The Rice belt journal., 1919-12-13

R C0nslanun0ple has for cen
tUries occupied unique posi-
ion. and because Of the pecu.
liar sci Of circumstances vital 10 her
very existence as The capital Of the
Ottoman empire. the war affected her
il 3 manner peculiar 10 herself. When
war broke out practically all the es-
sentiaI services Of the country were III
The hands Of foreigners, German.
French or British. and nor only we're
there large colonies af these nationals
in the country. but ia The capital itself
the ruling race were il the minority,
Jews. Greeks and Armenians form ing
the bulk Of the population. ! shall not
attempt 10 discuss Turkish particip2-
ZION in the war, nor The yaSI problems
which are low presented by the COZ
lapse Of the OTTOMAN empire, says
writer in the Sphere. Suffice il 10 say
that when the Goeben arrogaDtly
steamed up the Daraanelles, and after
displaying her magIi6ceDce as far
north as Herafn dropped anchor of
Seragli0 Point, The Gle was cast, Ger
man policy i'll Turkey had reached its
conSummaTion. and one after the 9th
ct. Turkey, Bulgaria, Rounania and
Greece were dragged into the vortex
Of war.
What has been said viii serve 10 pre-
pare the reader for what changes 10
expect in the Constantinople lie used
10 know. In many ways. since outside
support is as necessary as ever TO The
town. changes are az first not 50 ap-
parent, and the crumbling Of the en-
pre- Is as yet bUt family echoed in It's
cosmopolitan capital Streets are as
crowded as ever, shops in the Grande
Rue SIS arTislical]y dressed. Prices
have scared, bur the exchange IL Sc
heavily asainet the EiiGsrre that for,
eigners are bat httle affected. Turk
ish women. v'ho before the war We're
coming oct Of their seelusion and els.
carding the vel, are Bow 10 be seer
Everywhere in public. unveiled and
Eayly dressed HomesyF1n Brousss
six Is The chef material employed
cotton goods having been 4I but unob
tainable during the war
The majority OF the women are un
usually well shod. and no Parisiennt
wears higher heels. Their sboes seen
always new. It seems they are Ger
man-made of paper, and seldom weal
for more than q fortnight,
Teaching Courtesy to Women.
Male manners take lbng to accus:ou
themselves 10 such changes in III,
WAYS Of their womenfolk. and il nepel
enters their heads to give up tran
seat 10 lady, whereby hangs a rale
One evening British soldier enteret
a tram and saw six men sitting ant
six ladies standing. He was Indignant
he had d1ned With the soleulnity Of
London policeman he approached eacl
man in iurn. and summoning his on
word of Turkish, Eide (oufside)
Johnny !" and turning TO q lady. ma
dam. SIT down" This till all six wer
seated
The anchorage is 8s crowded as eve
: with shipping. only tie German fias
once predominant, is absent, and IN
American flag, previously unknown
now guite common. WarsIllfls of a
The allies ride maieshcally n anchor
and once when fWe British ships wer
engaged in battle practice IL the Sc
Of Marmora, the inhabitants Of Stan
bonl ran hiIhar and thfther wringin
: their hands and declaring that Ii
British we're sheIling Sfanb0ul il
Some inspired crime. Peace day vii
its flags and salutes produced 3 cur
ous effec1. All Turkish men-of-war q
penned up behind Galata bridge, and