The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-12-22

~ AM VIII Is Sdyo q ia n
WV ish proverb, and the nation
at large appears to acqui-
esce American and Brit
1sh women are now studying the lie
of their Turkish sisters as never be-
fore. Books, missionary reports and
lectures are resorted to for informa-
ton.
The Turkish refugees who arrived
at Naples from Tripoli were not al
lowed to land in their native dress
for fear of disturbances. The port au-
thorities only allowed those to disem-
bark who substituted the veil or bar
acan (the usual woollen garment OF
Tripoli) for the skirt or trousers OF
Europe. Several refugees altogether
refused to surrender their native garb
and remained on board pending their
return to Tripoli.
The Mohammedan baby girl has her
one and only name-neither father
nor husband will share his with her
whispered softly into her ear three
times when just few days old. That
is her baptism. Later she accompan-
les her little brother to the primary
school; later still she probably will
attend school for girls only, where
she will be taught a little grammar,
arithmetic. some Persian and Turkish
broidery and needlework. Rich people
with modern ideas usually have an
English or French governess to com-
plete their daughters education. but
this does not apply In the case OF
those less well to do. Both girls and
boys are taught to read the Koran and
to repeat portions of it, but as 1t is
In Arabic they do not understand what
they are reading.
At fifteen a Mohammedan girl comes
of age and is legally entitled to pos
sess property of her own. which she
may buy or sell, invest or give away.
without consulting any one. At fifteen
also she must put on the black veil.
"tcharchaf" symbol of womanhood,
and say goodby to her piaymates, to
her open air life and to her liberty
She passes through a door in the high
brick wall, separating the mems quar-
tiers from those Of the women. into the
harem. Here she remains mysterious.
unknown, invisible, prisoner behind
latticed windows, awaiting her newt
able destiny in the form Of hus-
band
In the stricter Moslem families wom-
en- usually are permitted to leave the
seclusion of the harem and the
grounds surrounding it once a week
only. Every Friday. that is. the Turk
ish Sabbath. they may go out to shop,
walk, drive, exchange visits and get as
much fresh air and sunshine as they
can to last them for the rest of the
week. Frequent excursions are made
in the spring by the women Of Con-
stantinople to the banks of the Sweet
Waters of Asia, tiny river set in
meadows bordered with trees and gay
with lighthouses and cafes. In sum-
mer the Sweet Waters of Europe, a
still timer edition of its Asiatic name
sake. Is a favorite meeting place. On
these gala days the hillsides and river
banks are crowded with parties of
women dressed in long. trailing gar
ments of one color-blue or crimson.
yellow or rose-the black veil being
discarded on these occasions for an
almost transparent one of white mus
lin.
Live In ldleness.
Indoors the favorite occupation OF
these women, apparently. is to sit still
and do nothing, their hands folded in
ertly in front Of them and their little
feet tucked carefully out of sight
They are very fond of cigarette
smoking. chatting with their friends,
drinking coffee and eating sweet
meats. Eating of any description is
popular with Turkish women and that.
combined with lack Of exercise and
absence of household duties. causes
them to become fat and apathetic
while they are still quite young.
Furniture is very simple in most
Mohammedan homes. Bedsteads are
quite unknown in the interior of Tur-
key, although they are now fairly gen.
eral in Constantinople and other large
towns on the coast. An old woman
once came to the church missionary
society for medical attention. She
was in great pain and had walked for
six hours before reaching the hospital
After an examination by the doctor it
was decided that an operation was
necessary. The woman was taken
into bedroom, but was afraid to get
into the bed, as she never had seen
one before. Cannot the foreign peo-