Omaha daily bee., 1920-01-26
ARMY man HELPS
GIRLS IN HAREM
FIND H USb A NDS
Chicago Man Returns From
Novel Work With Near
East Mission in
Armenia.


agency to be employed in aiding
the destitute adults and orphans
in Armenia is marriage bureau.
Lieut.. Chester Forester Durham
Chicago man and United States
army reserve chaplain, returned to
his home from abroad, where he
was engaged in the Near East relief
center at Broussa, Armenia, for sew
eral MONTHS He told of this ar
rangement. .,.
ut is absolutely proper for a phi
lanthropic organization to undertake
to guide the course of maids and
men into matrimonial harbors Of
safety" said Lieutenant Durham.
The idea amazes one, but if you
were familiar with conditions III
Armenia, you would agree that this
marriage problem is more neces-
sary in this unfortunate land than
anywhere else on earth.
Protects Their Morale.
"The American committee for re-
lief in the Near East was compelled
to start marriage bureau to pro-
tcct the morale of the Armenian
people. 1t sounds unique, but it is
the most useful of the many activi-
ties of this wonderful philanthropic
organization. To provide food and
raiment, shelter and occupation for
these unfortunate victims Of Turk
ish brutality is naturally the first
great need.
But permanent solution of the
pitiable plight of the thousands of
innocent women and girls who have
been unwilling victims of the Turk
ish slavery custom calls for welfare
work which may seem strange to
western ideals, but at the same time
is Of the sternest need and of abun-
dant interest, too"
Lieutenant Durham said the bu-
reau is no romantic marriage mart,
but serious institution that is do
ing tremendous work toward the
re-establishment OF selfrespect in the
unfortunate girls who were victims
of Turkish horrors and the building
of domestic life that will be the
most healthful influence the locality
could have created in it.
Husbands Are Found.
This bureau is one of the most
important features of our work."
continued Lieutenant Durham, "hav-
ing been established primarily to
aid the girls and women rescued
from Turkish harems in getting hus-
bands.
"Armenians from the interior
come to US for aid and advice in
securing wives. They trust Amer
leans implicitly and know we have
their best interests at heart. We in
vestigate every case and if we find
that the man is the right sort we
get him in communication with these
girls who, despite their frightful
experiences, have preserved their
purity of heart and spirit.
Every such marriage has beer
successful. The men are honest and
worthy and the girls are so grateful
for their deliverance from bondage
that they are more than willing to
accept fully and gracefully the du-
ties of wives. There is little doub,
the work will ultimately build up a
sturdy new nation.
Left to Their Fate.
considerably less than one-hali
of the Armenian population that ex-
listed before the war now survives.
No Christian powers came to the
help of the poor Armenians until
the Turks had done their worst
They were left alone in their agony
until the war was over.
I'm one region a community oil
$4,000 Armenians were gathered to-
gether and driven into an inaccessi-
Bile desert, where they were all
killed or left to starve. Scores
OF thousands of gentle Armenian
girls were put to death with every
shame and torture that devilish bru-
tally could suggest. 1t was the
greatest tragedy of all time.
The American committee for re-
lief in the Near East decided tina,
great concerted effort should be
made to save the remnant of the Ar
menian nation. and no better plan
was ever evolved than that of a
marriage bureau. 1t is a credit to
America. 1t will be the means oil
rehabilitating Armenia with a gen.
Grafton of real, red-blooded people.