Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1911 — TURKISN WOMEN AND THEIR CUSTOMS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TURKISN WOMEN AND THEIR CUSTOMS

WOMAN’S hair is long, but her < wit is shorty says a Turkish proverb, and the nation at large appears to acquiesce. American and British women are now studying the life of their Turkish sisters as never before. Books, missionary reports and lectures are resorted to for Information. The Turkish refugees who arrived at Naples from Tripoli were not allowed to land in their native dress for fear of disturbances. The port authorities only allowed those to disembark who substituted the veil or baracan (the usual woollen garment’ of Tripoli) for the skirt or trousers of Europe. Several refugees altogether refused to surrender their native garb and. remained on board pending their return to Tripoli. The Mohammedan baby girl has her one and only name —neither father nor husband will share his with her — whispered softly into her ear three times when just a few days old. That 1s her baptism. Later she accompanies her little brother to the primary school; later still she probably will attend a school for girls only, where she will be taught a little grammar, arithmetic, some Persian and Turkish history, and follow courses In embroidery and needlework. Rich people with modern ideas usually have an English or French governess to complete their dsughter’s education, but this does not apply in the case of those less well to do. Both girls and boys are taught to read the Koran and to repeat portions of it, but as it is in Arable they do not understand what they are reading. At fifteen a Mohammedan girl comes of age and Is legally entitled to possess property of her own, which she may buy or sell. Invest or give away, without consulting any one. At fifteen also she must put on the black veil, “tcharchaf,” symbol of womanhood, and say goodby to her playmates, to her open air life and to her liberty. She passes through a door in the high brick wall, separating the men’s quarters from those of the women, into the harem. Here she remains, mysterious, unknown, invisible, a prisoner behind latticed windows, awaiting her Inevitable destiny in the form of k husband. In the stricter Moslem families worn-, en -usually are permitted to leave the seclusion of the harem and the grounds surrounding It once a week only. Every Friday, that is, the Turkish Sabbath, they may go out to shop, walk, drive, exchange visits and get as much fresh air and sunshine as they can to last them for the rest of the week- Frequent excursions are made In the spring by the women of Constantinople to the banks of the Sweet Waters of Asia, a tiny river set In meadows bordered with trees and gay with boathouses and cases.

Live in Idleness Indoors the favorite occupation of these women, apparently, is to ait still and do nothing, their hands folded inertly in front of them and their little reet tucked carefully out of sight They are very fond of cigarette smoking, chatting With their friends, drinking coffee and eating sweetmeats. Eating of any description Is popular with Turkish women and that, combined with lack of exercise and absence of household duties, causes . them to become fat and apathetic while they are still quite young. Turkish brides are entitled by law to a dowr/ from their husbands. This Is divided Into two parts, the prompt, end the deferred. The prompt is paid before the wedding takes {dace, and His bride has this money for tier own use and under her own control. The deferred portion is paid only In the case of divorce, and Is intended to provide against the contingency of n wife being neat bask to bar father's

house penniless. Occasionally a man contrives to evade this obligation by! treating bis wife with such brutality that she is forced to run away from! him, and thus forfeits her marriagei portion. Polygamy, although permitted by law to the extent of four wives, to rarely practiced by modern Turks and' Is supposed to be contrary to the highest teaching of the Koran. To the average, uneducated Mohammedan woman, however, a fourth share In a-turn-band is better than none at aIL The first questions Invariably put to a stranger are: “How old are you? Are you,married?” When the answer to in the negative the questioner continues: “Why not? Is your father too poor to buy you a husband?” Turkish law enacts that a man’s wife should Be inferior to him in age, fortune and in' dignity, but superior in: manners, modesty and beauty. He also is slightly restricted in his choice, inasmuch as he may not marry a mermaid or a djlnn or any other non-ex-istent being, nor may he many a pagan. There are no illegitimate children in Turkey, all children having the same legal rights. It is not etiquette to mention the women of his hosehold to a strict Mohammedan unless the latter happen to have received a European education, and It would be considered highly Indelicate for a male guest to make inquiries as to the health of the women of the harem. The debatable question In Turkey as to whether women have souls appears npw to have- been settled in the affirmative.. In the "Koran It Is stated: “God has promised to believers, men and women, arardens beneath where rivers flow, and goodly places In the Garden of Eden, to dwell therein forever.” Rarely, however, do women take part in any religious ceremonies," as they can be present at the mosques only when hidden away from view behind thick curtains. But they are expected to observe the great fast of Ramazan, lasting for thirty days, as carefully as do the men. Went Without Veils. The year 1908 was a memorable one for Turkish Women, many of whom threw themselves heart and soul Into the reform movement After the downfall of the ex-sultan, Abdhl Hamid, thousands of women discarded their veils, and accompanied their husbands and brothers into the Streets. In Smyna also women appferyd to public with their husbands, walking side by side Instead of behind them. A few months later the sultan returned to Constantinople,-pud during,the week following his restoration to power no woman dared show herself to the streets of the capital Then came the re-establishment of the constitution, and a. large body of women waited upon the ministers of the empire, announcing their Intention of going unveiled in the future. The members of the deputation were coldly Informed that they could 'do so if they chose, but it would be at their own risk. The danger was too great in a country so fanatically religious. Btill, the more advanced women are hopeful for the future and feel that the way has been paved for a more enlightened condition of things. There are now between fifty and sixty Mohammedan girls in the American college for girls at Constantinople. The only Mohammedan woman In Turkey who has the.-degr#e or bachelor of arts was graduated from this college. This woman. Mme. Halldeb Salih, Is director of the Dar-ul Mouallmat. the Normal School for Girls. In addition to occupying herself with education and pofitios, she la publishing two hooka which will soon be given to the public; one to a novel entitled “Sevleh Lallb.” and the other la a volume on pedagogical subjects . ... - ' ■ r. v*;'-!* ¥- :

TURKISH WOMEN REFUGEES ARRIVING AT NAPLE