Evening star., 1938-08-07

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are 80 inclined. They are much in
terested in nursing, especially from
the public health standpoint. in dentis-
try in the practice Of medicine and
in those subjects which are generally
looked upon as preparation for
public service. To date they have not
evinced any general interest in the
study Of law.
Equal Suffrage Rights.
| Suffrage is available to them upon
the same terms that it is to the men,
and there are II women IN the Turkish
Parliament out of its about $50 legis-
lators. In the main they represent a
cross section from all ranks and sta
tions in life. Some are the young
unmarried intellectuals. Others are
middle-aged wives and mothers who
have long been interested in the prog
ress of their sex and of their nation.
One of the most remarkable and
outstanding is the woman representa-
tive from Ankara pronounced with
accent on the second syllable). which
is now the very modern and up-to-date
capital Of Turkey. and the" district
which President Kemal also repre-
sents in the Parliament.
She is an elderly woman. the mother
Of large family, beyond the age at
which 1t was decreed that education
was mandatory. she can neither read
nor write. She is, however, Nine.
Ertegun emphasizes, possessed Of tre-
mendous mental acumen and ability,
great patriotism and is . very real
leader among her people, enjoying the
profound respect Of President Kemal
and of her fellow deputies, both men
and women. One of Nine. Ertegun's
most interesting afternoons In Turkey
during her visit home was the one
she spent with her.
With the thought that they shall
absorb the most stable as well as the
most progressive ideals Of various ma
tions. an annually increasing number
Of Turkeys most outstanding young
men in all fields Of her activities are
being sent for terms of observation and
study to America, England, France,
Germany and Switzerland.
Knows Several Languages.
Nine. Ertegun herself was educated
by an order of nuns once domiciled
in Istanbul, when it was known as
Constantinople. She speaks French
nuently and fiawlessly, and was con-
versant with both German and Eng
lish before she came to America. In
terested in art music and architecture
cher brother is one Of Turkeys most
outstanding architects) she not only
gives personal supervision to the de-
tails of her households management
but accompanies her chef to market
at least once a week, that she may
better decide upon the quality and
variety of the foodstuffs on display.
So, it is not surprising that onicial
entertaining at the Turkish Embassy
has achieved a noteworthy reputation
for its delicious combination OF Turkish
and American delicacies.
American household gadgets and
labor-saving devices greatly intrigue
her from a personal standpoint as we'll
as for their possible adaptation and
use among her countrywomen.
Natural dignity and poise blend in
Nine Etegun with European grace
and charm and chic that is almost
Partisan. A devoted mother, she is
proud of the "all a. reports" which
give their younger son his class stand
ing at the Langdon School for Boys
and their daughter hers at the Cathe-
dral School for Girls. An older son
is studying in Paris.
Likes Water Sports.
Nine. Ertegun swims with ease and
handles q rowboat expertly, "as does
every person who lives near the sea in
Turkey" There Is nothing which
gives her more pleasure during the
summer months than to go with her
family on short, mid-week trips to
small, nearby, quiet resorts where.
with the sea and sky for company.
they may all indulge their love of
water sports.
Her references to her distinguished
husband. who is one of Turkeys most
scholarly career diplomats, are usually
in terms Of. my husband prefers
this" or. He likes this way very
much" as If this expressed her prefer
ence and wish as we'll. One senses
their family solidarity and its con-
geniality, too, when she speaks Of their
spending their evenings that are not
occupied with the social demands of
their Washington post in the Embassy
library. the Ambassador busy upon his
personal dispatches, the children in
tent upon their lessons.
Pressed for a word picture Of her
country's President, with whom she
had talked during her recent visit
home, she pointed to the portrait of
Mustapha Kemal Ataturk, which faces
the Embassy drawing room door, and
had this to say: Immediately, of
course. you feel yourself to be in
distinguished presence, just as you are
conscious of the firmness and quick
decisiveness which you would expect
in the soldier who is also the leader
of his nation. But he has wonderful
simplicity of manner, great natural
kindness and the most democratic
attitude possible toward every one, 50
that even very humble people feel at
ease with him.
Ambitious for Nation.
HE himself insists upon Offering the
cigarettes or any other form of hospi-
tality that is preferred among a small
group that may happen to be his
guests. His dreams of greater Tur-
key are centered not in the fulfilling
of any far-fiung ambitions for himself.
but rather in the realization Of further
TRAVEL,