The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-11-01

| round about, and the sellers of fish
who cross the mountains from the sea.
| coast I'm the small hours and reach
Caracas at sunrise. He will remain
| open long after the shops of the
| Eenezuelans are closed and their pro-
prietUrs thinking of theaters and din
| ncG PARTIES.
! AS general rule, when a "1'urcO"
| has accumulated q sufficient amount of
money. he will close up shop pack up
! his belongings and return TO 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.
I Once in while, however, one of the
little shopkeepers will decide TO re-
main in South America and "bran"h
OUT AS a result some of The most
important shops in Venezuela are
owned by "Turcos." Further:
The "Turcos" who run these big
shops naturally need employees to help
Them but the employees are never
'Turcos,' for. as said. these people
insist on being their own bosses. SO
the strange anomaly is presented %
these keen competitors of the Venezun-
ian merchants being served by ycne-
z'ielan employees. Customers entering
several of the principal dry goods
shops of Caracas will find behind the
counter young Venezuelan clerk, who
will obligingly hand down goods from
the shelves, while, tucked away in a
dark cubby-hole, barely visible from
the front Of the shop, is q swarthy
TurcO" proprietor bent over his
ledger, trying to figure out how soon
he can return to Mount Lebanon and
cut swath among ho,ne-folk.
Observe Mohsynnecan Forms.
"Turcos", are born traders and shun
other forms OF business. Their idea
or line OF endcayor 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 a
cash basis. And they refuse TO change
their oriental ways, it seems.
When they close :heir shops they
hurry to the quarters where they live
in Caracas they are packed togeth-
or IN one or the worst sections of the
city-and take up mode of living
winch is not 4 bit different from that
OF their Kin along the eastern shore Of
the mediterranean. At sunset the Mo-
lllmmedans among them PROSTATE
themselves toward Mecca and recite
the prayers enjoineG upon them By
tie prophet. Old Moors. oriental to
'hc hnger tips, in spite OF their occi-
uental garb. sit at the doors of Span-
novels and chatter in
Arabic, quite as if they were in Tez
Or Algiers. Now and then feuh.
started at home before they emigrated.
bursts out In the Arabic purlieus OF
some Venezuelan city. and then news
paper readers running over the police
news see a wonderful collection OF
names. Abu this and Mocha mined flint.
III run in for disturbing the peace.
Jnce one of these feuds took on the
proportions of regular Tong war OF
New York's Chinatown. and resulted
n half dozen murders before the
PASSIONS aroused In northern Africa
'ould be Gained down In Venezuela.
There have been some amusing in
'idents connected with the rise of the
.Iurcos' In Venezuela. For one thing,
ney throw dignity to the winds and.
here. too, they get under the skins OF
ne Venezuelans. who. like everybody
Il fhe Spanish race. are nothing IL not
lignifed. While the native merchant,
lowever humble. will stay inside his
mop and wait upon his customers with
rave courtesy. the 'Turco," as like as
ot' VIII stand at the door and urge
asserS-Dy with an engaging smile to
inter- and look over his wares.