The Connecticut labor press., 1919-12-20
OMPARED with other capital

~ OMPARED with other capitals
 Constantinople has for cen turies occupied a unique posi-
 tion, and because of the pecu' liar set of circumstances vital to her very existence as the capital of the Ottoman empire, the war affected her in a manner peculiar to herself. When war broke out practically all the es- sential services of the country were in the hands of foreigners, German, French or British, and not only were there large colonies of these nationals in the country, but in the capital itself the ruling race were in the minority, Jews, Greeks and ArmenianS forming the bulk of the population. I shall not attempt to discuss Turkish participa- tiOn in the war, nor the vast problems which are now presented by the col lapse of the Ottoman empire, says writer in the Sphere. Suffice it to say that when the Goeben arrogantly steamed up the Daldanelles, and after displaying her magnifcence as far north as Heraf1n dropped anchor off SeragliO Point, the die was cast, Ger man policy in Turkey had reached it's consummation, and one after the oth- CT, Turkey, Bulgaria, Roumania and Greece were dragged into the vortex of war.
 What has been said will serve to pre- pare the reader for what changes to expect in the Constantinople he used to know. In many ways, since outside support is as necessary as ever to the town, changes are at first not so ap- parent, and the crumbling of the en- pire is as yet but faintly echoed in its cosmopolitan capital. Streets are as crowded as ever, shops in the Grande Rue as artistically dressed. Prices have scared but the exchange is so heavily against the piastre that for eigners are but little affected. Turk ish women, who before the war were coming out of their seclusion and dis carding the veil, are now to be seen everywhere in public, unveiled and gayly dressed. Homespun Broussa silk is the chief material employed, cotton goods having been all but un6b- tGinable during the war.
 The majority of the women are un- usually well shod, and no Parisienne wears higher heels. Their shoes seem always new- It seems they are Ger man-made ct paper, and seldom wear for more than a fortnight!
 Teaching Courtesy to Women.
 Male manners take long to accustom themselves to such changes in the ways of their womenfolk, and it never enters their heads to give up a tram seat to a lady, whereby hangs a tale One evening a British soldier entered a tram and saw six men sitting and six ladies standing. He was indignant he had dined. With the sOlemnity of a London policeman he approached each man in turn, and summoning his one word of Turkish. "Eide (outside), JOhnny!' and turning to a lady, Ma dam, sit down." This till all six were seated.
 The anchorage is as crowded as ever with shipping only the German flag, once predominant. is absent, and the American flag, previously unknown. now quite common. Warships of all the allies ride majestically at anchor, and once when two British ships were engaged in battle practice in the Sea of MarmOra, the inhabitants of Stam- bOul ran hither and thither wringing their hands and declaring that the British were shelling StambOul for some inspired crime. Peace day with it's flags and salutes produced a curi- Ous effect All Turkish men-Of-War are penned up behind Galata bridge, and