The Holbrook news., 1912-02-16

nOuSS pSuulleSS. OCCdSlOndlly udA
 contrives to evade this obligation by
 treating his wife with such brutality that she is forced to run away from
 him. and thus forfeits her marriage portion.
 Polygamy, although permitted by
 law to the extent of four wives, Is rarely practiced by modern Turks and is supposed to be contrary to the high est teaching of the Koran. To the av- craze. uneduceted Mohammedan wom- an, however, fourth share in hus- band Is better than none at all The first questions invariably put to Q stranger are: How old are you? Are you married?" When the answer iB in the negative the Questioner con tinues: Why not? Is your father too poor to buy you a husband?"
 Turkish law enacts that a mans wife should be inferior to him in age. fortune and in dignity. but superior in manners, modesty and beauty. He also Is slightly restricted in his choice. inasmuch as, he may not marry a mer- maid or a dim or any other n0n-ex- istent being, nor may he marry a pa- gan There are no illegitimate chill dren in Turkey. all children having the same legal rights. It Is not eti- quette to mention the women of his hosehold to a strict Mohammedan un- less the latter happen to have re- ceived a European education. and 1t would be considered highly indelicate for a male guest to make inquiries as to the health of the women of the harem.
 The debatable question in Turkey as to whether women have souls ap- pears now to have been settled in the affirmative. In the Koran it is stat ed: God has promised to believers, men and women. gardens beneath where rivers flow. and goodly places in the, Garden of Eden, to dwell there in forever" Rarely. however. do wom- en take part in any religious ceremo- nies, as they can be present at the mosques only when hidden away from view behind thick curtains. But they are expected to observe the great fast of Ramazan, lasting for thirty days, as carefully as do the men.
 Went Without Wells.
 The year 1908 was memorable one for Turkish women. many of whom threw themselves heart and soul into the reform movement. After the downfall of the ex-sultan. Abdul Ham, i'd, thousands of women discarded their veils. and accompanied their hus- bands and brothers into the streets. In Smyrna also women appeared in public with their husbands. walking side by side instead of behind them A few months later the sultan return ed to Constantinople. and during .he week following his restoration to pow CT no woman dared show herself in the streets of the capital. Then came the re-establishment of the constitu- ton, and large body of women wait ed upon the ministers of the empire. announcing their intention of going unveiled in the future.
 The members of the deputation were coldly informed that they could do so if they chose. but it would be at their own risk. The danger was too great in a country so fanatically religious. Still. the more advanced women are hopeful for the future and feel that the way has been paved for | a more enlightened condition of things. There are now between fifty and sixty Mohammedan girls in the | American college for girls at Constan- tinople. The only Mohammedan wom- an in Turkey who has the degree of bachelor of arts was graduated from this college. This woman. Mime. Hali- deh Salih, Is director of the Dar-ul the Normal School for Girls. In addition to occupying her self with education and politics. she Is publishing two books which will soon be given to the public; one is a novel entitled "Sevieh Lalib." and the other Is a volume on pedagogical sub Iects.