Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-10-22
WHAT LIFE IN A TURKISH TIAREM
is REALLY LIKE.
in Against
Fact-On Contrary Turkish Wives
And a Rather Opinion OF of

black veil out Of doors. she was freely
rouged, Her face was not uninteli-
gent. She had bright black eyes which
looked as if their owner knew what
she wanted and ruled the harcm.
"Of course you think US all immoral,"
she remarked during the course OF the
meal, Which consisted of amy amount Of
sweet dishes served by an abnormally
fat negress dressed In q tight red vel
veteen gown, black felt bedroom slip
pers, and stockings In immediate need
Of repair. You talk about our polyg-
amy and think us Very wicked. But I've
read your foreign books and i tell You
we are no worse than you. Our men
have four wives. Yours have one, and
as many mistrosses as they can afford
TO keep Your priests say il is wicked
and so sou keep II secret. Our Mo-
manned was wiser and, knowing that
man must be polygamc, made 1t u
rule for him TO be So"
Having said this with much satsfac-
ton she turned to the other ladies and
said something in Turkish. to which
they all nodded approval. The other
ladies did not speak French but they
asked questions through the dame in
green and black. which she passed on
and interpreted with much good humor.
FAvORITE OCCUPATIONS.
In answer to my questions, one lady
said her favoritc occupation WAS smuk-
ing: another voted sitting out in the
garden and eating sweets the best way
Of passing the time: third said she
liked to play Mt marriages.
My daughter is not like that" the
eldest wife explained indulgcntly. she
speaks French and plays the piano and
even takes photos when she goes to
the country In the summer. She has
had u French govcrness. That Is how I
came to learn French. These were only
ignorant slaves before they married.
! asked how much slave could be
bought for
at depends" was the answer. Some
young ana good looking they are worth
more"
rnshly asked how much | should be
worth
ooh! You sneak LANGUAGES. and are
accomplished" size replied. You would
fetch at least 500
The general opinion seems to he that
the Turks are Kind to their wives. Mo-
BANNED constantly exhorts them to
speak kindly to them" and, lat least
speak comfortably to them" The wives
must also have control of their money
when they come of age; but woman
cannot inherit hor fathers or HUSBAND =
whole fortune, even If he leaves no otn-
er relatives Daughters have half as
much MS sons: but If the children are
all girls and above two in number they
.tct two thirds OF the estate. IL a man
leaves one daughter and no song she
has half and the other half goes
TO distant male relatives
FREE WOMEN AND SLAVES.
A man mny not marry Il blood reln-
Al ha marry n lrGt
woman whose husband is alive, unless
they are divorced. but he may marry
slaves and women taken IN war during
their husbands lifetime, PROVIDED inc
latter are not bought or taken prison.
ers at the game time as Their wives.
Men IRE recommended Ia marry troe
women If possible, though those VINO
cannot afford 1t may marry siit'es'
provided the slaves are Mohammcdnns,
a man often prefers to marry u slave,
MS. when he has bought II wire me eH-
npnsc Is over, whereas he must give
10 the FREQ woman II dowrS. fixed by
tho brides parents OF which she mas
full control. Even when she " az
yorccd this remains IN her possession
When the husband wants To get III
yorce which Is easy, and given for
,riI,cs, ho IL not allowed to make his
wifc's shortcomings public, but tho
wife can publish her reasons, II she
fixes. Many women manage their own
fortunes. aud this is the reason why the
large banking houses IN Turkey nave
waiting, rooms set apart for tho use Of
their lady clients.
In the old days immortality IN women
was punished by their being imprisoned
In one chamber until their dcath, THIS
WAS afterwards mitigatcd, n free wom-
nm being able to choose between TINS
and being scourged. with u hundred
strlpcs If sbo were u maid, and being
stoned IL mnrrcd--.lnd banished for ono
year, a married slave. II found guilty,
only gets half the punishment Of u
FREQ unmarried woman, Lc, 80 stripes,
because she Is not supposed to have
had such n good education She can
not be stoned, because stoning Is not
to be done BY halves,
ROMANCE OF a SLAVE,
There is u story about an Imprisoned
slave connected with the marble tower.