Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-09-08
TURKS 'SANCTUM'
HOW THE HAREM FIGURES IN
LIFE OF THE ORIENT.
sGerman Writer Asserts That Western
Travellers Have Given Out an En-
tirely Wrong Impression of
the Institution.

The West brought its civilization
to the East, but one thing the Western
people were unable to drive away from
the Orient was the harem. The Orien-
tai will stick to his harem. To over
turn this old institution would make
Ian end of culture in the Orient.
The harem is home for women
members of the family, widowed moth
ers, old maid aunts and others of the
family branch. Even old servants, un-
fit for further service, are taken into
the harem.
The word harem means holy place,
a protected home, and not what is
falsely understood Il place where rich
Orientals hide and maintain their
many wives. The children born in
harems are kept there and carefully
nursed by their mothers. Therefore
the death rate in these refugees is
very small.
Conversations in the haremS are car
ried on so that the children do not I'M
| derstand what is said in their pres
/ ence, and as the children are always
under the special care of their moth
ers, servants have no opportunity to
teach such children things they should
not know.
Married life is one of trust, love and
obedience. The middle classes live in
homes according to their means. the
wives with their children on the second
floor, where mans eye cannot reach.
Sultans and khedives generally have
for their wives separate palaces, some
Of them decorated in the best Western
styles, the rooms are darkened through
Venetian blinds. which gives them a
gloomy appearance. Where several
wives live in one house each one has
her separate household. The wives
meet often by special invitation; they
live in harmony together; there is no
petty jealousy, each knows that the law
Of wives. 1t is wrong to think that
bridegroom and bride-to-be have 10
marry each other by the will of the
parents. The parents certainly make
the proposal, but the young people are
allowed the final word.
Western people have accused the
Turks of poygamy, which is denied
by the Oriental and the accusation re
turned with the remark, the Western
men are worse, for they flee from flow
er to flower, but no one brings any Of
these flowers home to make her hi:
wife.
Reforms and Western modes have
brought much unhappiness into the
harems, and often when too late Mos
lem women have found out that the!
were wrong.
The Oriental, rich or poor, does no
allow his wife to do laborious work
] she has to live for her husband AM
children only. He wants her to liv
: in ease and comfort, and to accom-
} plish this, the husband deprivess him
self of many things, to give his wifi
, and children all the comfort possible
} The Oriental works and is thrifty
t while his wife sits at home on the car
{ pet and dreams.
The strict marriage law gives tn
. Oriental wife security and happines:
/ while Western laws do not give wive
! that security.
Turkish men seldom are rude to tn
i female population, but many Eurt
: peans who don't know the laws an
| customs of the Orientals, are the caus
: of the harem ladies being compelle
s to veil.-Impression of Institution.