Semi-weekly herald., 1909-08-16
IN TRou-
1lED TURKEY
tBy Theo Kane.)

ana thought to the psychological study
OF the eternal feminine, quite the
notwithstanding spot In or about Con
stantinoBle is that wide and peacefo
stream which meanders along the out
skirts of the sublime port through the
northwestern boundaries os Asia
Minor and is known as the Sweet Wa.
ters of Asia. Here. If anything. turk,
ish lovers are permitted to carry on a
sort of courtship, and the Turks have
a proverb that she who pleases be
fore marriage at the Sweet Waters
will forever please thereafter
Not that at the Sweet Water she Is
for an instant permitted to raise her
veil or that she is allowed so much
as a word with her future lord, bet
a. all events she has the satisfaction
OF gazing at him through her veil. of
hearing his voice and of comparing
him in looks and bearing with other
men she has seen in the streets or nj
her lattice, while he, though he may
not speak 10 her sees her walk. hears
her speak and gains a nttle-a very.
very lhtle-idea of what she is really
like
rendezvous at the Sweet Waters
Is always arranged beforehand and
never takes place except on one day.
Friday, after the sultan has returned
fTom prayers. Let us say that a young
man. Achmet. for convenience, an ef-
fendi (gentleman). perhaps a pasha.
having reached years of discretion, de
cides to marry and looks about for
wife
OF course he knows none himself,
but he has a married friend whose
wife Is frequent visitor at the bar.
ems Of other effendi. He consults his
friend. stating his requirements. He
wishes a wife. She must be young.
healthy. good looking and accomplish.
ed. She need not know how to cook
or sew, but she must be able to sing.
play, dance and speak French fluent.
ly II this suitor is especially par.
tioular. he may even demand a college
education. but as usual thing he
doesn't.
The friend promises to consult his
wife. His wife. after some visiting
about among her friends, finds exactly
! the wife for Achmet. Her name is
Sylvia, she is the youngest daugher
of Mahmud Pasha. Her father is
wealthy and can give his daughter a
large dowry. Can Achmet give as
large? Achmet says he can, and Syl-
Was parents permitting, the four ar
range to meet the following Friday at
the Sweet Waters
On Friday. then, as soon as pray
ers have been said, thlther come Ach-
met and Sylvia with their chaperons
Two skiffs await them, the boatmen as
gayly arrayed as the gondoliers of an
cient Venice. Not paying the slight
est, attention to the men, Sylvia and
her woman companion step into the
first skiff, the men take their places
in the second and the party are off.
In and out, following the windings of
the river, glide the two boats, the boat
OF the women always little in ad-
vance
The women talk together and the
men together and everybody eats
sweets, sips sherbet and smokes ciga-
rettes. Once in a while Achmet casts
discreet look in Sylvia's direction
and once in a while Sylvia glances
swiftly and modesty at Achmet, but
their eyes never meet. Finally, the
lowing and Achmet has the opportu-
nifty OF seeing that from the way she
steps out Sylvia is young and graceful,
that she is tall and that she is proba-
bly, rather slender, though that is diff
cult to determine That is all
Finally the whole party returns to
the boats and thence home This
program may be carried on for days
| says. Il am satisfied" Sylvia is con
suited, admits she is also satisfied.
and the wedding proceedings at once
i
| go forward.
| The marriage festivities take three
days. The first evening Sylvia in
vites all her girl friends to her home
and the night is spent in feasting,
dancing with each other and in gen.
eral rejoicing The second evening 1t
is Achmet's turn and he gives a fare
well bachelor supper, differing only
from the affairs to which we are ac-
customed in the absence of wine. The
third evening comes the marriage GER
emony, when Achmet ana Sylvia be
take themselves to the mosque. The
priest receives the dover given to
Sylvia by her father and Achmet, ant
Achmet retires to an adjoining room
where upon kind of dais sits Sylvia
beautifully garbed. bedlZened, magni
hcent in her bridal splendor and GOV
cred not only with her own and fam
ilys Jewels, but as many more as sh
can borrow.
Achmet enters and for the first tim
ses her unveiled He gazes at he
II