The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1919-08-13

FINDS LIFE IN ORIENT INTER-
ESTTNG; SEES AMERICA AS
HOPE OF THE NEAR EAST
Trebizond, Turkey.

Dear Mrs. Wilson -:
Last evening ! had the opportuni-
ty Of reviewing my first impressions
of Turkey, as yesterdays mail brought
me some newspaper clippings from the
states including my letter to you writ
ten March 8 In Constantinople which
you had the courage to print in the
sazette First impressions are not
always the correct ones, but I am
happy to say that today, nearly four
months after that letter was written
/ can stand by my statement that
America is the hope of the Near
East At that time I was attempt
ing to reflect public opinion as / un-
derstood it in Constantinople. To-
day, in Trebizond, am more firmly
convinced that that opinion prevails
IN the minds of all races concerned
than / was in March. Whether or not
America is the hops Of the Near East,
and whether or not America should
shoulder responsibility for this part
of the globe are questions that shall
gladly leave to more experienced
Journalists and politicians for discus
sion and solution. merely wish to
reflect what is very evidently public
opinion over here.
News is rather scarce over here.
The mail boat from Constantinople
comes once week but it does not al
ways have mail for us. When it does
you may be sure we declare holiday
and drink in all the news we can
gather from all the letters and papers
of the several members of our party.
AS the four persons of our party are
the only Americans in the city we are
always glad to welcome any other fell
low countryrnan who may be In these
parts. Yesterday was rather full
day in that respect as we received calls
from Admiral Bristol, Commander of
the American navy in Constantinop
and his party from the battleship,
Manly. While we have English
speaking friends and interpreters IN
the city it was corking good treat to
hear some real Omitted States Eng
lish' from somebody beside ourselves.
Somebody has said that money talks,
and verify hath he spoken the truth.
And furthermore, money is no re-
spector of languages. At home the
American dollar speaks English. But
over here it appears to be able to
speak Turkish or Greek or Armenian
with equal ease, as some recent ex-
periences have proved to me. ! think
/ have said that / have been busy re-.
Gently selling American flour to the
bakers. It SO happens that the Dak-
cry in our section of the city IS just
opposite our house within eighty feet
of the room In which we sleep. Tn
the first morning after -four had been
given on we were awakened shortly az
ter sunrise by terrible connection IN
the street below. Waiting a few
minutes to see If the noise would die
away / finally arose and walked TO the
window to see what was going on.
Now there is word in the Turkish
language which describes what saw
more wildly than any word know IN
2English, and that is sscolobolic.' just
roll that word around on your tongue
for few minutes and imagine q yell
ING. pushing, eager crowd of all the
races over here waving their paper
money in the air and calling to the
baker for a piece of the first real
white bread they had seen for years
and YOU will imagine what / saw as
looked out of the window. Starting
denunciation Of the blankity blank
heather for disturbing my slumbers
suddenly realized that it was the AM
erican -four I had sold the day be-
fore from which the bread was made.
So I Law me down In the midst OF my
mutterings to try to catch nap
before rising time.
After enjoying the broad and well
paved streets of Fairmont and other
American cities for several years II
REQUIRES considerable time and no little
self discipline to accustom oneself 70
the narrow, dirty, rough. and CROWD
ed streets of the average turkish
town. And Trebizond is no exception
to the rule. About two weeks after
the experience mentioned above was
hurrying, with my interpreter. through
the narrow main street OF the city
bent on urgent business. Now at
home one may hurry down the main
business street if he wishes without
nl1ch Inconvenience. But not SO here.
AaOn this particular occasion, beside the
ferular crowd of pedestrians. notlc-
ed q procession of the native inland
ovcalts loaded with flour, numbering
and shrieking their way through the
street. Twice had been stopped Dy
them. each time becoming more pro-
voked and hotter. Finally, when the
third time / literally had to jump TO
the sidewalk and back up to the build
inc to keep from being run down by
one. / let out another TRADE against
anyone who would jeopardize tne
limbs of people who had rlgns g
the street by driving those carts e
carelessly; and commanded my m1e q
nreter to find out from the next oIIv,-
or whose floor it was and where = was 5
going. Presently we passed one, II; ~ !
nv Interpreter informed me. W1tn !, Z !
smile. that it was -four ! had Dougne
secret secretly the day before through :