The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-11
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

It is not often that I call attention in
 this column to a photoplay, but think
 it proper for me to do so in the case
 of Auction of Souls" which is billed
 for the Trianon. beginning Monday,
 August. IS.
 1 do it because it gives vividly the
 awful story of Turkish cruelty aug
 mented by German ferocity as practiced
 upon the helpless Armenians. In spite
 of the fact that for more than quarter
 of century oriental cruelty was a I stench in the nostrils of Europe 1t was
 tolerated on account of the fear that l if Europe intervened there would be
 a shifting of the balance of power l remember how my heart was stir
 red within me by the terrific indict-
 fnent of Gladstone. England's Grand
 Old Man" who in spite diplomacy raised 1 his powerful voice against the wanton
 nassacres of Armenian christians by | fanactic Mahometans. and boldly said, That the 'unspeakable Turk should be kicked, bag and baggage out of Eu- 
 rope" His bold words struck a sym | the day had not come to stay the hand | that ruled from Constantinople. When it came to ways that were dark and tricks that were vain" there was no one in the same class with Sultan Abdul Hamid, the willy old diplomat who played European fear and jeal- ousy with such a crafty hand that even the outraged conscience of the better class in England was loathe to move against the great Mahomentan peril N hich threatened at any disturbance to turn loose holy war" and plunge unprotected christians in the Orient over to the mad rage of religious zealots.
 Gladstone had well named the Sul- tan of Turkey, Abdul Hamid, the damned" and when massacre followed upon massacre, added the opprobious epithet of the Butcher of Europe God Almighty seems to mark the faces of some men with the mark of beast or bird. We occasionally see the fea- lures of some man of note who has those of the eagle. I saw the blood Friday on his way to prayer and he had the face of a vulture
 Where is Armenia and who are the Armenians who have suffered tortures which have crippled them as a race at the hands of those who should have at least given them governmental pro- tection instead of persecution. Armenia is the popular modern name of dis trict south of the Caucasus and Black seas which formedF part of the ancient Armenian kingdom. Before the war 1t as divided between.Persia, Russia and Turkey, the three boundaries having common point on Little Ararat
 In the recesses of Mount Taurus the peasants are tall. handsome, though somewhat sharp featured, agile and they are robust and thick-set and coarse-featured with straight black hair and large hooked noses. The tcwnsmen in the larger ones, have more regular features, often of the Persian type. The country people are good cultivators of the soil, while the city folk are good merchants. able bankers, and skilled artisans. The upper classes are polished and well educated Many of the better classes have oc- cuped high positions in the public ser vice of Russia, Persia. Egypt and Turkey. The Armenians are essentially an Oriental people, posse essing. like the Jews, whom they resemble in their exclusiveness and widespread disper- sion remarkable tendency of race and faculty of adaptation to circumstances. They are frugal. sober, industrious and intelligent. and their sturdiness of character has enabled them to preserve their nationality and religion under the severest trials
 Now it is because of these things that want those who wish to vizual- ize some of the horrors thy have under gone to see Aurora Mard ganian. a young and beautiful girl of the Turk ish city of Harpout within the shadow of Mount Ararat. whose name has travelled around the world not because she stars in one of the great reel dramas of modern times, but because she lived through scenes so indescribable that some of the details cannot be filmed and shown even in this day when there is wide latitude given to producers in the realms of the kingdom of the movies.
 If you care to know the full sorrow of the deportation of the Armenians you have but to follow in the foot steps of this young and beautiful Chris tian woman who upon her refusal to wed Paseelt Pasha. the Turkish govern or, flees for safety to a mission taught by Miss Graham an English girl. but in spite of her throwing over the help less refugee the folds of the flag of Great Britain, she was harshly torn away by the Turkish soldiers who in
 their rage trampled it under foot.
 
 This is but the opening chapter of story that is almost unbelievable and would be easily discredted if not ab- solutely true in every particular for haven't the heart to lead you through the hell on earth through which Au- rOra DaSSed and wouldp,t uapt anv