The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1922-03-17

War has resulted in the revival OF
harems in Turkey. Armed strife Is fur
nishing girls, too terrified to protest
against harem life, who can be bought
from the soldiery, who hold them cap
tive, for US low as Sl.50 and 81 each.
The man who couldn't afford to buy
harem ten years ago can afford what
he pleases now.
Asia Minor has become known as the
Twentieth Century slave market. The
battlefields are the auction block to
which women are brought for bartering
among the victorious sOldiery. The
country's devastated towns along the
shores Of the Black Sea and down into
the provinces of Angora are being used
by slave dealers 10 carry on their trade.
Harems Filled to Overlooking.
The population OF the harems has
been swelled i'm the last few years
through the decentralization of the Ar
menian girls as a result of the looting
of the villages by the Turkish sOldiery.
Girls who would never have gone into
tie harems had the family been held in
tact. have drifted into them from the
ruined districts around the Black Sea.
from Samzoun, BatuIn, and Tribizond.
Their lives were ruined, their resist
ance broken.
Turks living in lower Anatolia have
filed their harems To overfiowing with
these young women. whom they were
able to buy from the soldiery for a
liandfpl q coins. Thus the war has en-
abIed the country Turk to start the
habit of harem life all over again. just
at a time when decreasing affiuenee
and public opinion were mitigating IL.
Most of the women i'm the harems
are young A large part OF them are
smuggled into the country for delib-
crate selling. The Turkish girls who
marry into the harems do so usually
with their parents consent. although
knowing that they will share their hus
bands with other wives. Other haren
inmates for the most part are not con
suited.
On the signing Of the armistice al
prisoners of war were supposed 10 b.
handed over TO the Allied governments
Had this agreement been carried out
faithfully many girls would have beel
saved from harem life. The Turks
however. have found ways TO conceal
their trafficking in girls. The famous
bride school at SamZoun is signif
cant example of their cleverneSS at
concealment.
Girls School Mere Blind.
This school was housed in an ole
gray convent. on the edge of the tow
of SamZoun, on the Black Sea. Ii haC
been a home for beautiful nuns in the
past. for the women of Samzoun are
all very beautiful. After the Turk:
took possession OF the town the con
vent was used for those lovely Ge0r
yian and Armenian girls whom th'
officers fancied were worth more thar
the average captives.
The girls were gathered at the OLE
convent where the officers guardin;
them said they were 10 be put IL
school The girls believed this unit
they noticed they were being brough
down In groups from their sleeping
quarters. where they were kept guard
ed all day, TO stand before officer
and merchants. rich farmers an'
wealthy Pashas. Then one. perihap
two. OF the girls would be taken fron
the convent the next morning.
Sometimes girls entry into tn
harem is accompanied by the old
fashioned details OF Turkish wed
ding but, for the most part, she i
taken 10 her new home like a new
domestic animal bought at market
For she is. like them. meant for work