The Republican journal., 1910-06-02
An American Woman Who
"Made Good"

"Made Good"
Her Achievements Remind one of Kipling's
| Words:>
$50 the more we work and the less we talk
The better results we shall get"
/ Corinna Shattuck spent most of her
life in a part of Turkey seldom seen by
tourists, but the few who ever did pene-
trate to her home in ancient Oorfa
brought back marvellous stories Of a
striking and forceful personality. She
was born in Louisville, KY, but was
brought up by a grandmother in New
England, and after graduation from the
birmingham Normal School began her
public career as a teacher in far off
Aintab under the auspices of the Ameri-
can Board. Immediately she began to
show daring and genius for organiza-
ton that belong to leaders of great en-
terprises. In less than a year she was
careening on horseback all over central
Turkey to select places for opening
schools for girls. The education of wom-
en- was not exactly popular in that part
of the world and her abrupt business
methods made sensation among Turks
and Arabs. She was a familiar figure
throughout the whole region, clad in
plain black dress, destitute of any trim
ming, with stocky riding whip in her
1 how'd yo1yo11ror Gonr1ipo
at her side. She was always being ar
rested for not having her passport with
her, and these arrests invariably ended
with profound apology from the official
before whom she was brought. The
natives understood perfectly that she
was not to be trifed with, and her word
was law both among officials and her
assistants.
Her perfect fearlessness was once
manifested during the fury of the Ar
menian massacres in way that placed
her in the forefront of the world heroes.
The terrified students were huddled in a
school building, expecting every moment
to be dragged forth to death and torture.
A Turkish officer came to the front en-
trance and demanded that Miss Shattuck
and her pupils come out peaceably. She
looked him squarely in the eye and with
out a tremor in her voice began to deliver
a good old-fashioned New England SER
mon on their sins to the officer and his
men who crowded behind waiting for the
signal to make dash into the building.
She ended her tirxde by saying that il
the Turks entered it would be over hel
dead body Then she slammed the door
in their faces. The men withdrew
grumbling, but within half an hour an
other great pounding was heard on the
door, Again she opened it, this time tt
see Turkish soldier with drawn swore
who had been sent back by his superior
to guard the buildingl The lives of 30t
women and children were saved tina
night by the courage of this plucky Yam
kee schoolmarm.
The real greatness of Miss Shattuck'
character, however, is measured not b,
these exceptional deeds of personal brav
cry but by the permanent institution
2 and industries which she has built up il
the city of Oorfa. Hundreds of children
were made orphans by the Armenian
massacres, for whom homes must be pro
vided. For hundreds of women worl
must be found, and boys and girls mus
be trained for self-support. She Sc
about this triple task with characteristic
! energy. The result is an educational ant
: industrial plant in the traditional home o
Abraham that would make the old patri
, arch rub his eyes in wonder.
There are four shops where the Ar
menian orphan boys are taught to b.
: carpenters, cabinet-makers, smiths, tail
v ors and shoe-makers. They make chains
bride bits, stirrups, locks, hammers
hatchets, etc. The work is done between
school hours and during the evening
t thus combining manual and mental tram
ing after the most approved modern
methods. The superior workmanship il
7 the iron shop has brought the patronage
of the owners of large rug factory il
! Oorfa who had been obliged to send tt
Aleppo, five days. distant, whenever
| their machinery needed repairs. On
farm boy has recently returned ffSn
Marash where he spent year studying
in an American agricultural college
! Now, with pair of good work horses
he says he is ''busy turning up the sol
that never saw the sun before" He has
two American plows, cultivator and 9
seed-sower. The boys were very proud
that the contract for furnishings of g
!, new hospital, built by the provincial gov.
ernor, was given to them. The chairs,
writing desks, medicine cupboards, oper.
ating table and instrument cases are en-
tirely their handiwork. They are &C.
knowledged to be the best craftsmen in
the city, so they always have orders on
hand. The lumber came from trees
which Miss Shattuck bought herself in
the neighborhood, as the expense was
too great to bring it from the nearest