The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1921-04-20
KENTUCKY GIRL
TELLS OF ARMENIA
CONTRASTS sPLENDo RS OF
HAREM WITH MISERY OF
STARVING CHRISTIANS.
Driven To Seek Refuge In eraveyards
And To Use Rats For Food Peo-
pie Have Hope Only In GEN.
erosity of America.

women and children ana also lhoSe
Of riches and luxury, Miss Constance
Sheltman, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Wade Sheltman, Louisville, is living
in the midst of the scene of the trag-
edy Of Armenia.
Miss Sheltman is we'll known to Ken
tuckians. She was formerly connected
with the Pine Mountain Settlement liz
Harlan County. During the period fol-
lowing the armistice she served as re-
construction aid in Germany, France
and Belgium.
Miss Sheltman is supervisor Of one
of the industries established by the
Near East Relief at StambouL near
Constantinople. In letters to her par
ents and friends she tells the story of
the Armenians, who are homeless and
dying and awaiting crumbs which fall
from Americas hands. She also de-
scribes a visit 10 Turkish harem, the
magnifcence of which formed a strik-
ing contrast to the suffering all about
her, she said:
Writing of the general conditions
Miss Sheltman says the atmosphere
Of Constantinople is one of constant
turmoil, strife and hatred.
''The Turks try to run over the Ar
menians and the Armenians try to
run over the Turks" she said. And
all Of them try to run over the Jews,
who in turn retaliate."
Eats Dogs and Cats.
She says that the former verdant
fields of the Armenians are without
vegetation or life Of any sort. There
are no houses for the refugees, no
crops, no living animalS-which might
be used as food. All the cats, dogs
and horses have been killed and eaten,
she writes. She tells of one instance
when she saw a group of persons
carefully guarding live rats, which
were to be killed and used as food
when hunger could not be satisfied
otherwise.
Describing the homes Of some Ar
menians who have ceased wandering
back and forth from place to place,
she says:
Il followed the old sea walls for
several miles and saw persons living
in ruins-in dugouts, even in grave
yards, utilizing tonbstones for part of
ithosr ;roTox,ar;cbad hnraIc The 9th
and wretchedneSs were unspeakable
Even the beach was nothing but slime
and tin cans and refuse of every kind,
and tie waves were black with the
9th and debris that washed out with
one wave and back with the next"
A visit To one of the places of the
Sultan of Turkey affords a contrast
ing scene:
Yesterday we went to the Serag-
lilo, one of the Sultan's places, 60
ing through the different kiosks (sum-
mer houses), the library, the harem,
etc. 1t was all beautiful. Such ex-
quisite rich coloring, have never seen
before. We were ushered into grea5
reception room, where we sat around
very stiff and formally, while the at
tendants passed cigarettes and Turk.
ish coffee, served iE gold cups, each
of which was set with thirty large
diamonds. Speaking of diamonds
though COnstantinople is at presen;
the most expensive place in the world
to live, jewelry is one of the things one
can get for a song. Much of it has
been brought in by Russian refugees. y
Where the Money Goes.
Miss Sheltman is experimenting
the buying of materials for "fabrica,
an industry which furnishes employ
ment for several hundred Armenian
women and girls. Near the "fabr1ca'
are orphanages of the Near East Re
lief OrganiZa ton, where thousands Of
children are cared for. Enough fOoi
is given to them to keep the breath o.
life. 1t is here that the money col
lected in America goes after CONVEX
sion into food and supplies
Miss Sheltman says she has no per
sonal fear for her safety, for Ameri
can ships are anchored in the harbol
of Constantinople, and the Turk, be
cause Of his respect for America,
power, does not disturb American cit
liens or the Armenians in industrle.
and orphanages operated by Amer
cans. However, in the outlying dis
trfcts, the people are unprotected an,
the massacre goes on, much the sam,
as it has for years, she writes.
Writing of the work of the indus
tries, Miss Sheltman. tells with regre
of the laying off of 100 workers, be
cause of insufficient funds to provid
work for them.
t'Eyery day they return, beggin
and crying for work." she said. 81
is distressing, but / realize that if W
can just get our feet again ii vii
mean so much to these people NJ
petition here lays me open to contin
ual demands for relief and at pres
ent (the middle of February l hav
only 50 left Of my salary TO run m
the rest of the MONTH
All America is sending relief 10 thi
stricken people. Miss Beth Higgins
State director, Louisville Tr,lst DuilG
ing, LoH;sfSIle. appeals frr finances
assistance in the movement