Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-10
TURKS FREE WOMEN
Veil No Longer BADGE of Femi-
nine Virtue.
EMANCIPATION GOING ON
Thirst for knowledge Shown by
Gcntler Sex.
COLLEGE INFLUENCE SPREADS
Halideh Salih's Translation of
Mother in the Home" Work Of
American Clergyman.
COLLEGE INFLUENCE SPREAD
BY WILLIAM L. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f.. CURTIS
| Special Correspondence of The Star and the
| Chicago Record Herald.
| CONSTANTINOPLE, September 6, 1910.
| The emancipation of Turkish women
is not complete. but has advanced with
| remarkable speed.
| The restrictions which have kept them
| in seclusion and ignorance have already
| been largely removed. No single reform
| that has followed the change of gov
eminent has been more radical or COM
| plete.
Upon the retail trading streets of Pera,
|. the foreign section of ConStantinople,
| YOU can see thousands of unveiled Turk
ish women any afternoon, and thousands
| more of women whose wells are thrust
aside so that their physical and mental
visions are clear and they can look a
man in the face without a blush of
embarrassment or shame.
In STEAMBOAT. almost exclusively of ma
tive Inhabitants, the change Is not quite
SO general, but a stranger would scarce
~ notice the difference. In other
Turkish cities, ! am told, the same
change has taken place.
Half the women of the empire wear
wells now simply as a matter of habit in
them wear the thinnest sort of gauze In
place Of the impenetrable yashmak that
they were compelled to draw over their
faces before the constitution.
Indeed, the average veil worn by the
women of Turkey today does not conceal
their eyes or their features any more
than the dotted stuff affected by the
fashionable women Of European cities and
the United States.
Wells Cast Aside.
This gossamer curtain is also in the
mask.
During the first weeks that followed
the revolution of July, 1908, nearly every
woman drew off her veil, and many par
ticipated in the political demonstrations,
as the women Of Paris did in the riots
OF the commune. And ] am told that
throughout the day and the evening the
windows of the residences were filled
with unveiled faces, which looked with
were passing by.
Today women who drive about In car
riages discard the veil altogether, even
the inmates OF the imperial harem. This,
however, Is not so radical z change as
would appear, because the new sultan is
perhaps the most liberal man in all
Turkey.
So many Turkish women were imprudent
In their behavior Immediately after the
revolution that the thoughtful ones called
a halt and resumed their wells as pro-
test against the indelicate and unwoman-
ly demednor of some Of their sex.
The minister of police issued an official
communication, with the approval of the
leaders of the Young Turks party, re-
qUesting ladies not to so into the streets
with their faces uncovered. Managers
of theaters and other places of amuse-
ment were forbidden to admit women to
their performances.
But such things usually adjust them
selves in time. The experience of two
years has resulted in d sort of compro-
mise by which sensible women still wear
wells, but cover their faces only when
necessary to protect themselves against
masculine insolence.
Badge of Feminine Virtue.
The use Of the veil for centuries has
been more or less an act of piety. as
we'll as social custom. 1t is supposed
to be required by the Koran.
/ have never been able to find any pas
sage which demands or even suggests it.
But that Is the Interpretation Of the
Mohammedan world. The association OF
ideas has made the veil 4 badge of
feminine virtue.
An ordinary Mohammcdan woman
would no more go into the street, or
stand In the presence of man who
does not belong to her family, without
a veil, than she would without Il skirt
or any other necessary article of clothing.
This practice prevails throughout the Mo-
hammedan world In the larger cities, where
women of the foreign population have
been accustomed TO go about with I'M
covered faces they do at home, the
veil has come to be regarded Us d badge
of slavery.
Women of intelligence and self -respect
have detested it as they would shackles
upon their hands or feet. This explains
why SO many Turkish women cast off
their wells and went about the streets
with uncovered faces at the first oppor-
tunity that vas offered them.
But the thoughtful ones have settled
down to Il rational estimate of their
condition and have taken their fate in
their own hands. They have decided upon
| their own emancipation. Their leaders
are wise enough. to urge the necessity of
! caution and to beg their sisters to avoid
| every form of imprudence lest too radical
and rapid reform should create re-
| action.
| Harems Fast Disappearing.
| The change, however. has been long
| time coming. II is by no means the