Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-31
STORY OF A SCHOOL
Robert College, in Turkey, Had
Hard Time Starting.
ASSISTED BY A WARSHIP
Vessel Not Meant to Coerce Porte,
But Sultan Had Panic.
HAS A COMMANDING SITE
Occupies Bold Bluff Overlooking the
Bosphorous-Boat1oad of
Bread Started It.
ASSISTED BY A WARSHIP
HAS A COMMANDING SIT
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
CONSTANTINOPLE, September %, 1910.
The forty-seventh scholastic year at
Robert College opens under most favor
abe and gratifying auspices. Never be-
fore were the prospects of usefulness so
glowing. Through the efforts OF Mr..
Straus, the American ambassador, Robert
College has been recognized by the Turk
lsh government, and is no longer a
mere squatter on Turkish SOIL without le-
gal rights and simply tolerated and ig-
nored. After many years of patient ap-
plicauon and argument an imperial trade
has been issued recognizing the insti-
tuition, in the fullest sense, as entitled
to all the legal rights and privileges of
Turkish institutions of learning under
it's charter by the state of New York,
and at the same time granting it ex-
emption from the recent flaws of asso-
ciation," which require all foreign cor
porations doing business in Turkey to
have Turkish representation in their
boards of directors and trustees.
The same privileges are granted at the
same time to the Protestant college at
Beirut, the American College for Girls
at Scutari and to all other American
missionary institutions for higher edu-
cation throughout the Turkish empire.
For this recognition these institutions
are indebted to the persistency and the
influence of Mr. Straus, who. during all
the years that he has served as the
States at the Turkish court, has been
an active friend and protector of Chris
tian missionaries and the work in which
they are engaged.
Turkish Students in College.
In addition to this trade, the Turkish
government has placed in Robert College
five more students. making ten in all,
to be educated. according to American
| ideas, for teachers and superintendent
Of schools. Although Robert College is
|. founded on the Christian faith, and its
students are required to attend religious
worship on Sunday and morning prayers
on week days, it is entirely non-sectarian,
and no questions are ever asked as to the
religious belief Of students. any more
than concerning their political views.
They attend worship Just as they attend
lectures. as part of the curriculum,
be they Jews or Greeks or Moham-
medans. But it Is very significant that
Mohammedan government should select
a Christian college for the education of
Mohammedan youth.
Perhaps it would not do so If there
We're Mohammedan institutions where
these young men could be educated. But
the Turkish cabinet shows confidence i'm
the good faith as we'll as the capacity
of the American missionaries not only in
this case, but in a hundred other similar
cases where the government is paying
the expenses of Mohammedan students in
missionary schools.
Ground has been broken for the new
college buildings to be erected under the
direction of Prof John r. Allen. recent
ly Of the University OF Michigan, upon
plans designed by Prof A. d. F. Hamin
of the chair of architecture Of Column. IA
University, New York city, a son of Dr.
Cyrus Hamlin, founder and first presf-
dent of Robert College. The new build
ings are to be paid for out of the legacy
of $3.0O0OOO recently left by the late
John s. Kennedy of New York city
Occupies Superb Site.
Robert College occupies one of the most
superb sites of any institution of the
world. 1t stands on the summit of one
of the highest bluffs Of the Bosphorous,
commanding view in both directions
| and over both shores of that wonderful
body of water. 1t is test of limb and
| lung to climb the path that leads up the
hill Of science from the boat landing at
the suburban village Of Bebek, but when
you reach the top you are fully reyaid
for the exertion by the panorama that
Is spread out before you. as well as by
the cordial welcome Of President Gates
and his associates.
Mohammed II selected this command
ing point for the RumiH Hisar, a mighty
castle which he built in the middle of
| the fifteenth century. while he was be-
mediately opposite. upon the Asiatic
shore OF the Bosphorous, a similar cas-
| tie was erected, and the two commanded
the passage so that every ship passing
Mohammed called this castle Boghag
kessen throat CUTTER, for he had a
very pleasant way with him.
| The ruins are as picturesque and
| extensive as any in Europe, and
nearly 600 years. although the floors
and ceilings have long since fallen
through. The walls have crumbled and
much stone has been taken away for
building material. They were originally
| thirty feet thick and thirty feet high.
| and were built with the greatest haste
and energy. Mohammed employed loo
masons. 1000 lime burners and 10000
| laborers in the construction, and to each
| mason was assigned the task of building
| two yards of wall in three months BY
| this division of labor and responsibility
the work was completed in the time
named by the ingenious designs of the
engineers. and the outline of the walls
forms the Turkish word ''Mahomet"
Romance of It's Founding.
| Certain incidents I'm connection with
the foundation and early history Of Rob-
ert College are quite romantic During
the Crimean war New York merchant,
christopher Robert, was visiting Con-
| stantinople. and while crossing the Bos-
phorous one day in a boat to Scutari, the
principal suburb on the Asiatic side, ran
| across a boatload of bread which looked
| very much like that he was accustomed
to at home. Upon inquiry he learned that
the loaves came from the ovens of an
] American missionary school, conducted
by man named Hamlin at Bebek. on