Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-09-10
NATIVE ARMEN|ANS
Give entertainment
An Interesting Evening Exhibition
Of Eastern Customs, Costumes
and Songs.

DR.. Chas. X. Dyer, assisted by his
brother James, both native Armen-
ians. gave most entertaining and
instructive exhibition of Turkish
and Armenian customs at the court
house last evening, Dr.. Dyer
opened the evenings program with
a brief summary of the great east
ern question in its relation to Tur-
key and Armenia, declaring that the
problem would never be solved until
the Turkish government, was wiped
from the face of the earth and the
people of that benighted country
given q chance to live as other ma
lions of the earth. To the question,
why do not the Armenians fight for
their independence as other oppress-
ed people have done, he replied by
showing the utter hopelessness of an
attempt of four millions of down
trodden Armenians to defeat twen-
ty-five millions Of half civilized and
almost fiendish Turks who have in
their hands all the power of ty-
rannical government and unlimited
wealth at their command.
His brother, James, then spoke in
terestingly of economical and social
conditions of his native country,
showing that Armenia is indeed a
land rich in resources and ABUNDANT
ly able to foster race of people
capable of taking their place with
the more advanced nations of the
globe. Armenia has climate not
unlike that of the United States.
Four seasons with a summer of abb
solute drought, however, constitute
a year, so that irrigation with the
Tigris and Euphrates river as the
base of the water supply is neces-
sary. Wheat yields 20 bushels to
the acre, watermelons grow so large
as to weigh, 100 lbs. and cabbages
average 60 to rs lbs. each, while APP
pies are three times as large as
those of the United States. But
wages and prices are very low.
Wheat sells for Is cents per bushel
and corn for 10 cents. A child might
be sent to a grocery store in Ar
menia with five cents and secure a
supply of bread, butter and eggs for
a family and still return with
change in his pockets. A good COW
may be purchased for s4.10 and a
horse for SIS. But wages are still
lower, 15c being the average days
wage. The country is absolutely
without modern improvements, such
as railroads. city lights. sidewalks,
sewerage, etc. Automobiles are UNI
known and the country's resources
(almost as rich as those of our land)
almost entirely undeveloped because
despot rules the land who will not
allow the people to learn the ways
Of modern civilization and live
thereby. The sultan draws salary
of $5,00O,000 per annum, supports a
standing army of 100000 men and
his harem swarms with $50 wives.
No hospitals or other institutions
for the unfortunate and the poor are
maintained outside Of the missions
supported and protected by other
nations. No public schools save
those of the missionary in which
the study of history is strictly for
hidden, lest the mass of the people
having become enlightened break
out in open rebellion and force a
recognition of their right to bet
ter existence. Mr.. Dyer stated that
the revolution of two. years ago did
but very little good, but he prophe-
sled hopefully of more beneficial
changes in the not far distant fut-
ure.
| or schools he said that boys and
girls attended separate institutions
On Monday morning every child il
regularly logged for the sins of the
past week. Children discard shoes
before entering the school room anc
sit on the floor of the room. Ian
guage of Europe and Asia are the
subjects studied most largely ant
Mr.. Dyer with but one year II
America, supplemented by what
study he had OF English In the mis-
sion schools, certainly has mos
wonderful command of our Ian
guage. 1t would seem that the Ar
menians stood good chance of be
coming the greatest linquists of the
world.
One of the most interesting feat
ures of the evenings entertainment
was the repetition of Mohamme
dan prayer with accompanying ges
lures by DR.. Dyer. This was follow
ed by the singing Of several wei
-. a,,o,,,o, cnu orc in tho Turk