Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02
AID FOR SICK Turks
Work Of Dr. Mary Eddy Among
Peoples of the levant.
BELOVED BY THE ARABS
Medical Missionery Of the Church OF
the Covenant.
TREATS DESERT BLINDEEss
Story of Her Examination by IurS-
ish Authorities and -==-%ace
of Sultan's Grade.

rom Ire Literary ''iaFst'
One of the sadCe-t impressions made
uuon the tourist ~ the eastern LevcH.
is due to the astonishing prevalence o
blindness of the rnCst pitifu varieties. It
! is reported that the Arabs are among the
chief sufferers IL this respect because of
the shifting sands 80 easily lifted anG
| blown about by the wind. II tae effort.
of DR.. Mary Eddy, medical missionary
of the Church OF the Covenant o.
Washington. are awaiting. there .R hone
| that this form of torture will grad
ually be abated. Dr. EDDY fs the on;
woman physician IL TIE Ottoman empire
a position which It was no email tasl, 70
attain-especially under the Old regime
Some seventeen yea~s ago che presented
! uer request to u c:-a-Grr ". re rell, DIT
! that time min lister 10 FUr--ey, n orde.
TO make application to the Turkish au-
tnorities. Mr.. Terrell. writing of DIR.
Eddy's work in the Chicago Interior, says
he feared that the outcome would
negative. as both the English and the
french ambassadors had been unsuccess-
full in similar app. cations. But. says
Mr.. Terrell, there was something in NJ IS
Mary Eddy that gave ne instant hope o.
her success.
She was of American parentage. Though
raised in Syria, above medium height.
lustrous black eyes and complexion
tlnged by the sun and winds of Syria.
Her self-possessicn ana graceful bearing
told of refinement, and her clear voice
and look, though not defiant revea ed
courage and confidence in herself.
She placed in my hands diplomas from
three medical colleges, one OF which GER
titled to her capacity TO treat diseases OF
the eye. When child she mad often seer
| the wild BedoulnS blinded with ophthal-
Of ne
her heart went forth to them In helpless
sympathy. Now she was rot helpless;
through years of labor she had prepared
herself to relieve them But the trade"
or consent, of the sultan was indispensa
bic to her purposed mission Of mercy.
DR.. Eddy's diplomas were Immediately
sent through the grand viZier to the pal
| ace with request for her examination
| by the Imperial College Of Physicians"
| ! knew from the aged French tutor Of the
| sultan that he had studied Latin and
could read the diplomas written in that
| language For myself. in order to fortify
| myself with argument in the doctors
behalf, began at once to investigate the
status and privileges Of women in the
early centuries of Islam--work in which
DR.. George Washburn, the learned presi-
dent of Robert College. assisted. Weeks
passed with no answer from the palace
to my request, and l was not at liberty
to refer to the matter again even in per-
sonal audiences with the sultan.
Consent of the Sultan.
One night, however after dining with
the sultan, we sat looking out from a
window in the rear Of Yildez Palace on a
circus ring, where snow white steeds from
his stable-trained to wonderful feats-
with juggers and acrobats. all arrayed
in gorgeous costumes, performed for the
sovereigns amusement. The sultan was
in cheerful mood. and In an interval of
the performance l seized the opportunity
to tell him that / had just read the life
of the prophet by Seyd ALI. and had been
much impressed by a tradition reported
by Muadz-ibu-Jabel to the effect that Mo-
manned once said: Instruct in knowi-
edge because it pleases God. He who I'm
parts it praises God. Whoever seeks 1t
adores God. and he who spreads It dis
penses aims to the ignorant and lights hi=
way to heaven.
| asked the sultan if he believed the
tradition. He assured me that he did, and
that his own greatest work for his people
had been in promoting education. | then
expressed my admiration for Mos!em
lady who in the reign OF the Abbassiaes
established hospital in Arabia where she
dispensed aims by curing the afflicted,
and so led up to asking the sultan II he
had forgotten that learned woman from
Syria wanted the protection Of his trade
to heal the sick?
The appeal was Immediately success
1ul. turning To Munlr pashR, his cham
berlain, Abdul Hamid instantly said: Let
the order be prepared for the college Of
physicians to examine that woman. and
If she is qualified she shall practice az
a DOCTOR.
When. on the 10Th of November, 1893.
Miss Eddy started to the sublime porte
for her examination. a glance at her high
look Of confidence and courage told me
that words of encouragement were
needed. At the immense government
building she entered alone room In
which a score of distinguished physicians
were seated at long table. She was d.
rected to a seat. but no one rose to well
come her.
The first question from the president
was In French and uttered in a contempt
uous tone: who are you?" To their
astonishment she answered In the Arabic
| language In a distinct voice: II am of
| yon and from among you" She presented
| her diplomas. An examination here is
usually brief, for the applicant must al
| ready have graduated in some medical
| college. But it was apparent that Miss
! Eddy was not among friends, for they
| examined her without intermission for six
| hours and over the whole field Of medi
| cine and surgery.