The New York herald., 1922-12-31

ways a mystery. The more he seeks
to solve it the deeper the mystery
grows, for he discovers that the old in
habitants have as little definite informa-
tion as he has regarding what the people
of any other European capital consider
the vitality important facts of their city.
Should he ask the population of Con-
stantinople the answer might be an esti-
mate as low as 100000 or one as high as
100000. He would get an evasive answer
or no answer at all to an inquiry regarding
phases Of civic. governmental or social life
In the old regime the insistant seeker for
Information came under official espionage
He was a person to be watched. deported
or dropped into the sullen current of the
Bosporus. Constantinople had secrets. but
most Of them the Turk did not wish to
share with the world
All this sense of mystery and secrecy
seemed ridiculous to James Perry. a young
Maine man who went to Turkey as a
worker for one of the American relief in
terests. He had grown up in a coast town
and he knew everything about it and
everybody in it. When he went TO Con-
stantinople he asked what seemed to him
simple questions, but no one would answer
them. He decided that a social survey
along American lines was what Constanti-
nople needed The cost of the work and its
difficulties were laid before him. He in
sisted that the difficulties were not un-
,4~,t,I-
with the advantages it would bring. Amer
lea was spending millions for relief work
in the Near East and he said that with
the definite knowledge of people and con-
ditiOns to be obtained By the survey the
workers could perform their tasks with
mere intelligence and greater saving Of
time and energy and Americans could
know something of the people to whose
relief they were contributing.
The survey was made according 10 his
ideas. He died before the work was fin
ished. The. dedication of the book tells
its story: ITO the Organizer of this Sur
vey. James Perry. Lover of Truth. Killed
in Asia Minor between Aintab and Aleppo
by Bandits while on an Errand of Mercy
February l. 1920"
The Pathfinder Survey is. as its title
suggests, merely a beginning. a prelimi-
nary survey. which will point the way for
a more complete and exhaustive report on
conditions at Constantinople. Ten subjects
are studied: Industries. city administra-
ton, orphanages. adult delinquencies. his
torical setting. widowhOod, refugees, COM
munity organizations. recreation and edu-
cation.
Although an emporium for Oriental
trade for twenty-five centuries. Constanti-
nople remains remarkably primitive in
many respects. The brazier is stiIl largely
used for heating. electric lighting is not
general. rapid transportation and com
munication are difficult. telephone service
IS limited and there are not more than
twelve elevators in the city There were
no electric street cars or automobiles be-
fore 1908 and modern invention and in
dustrial improvements were then looked
upon with suspicion by the Government.
Modern industrialism is almost unknown
ConstantinOple is a city of small trades
Few establishments employ more than 100
workmen, and hours. working conditions
and wages leave much to De desired The
modern laundry is unknown. Dough pre-
pared at home is brought TO the bakeries
home baking is rare-yet the condition
in the bakeries is similar to that in Amer
lea before the enforcement of Industrial
and sanitary codes.
All the schools of Constantinople have
suffered in recent years from lack of funds
fe aHrs