The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-25


and could De constructed auto proof.
No doubt they would get some few
dents, but they would afford real pro-
lection for pedestrians and could not
be knocked down by automobiles.
Turkey are convinced that such reforms
as the above mentioned will prove IA
tai to the existence itself Of Turkey.
"Mustapha Kemaf's government abol-
ishes the Caliphate and the next day
his nearest neighbor and rival--the Arab
from Mecca-proclaim its revival in
his own person. So Turkey loses it's
most valuable prestige among the mod
ern world. Indian mosleins are pro-
fcundly distressed by the blow against
the Successor OF the Prophet and
stme of the most influential among them
have revealed that they IRE deeply hurt
and irritated. They were not even con-
suited before the blow fell.
And vet the moslems of India rep
resent the largest, wealthiest and most
intelligent of the communities that COM
pose the faith. For the diplomatic sue
cess of Turkey at Lausanne, Indian
moslems hold that their influence and
their efforts are as much entitled to
credit as the contrast Of European in
terests in Turkey.
$50 one reluctantly whispers now
that it was pity that Angora did not
abolish the Caliphate 16 months ago,
when there would have been no sur
render at Lausanne.
"As for the right to vote given to
Turkish women, it simply is ridiculous.
Such reforms in country where 95
out of 100 are completely illiterate re-
minds me of the foolish architect who
attempts to make the dome of a build
ing when he had not even built the
foundation.
Would Deport Women
There is only one good thing that
the government of Angora did. And
this is the adjustment Of polygamy.
But even this is made very abruptly,
because in one night thousands Of wOm-
en- were thrown from luxury to COM
paratively extreme misery. And the
worst of it Is that most of them knew
nothing they could do--none OF them
had ever worked. Their only work al
ways had been to please their own hus-
band.
"Some of them have been able to
marry again. These Of course were
those who were more beautiful, but a
greater number of them are beginning
to fade away in misery. A Turk dep
uty proposed that all these former wives
be sent abroad, but il is doubtful if
this win prove useful. Turkish ideals
about beauty are far from those of
Europe.
''This has been proven recently when
an impressario took with his troupe
many former wives of the sultan for a
tour of Europe. The enterprise did not
succeed because the women who looked
so good to the sultan did not look the
same in the eyes Of the Europeans. The
The Parisians could not see anything
beautiful In a collection Of fat brunettes
smiling from the stage. The former
wives returned to Constantinople and
told the other wives Of the sultan Of
their failure In Europe.
'"Then the only hope was to fight
for the restoration of the harems- Need
less to say they found many support
ers in their strife. Deputy Salib Hedja
presented bill in favor of pOlygamy.
Our, sly deputy did not set forth the
hopeless situation of the former wives
as a reason, but he presented lot of
statistics showing the polygamy is in
dispensable in Turkey owing to the fact
that there are 100000 women and
only 5,47O,OO0 men in the country. Fur
thermore he made an appeal to the re-
ligi0us feelings of the believers and re-
minds them that the Koran foresees
the economical part of the matter, in
asmuch as It is stated there that only
the wealthy ones shall have many wives,
II have many reasons to believe that
not a despicable number hold their
breath and pray for the ratification OF
the bill Of the brother hooja.
Wells Discarded
'sYou ask me about whether or not
the Turkish women still wear wells.
For the most part Turkish women
have abandoned the veil from the early
years Of the war. But, alas! As re-
suit of this innovation 1t has been re-
vealed that the transcendent beauty
with which, in song and story the WON
en- of Turkey have been invested, Is a
myth. All the ancient and romantic
notions which men cherish regarding
things of which they are profoundly
ignorant have been Overthtrown. A
greater number of beautiful women may
Be seen within five minutes on Second
or Third avenue or Twentieth street,
right here in Birmingham, than in a
day on Galata bridge, which is Con-
stantinople's great artery Of life, or at
STEAMBOAT, the merely Turkish section
Of the city.
Eyes. sir. The legendary loneliness
Of rayishing Turkish enchantresses ia
non-existent. With the charm of the
unknown gone, these remains no 9TH
er charm.
There are, of course, attractive
faces" continued Mr.. Sakellarides.
considering that they have just come
from behind the veil, all are singularly
bold and unabashed, giving an eye for
an eye. Manifestly they enjoy this new
freedom, for it is a limited sort OF pleas
ure to see without being seen.
"In a single walk to old Stamboul
one can notice, in Turkish dress, but
with the familiar wells thrown back
over their heads, women who might have
been Scandinavians or Russians. One
can notice light-haired blondes, but one
can notice also women who are as
black as any negress In Alabama. he
can notice also the true Mongel types,
who look like direct impoFtations from
Picking. and, as live, a buxom, smil-
ing Irish face. In addition, there is
commonly the Lav&ntine type, the re-
guItant Of the Turks mixed blood with
their captives through hundreds Of
Proud OF America
ANYONE who knew pre-war Turkey
experiences a distinct shock to come
upon a Moslem woman, with her veil
thrown back, sitting on a street corner
peddling sweets. For Turkey. there is
an axiom that 'woman's place is in the
home and the windows Of the hong are