Evening star., 1924-11-18
TURKISH TRIANGLE
j WORKS UNIQUELY
Husband Permits Divorce,
Then Goes to Live With
Other Man and Wife.
Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Daily NeMs

Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Daily News.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Turkey, oc-
tober 17.-Abdul AK Selim-that is
not quite his real name-is a genial
old Turk we'll liked by every one,
Including the Greeks, and that is
saying a lot. Abdul Is we'll over so.
He has behind him the rise and fall
and the rising again of Turkey His
time goes back to the days when
Turkey extended far into Europe.
The prowess of the Turk soldier, the
dash of the Turk rider the beauty Of
Circasstan eyes suggested through a
veil, all this he has described In his
lyrics. Hence has fame and the re-
spect in which he is held by his
countrymen.
Some early lyrics caused Abdul Ak
Selim to be rewarded with a diplo-
matte post in Belgium. There he met
and loved pretty Belgian girl. She
reciprocated his love and they were
married. She returned with him to
Stamboul when his diplomatic mission
came TO an end. The pretty Belgian
soon adopted Mohammedan ways
Neil, plain lonS-flowing gown and all.
But she adopted besides the custom
Of wearing silks and satins, and ex-
pensive scents. This required a lib
eral expenditure of Turkish pounds,
which Abdul Ak Selim generously
provided. What was money for IL
not TO make him envied by his
friends?
Younger Rival Appears.
But Count Monelli came TO Con-
tantinople attached to the Italian
Embassy. He was good looking slen-
der, elegant, young-all of which
Abdul AK Selim was not. The count
and the beautiful Belgian girl met
at a diplomatic reception. They fell
IN love Immediately and invented
excuses for seeing each other often,
even under strict Turkish customs.
At last the Belgian confessed to her
husband her infatuation and timidly
begged him to release her so she
could marry the count
Generous Abdul Ak Selim divorced
his wife and soon afterward she mar
rted the count. At the wedding Abdul
Ak Selim presented his former wife
with a few flowers. and with a noble
gesture said: With my last few
pounds. the remainder of my fortune
j purchased these flowers for you.
May you be happy in your new
home"
Count Monelli and the Belgian girl
were happy. He had just come into
an inheritance and they were both
young. They lived sumptuously. But
with Abdul Ak Selim things went
from bad to worse. His lyrics were
not so gay and his income close to
zero. He was in rags. Count Monelli
and the Belgian girl learned Of Alb
duls plight, and their hearts were
moved to pity. They invited the old
man to live with them. So Abdul
moved into the counts palace on the
Bosporous. The three became fast
friends and were inseparabie.
From Misery to Happiness.
Then things began to go badly with
the count. Much entertaining and
the purchase Of many silks and satins
caused his inheritance to slip away.
A desperate move was made. The
palace was closed except for a few
rooms. and an antique shop was
opened But customers did not come.
They seemed to prefer the bazaar.
Matters went from bad to worse until
the entire palace was closed and the
three lived in the cellar. They were
still fast friends sharing alike in all
they had.
But day came when Turks real
ized the greatness of Abdul Ak Selim
and the worth of his lyrics describing
the glory of Turkish soldiers. In a
land nf fauy ba npa