Norwich bulletin., 1915-01-14
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

ConstantinopIe, metropolis and capi-
 tai of the Turk, and Mecca, the sacred city and lodegtone of Moham- medan religious life, are, probably, the
 -wO most definite conceptions of the weSterner concerning the Ottoman Empire. He has thought of the dome and d-minaret-sp sprinkIed city of Golden Horn as one whose glories were past, as one fevered through and through with the disease of mtsmanagement, ignorance, and kismet-lethargy. He has thought of It as the husk of a once mighty and brilliant city.
 There are other elements and other people in the wide sweep of Ottoman power, however. In a careful consid- eration of Asiatic Turkey, prepareu ny stephen van Rensselaer, Trowbridge for the National Geographic Society
 the writer advises Us to remember that the individual Turk possesses many admirable qualities of hospitality, cOur- age and fidelity, that in many parts of the Ottoman lands i1 Asia strong phy- siQues are developed by rugged coun- try and q braCing climate and strong characters as well. He continues:
 Although still in the dark ages as regards science. although under the handicap of a religion which runs athwart all our modern civilization al
 though Well-nigh ruined by the vicious despOtisTn of the Red Sultan, Abdul Ramid; although fanaticaI and ruth less toward his Armenian and Syrian subjects, yet it is my strong conviction
 that the Turk has in him good material for manhood. The qualities of fOrti-
 ,udc and friendship are not lacking. The consciousness of God is in his heart wherever he goes and whatever
 he does. Among the peasantry especi- ally there is a. Spartan spirit of en- du"anCe which commands admiration"
 The reason that the people of the
 West seldom think of the vast lands in
 Asia ill connection with the Ottoman nation, is, Mr. Trowbridge indicates,
 because all fruitful, historic territory
 has slept c sleep of centuries under
 Turkish administra ton. COnstantino- pole has been the sole point of contact for a waking outside world. Tn the
 province the Turks have built no mon uments which will abide" he says. Their seven centuries Of occupation have served to denolish many stately
 ruins Of ancient architecture: but 2s for constructive work not even roaus and bridges have been built"
 Yet, according to this writer, all forms of wealth, the basis for g na- tional life of vital world interest are within these Ottoman lands. There cedar forests. famous Lebanon cedar5 with their trunks of from 50 to so feet | in height and their girths often of more than 20 feet. With proper de- l teicDLlSlll, no IICtlSI IdIu4l1lS OE BIEtZ- l ing lands are to be found than within l this same empire, including those val 1 leys where civilization was cradIed Experts state that the Mesopotamiar plain, properly irrigated, would pro- duce a substantial share of the worlds cotton. Here the silk worm industry hourishes, and among the most his- 1 Cious tropical fruits are grown. Yet | in this century, wooden blows are used and grain is stamped from the ear.
 l The mineral resources of this sleep 1 ing empire have not been explored l However, rich copper mines are knowE i in parts of the Taurus, outCroppings o1 i coal have been found, and oil fields 1 have been discovered near Bagdad.
 Modern life is just beginning to seer l through. American missionaries have brought much Of it. The undevelopet natives. some more primitive thar were those who fought under the last Darius against Alexander sleepers 1T 1 the richest of all the worlds historica ] sepulcherS, are just awakening to the 1 demands of more advanced centuries l to a knowledge of the needs of presen l day transportation methods, of stee farm implements and machinery, oi gas engines, of sewing machines, o factory equipment, and of electric in stallation. Coarse cloth and wheat fol ] themselves and barley for their horses l has hitherto stood for plenty.