Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-09-26

round about, and the sellers of fish
who cross the mountains from the sea-
coast in the small hours and reach
Caracas ut sunrise He will remain
open long after the shops of the
VeEezueIans are closed and their pro-
pvietors thinking of theaters and din
ner parties
As a general rule, when a "Turco"
has accumulated a sufficient amount Of
money he will close up shop. pack up
his belongings ana return 10 his native
land, where the means acquired in the
western world enable him to live IN
grand style" according to the stand
ards prevailing in the home town.
Once in a while, however. one Of the
little shopkeepers will decide to re-
main in South America and 'branch
out" As a result some of the most
important shops In Venezuela are
owned by "Tureos." Further:
The "Turcos" who run these big
shops naturally need employees TO help
.hem, but the employees are never
"Turcos," for, as | said, these people
insist on being their own bosses. So
The strange anomaly is presented of
these keen competitors Of the venezne-
Ian merchants being served by Vene-
auelan employees. Customers entering
several Of The principal dry goods
shops Of Caracas will find behind the
counter a young Venezuelan clerk, who
Will obliginely hand down goods from
the shelves while tucked away in
dark cnbby-hole. barely visible from
the frtnt Of the shop, Is swartlly
"Turco" proprietor bent over his
ledger. trying to figure ont how soon
he can return to Mount Lebanon and
cut swath among home-folk.
observe MohamM>;lan Forms.
'Turcos" are born traders and shun
other forms of business. Their idea
Of line Of endeavor worthwhile is
one where they have to take no
chances; hence they never speculate,
not even so much as TO extend credit
to their customers, practically all their
transactions being conducted ON
cash basis. And they refuse to change
When they close their shops they
hurry to the quarters where they live
--in Caracas they are packed togeth-
er In enc Of the worst sections Of the
city-and take up mode of living
which Is not a bit different from that
Of their kin along the eastern shore of
the Mediterranean. AT sunset the Mo-
hammedans among them PROSTATE
themselves toward Mecca and reclte
the prayers enioined upon them by
the prophet Old Moors, oriental TO
the finger tips, IN spite OF their occi-
dental garb, sit at the doors Of Span
ish-American novels and chatter gin
Arabic, quite rs If they were in Fez
or hlgiers Now and then fcud
started at home before they emigrated.
bursts orr ~ the Arabic purIiens 90
some Venezuelan city. and then news
paper readers running over the police
news see wonderful collection 81
names. Abu This and sfohammed that
al run IN for disturbing the peace.
Once one Of these feuds took on tho
proportions ~ q regular Tong war Of
New York's Chinatown, and resulted
IN half dozen murders before the
passions aroused IN northern Africa
could be Gained down in Venezuela.
There have been some amusing IN
cidents connected with the rise Of the
'rurcos" In Venezuela. Tor one thing,
they thvow dignity to the winds and,
there. too. they get under the skins OF
the YenezuesaHs, who. ike everybody
Of the Spanish race, are Eattlng II not
dignified. While the native merchant,
however humble, viii stay inside his
shop aud salt upon his customers with
grave courtesy. the ''Turco." as Ike as
not, viii stand at the door ana irge
passers-by with an engaging smile TO
enter and look over his wares.