The Holbrook news., 1912-02-16


 " at large appears to acqui-
 esce. American and Brit ish women are now studying the life of their Turkish sisters as never be- fore. Books, missionary reports and lectures are resorted to for informa- tion
 The Turkish refugees who arrived at Naples from Tripon were not all 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 TripolD 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 is her baptism. Later she accompan- les her little brother to the primary school; later still she probably will attend a school for girls only. where she will be taught a little grammar, arithmetic, some Persian and Turkish history, and follow courses in em- 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 playmates. to her open air life and to her liberty. She passes through a door in the high brick wall. separating the mems quar- ters from those of the women. into the harem- Here she remains. mysterious, unknown, invisible, a prisoner behind latticed windows, awaiting her inevit- able destiny in the form Of a hus- band.
 In the stricter Moslem families wom- en usually are permitted to leave the secIusion 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 aud 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 boathouses and cafes.
 Live in IdIeness.
 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. Thev 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.
 Turkish brides are entitled by law to a dowry from their husbands. This is divided into two parts. the prompt and the deferred. The prompt Is paid before the wedding takes place. and the bride has this money for her own use and under her own control. The 1 portion is paid only in the case of divorce, and is intended to provide against the contingency of wife being sent back to her fathers |