Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-22

w most attention OF a sz<xsS<E3
foreign traveller in $50
Turkey is its women. Like
shadows in atmosphere OF
secrecy and silence, these SA&
yelled phantOmS arouse in the bSs
heart of stranger feeling OF 49,
pity and curiosity. Not only the stories of kSs
the Arabian Nights but the romantic mys- -
terv that surrounds oriental life, have been -
the of the eagerness of the Western
imagination to know something of the -
harem that real home of Turkish women 49,
According to the Islam the master of the I.
house alone enter the harem although aE
Mahomet the Prophet did not give any
definite prescription for that saying, "a
virtuous woman is the most precious thing
in the universe, and as such she should be
kept out of the public curiosity" His
daughter Fatima, the wife of Ali,
particular about it, and Sa1d "The most .
virtuous woman is she who sees man,
and whom no man sees, except her husband
and her father
1t was the daughter of the Prophet who
introduced harems and wells for the Turkish
women; for she thought that the most per-
feet feminine virtue was that which was
least exposed to danger. On the other hand,
she taught that woman should be as fem
mime and romantic possible by being out
of the atmosphere of The absolute separation Of
sexes the males being responsible for the social and the
females for the domestic duties, fundamental pri
cipe of the Islam religion Allah the god of Islam said
to his Prophet 20 Prophet prescribe for thy wives and
for the of all thy followers that they shall wear
VEIL that they shall be neither recognized nor SLAM
dered!"
1.-THE girls secluson in her fathers house begins with
the wearing of the VEIL writes the son of former
Turkish Cabinet Minister. @Ths happens generally
between the age of twelve and thirteen and then all
comradeshp with her boy friends must cease the veil
being the visible symbol of the separation of the
And this separation is complete in every detail At
Constantnope, in the trains in the tramways, in the
subway from Gaata to Pera the stations well
on the steamers that the country along the Bos
pors, find curtain to separate the beau Se1e from
the other"
In the streets of Turkish towns one hears in early
"BakkaH" (the grocer; @EkmekdjH (the baker,. AS
each door opens little hand slips out and takes the
delivered goods; but the receiver remains eternaly
hidden. 1t is true that often one hears feminine
voice. giving orders making inquiries; but
who she is and how she looks remains mystery.
Turkish woman goes shopping, and only on excep
tona occasions goes business errands outside her
home.
EVERY Turkish home is divided into two distinct
II parts-the selamlik for the men, and the haremlik
for the In arstocratic households the selamik
and the haremlk form two independent sides of life
each containing separate staff of servants, male for
the selamli and female for the haremlik In the mid
die class this division less strict. When the husband
be he merchant, clerk or professional man-returns
after his days work. he usually spends his evening
the selamli where he is joined by the members of his
family and receives intimate friends in the presence
of his females. However, in the poor families this
almost vanishes for there the husband and the feminine
members of his family interninge freely DUNG the
tire day.
1t is rare that Turkish husband accompanies his
wife in the street. She usually goes alone with her
children, companion, servant poor Turk is often
exception; but he walks the opposite side
OF the street To guest, especially to stranger a
Turk will speak of his wife of his daughter and