The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-27
WOMEN OF TURKEY
CHANGED CONDITIONS WILL BRING
 HAPPINESS.
Laws Are Not Oppressive to Females But Social Conditions Have been
 Rapid And Intolernhie.

London, Sept. 2s.--Miss Evellne B, Milford. writing in The Daily chronit
 ITO none of the sultan's subjects will the recent changes in Turkey bring greater freedom and happiness than to the women. For years they have been growing increasinly rest less and discontented with their lot, for intercourse with cultured foreign CTS has shown them how empty anu vapid are their lives. They have fret ted in secret. and are showing sur selves of, the changes which are tax ing place in the traditions of their country.
 "For the first time in the history of Turkey, a woman has delivered speech to a crowd in the street, and now we hear of the formation ot committee of ladies called together to collect money for the repatriation of exiles.
 "Though suffrage societies are at oresent unknown in the land. we may confidently expect the formation Of a few in the near future. Not that the Turkish woman has much to complain of with regard to the laws, Tor Tn this respect her position Is considerably better than that of her English sister or of the woman of any other Europe an country.
 At marriage she is endowed with separate estate. over which her hus- band has no control. and which re- mains hers even If she is divorced She has the disposal of any money or possessions that may have been hers before her marriage, and as In Turkey daughters inherit from parents equal ly with their brothers. this Is often considerable. She can dispose of her possessions in life and in death as she pleases. She can sue her husband in the law courts and be sued by him, and custom insists that the marriage sttlement shall state a sum to be al- lowed her for housekeeping expenses. and no one has right to inquire how 1t is spent. Her husband is obliged to maintain her and her servants ac- cording to his means; the case recent ly brought before an English magis- trate of a man who had given his wife thrNA pence day for herself and two children for the last nine years would be impossible in Turkey.
 "In fact, the legal position of the Turkish woman is such a strong one that, though a Turk Is allowed four wives, he rarely has more than one, also for fear of placing himself at the legal mercy of so many women. He is also most anxious to be considered on a level with the men of other Flu ropeau countries. and he Is aware that a plurality of wives is a fatal barrier to his ambition in this respect. Monog- amy is very surely gaining ground, and the ,harem life is losing It's hold on the people. This is especially the case in Constantinople. where the na- tive aristocracy Is brought into clos CT touch with the customs of other races, and there Is no doubt that in time it will be thing of the past.
 "The Turkish ladies are frequently well educated. Their lives of seolus- ton encourage study. and they pass the long winter evenings in devouring any literature that comes their way Many are excellent linguists and Pierre Loti tells us that they are well acquainted with the work of modern thinkers. They are often well versed In ancient classics. and they eagerly read modern novels. especially of the morbid erotic type These give them a glimpse of the outside world. and in- crease their discontent; they are also Intensely enVlous of their Christian anu Jewish sisters. Many receive in- struction from the teachers at the Girls College founded by the Sultan for young Turkish ladies; they are then educated in the same way as an English girl, and when the time for their ema ncipation from harem life ar rives. they will be found ready and equal to take their share In the worlds work.