Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-03
ONLY TWO KINDS OF TURKS
Vast Difference Between the Omcial
Turk and the Man of the
PaonIR.

PeOple.
There are two kinds of Turks in Turkey
the government official and the man of
the ~peopleand Nicholas c. Adossides tells
in Golfers Weekly the characteristics OF
each. He writes:
Just as the former is false, cruel, servile,
arrogant and unjust, 50 is the latter sim
pie, honorable and hospitable. Hospitality.
indeed, 10 the Turks greatest virtue.
Should you travel among the true Turks in
Asia Minor you will find. instead Of inns
and hotels, a warm welcome in every
house. The chief men Of the village will
dispute with each other for the honor Of
being your host, and he who has won that
privilege is envled by his neighbors. II not
rich enough to afford a "moussafir odassi,"
or guest hambe he will place his own
room at your disposal; but wherever you
may lodge you will always find in large
Turkish letters this traditional inscription:
Here is received the Strangsrl In the
name of Godl the Compassionatei the
Mercifuli'
Nor are introductions necessary. what
ever your creed or condition, your rank or
your country, whether Christian of Mos
lem. wealthy or poor, you will be lodged
and entertained as long as you choose to
remain. While a guest you are not only
not allowed TO expend a penny, but are
not even permitted to offer a tip" to
the servants, for this would be considered
a great insult to your host. Nor must It
be supposed that this is true only of the
rich or the well-to-do; II is characteristic
also OF the poorest peasants. They do not
wait simply to receive you: they will go
out to find you. In many villages a guest
chamber is kept at the public expense.
The conversation is laborious. Between
grave question and weishty reply there is
silence so heavy that one might expect
the birth OF an epic. One might imagine
that he was about TO hear two philosophers,
30 wrapped is each in a mist OF p~rofundity.
But when at last they condescend to
speak, one hears only time-worn platitudes,
which. however, are delivered with the
solemnity of a solon. The voices, though
soft and Subdued, are monotonous to weari-
ness; the conversation, usually pointless, is
at it's best a rechauffe OF old proverbs.
Nothing is ever said to surprise or to
amuse; nothing. moreover. about politics,
religion. philosophy, science, literature or
concerning any OF the great problems
which absorb the mind OF man.
Instead OF this you will hear little except
the constant repetition of those pompou
phrases which Oriental etiquette demands,
Your exalted Highness." MAY your
health be increased. " "I am your unworthy
slave 1.-THE dust Of your mighty feet
such arc the ponderous expressions ono
hears in a Turkish drawing room.
Should you dine with a Turk, you will
observe many peculiarities. to some OF
which you Will find It hard to accustom
yourself. The host and his guests. squatted
upon little mats. await the servants who,
bringing a tray, place Il before the COM
pany upon a low stool. On this tray, in
several hollow bowls with round covers,
are the viand& Forks and spoons being
dispensed with, each man. stretching out
his right hand. deeply scoops up. with
thumb. first finger and middle finger held
together, one or two mouthfuls from each
bowl. At the conclusion OF the dinner the
guests file out one by one, to make their
additions at the fountain.
War is the one thing that can rouse the
Turk from his apathy. When the fight is
over, the Mussulman returns at once to
his 'Kief," Why get excited about poll
tics. science. philosophy and nteratureP Is
not everything no-reordained2 Leave It ia
Allah. With a whole nation In this frame
OF mind, II IL not strange that the Turk has
neither thirst for knowledge nor any great
passion. II is not strange that he has but
little curiosity and no desire to travel. and
that officials display such ignorance in re-
gard 70 the most elementary things.