youth of the opposite
sexes never see each other before we'd
lock. Photographs are exchanged and
professional matchmakers take care Of
the negotiations
The new women of Turkey object to
this program. They say that the method
of the occident is better. In Turkey it
has mattered little whether or not the
man was stisfed with the helpmeet who
came to him in this way. If he did not
like her he could speedily forget her by
getting another wife. But for the woman
the marriage was absolute. Never dared
she SO much look at another man.
Hence the argument of the women OF the
new ideas that the gentler sex should be
permitted some option in the choice OF
a helpmeet.
The bath is the club of the Turkish
the gossip and be introduced to new
acquaintance of their own sex.
Here the ladies congregate, and often
they will spend the entire day gossip.
ing, chatting, laughing and adding to
their beauty by the application or To-
tions. In the preparation of WATCH the
Turk Is conceded to excel.
With the spirit of reform In the air.
with thousands Of women united To nShe
for the cause and, aided by their hus-
bands because the latter, too. are actu-
ated by motives of progress. 1T Is mora
than a possibility of the next decaus
that one Of the annual sessions OF the
Womans rights congress Will be held in
Const antinople. once the darkest OF all
territory for the weaker sex.