The New Woman of Turkey.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 117, 21 December 1908, Page 3

The New Woman of Turkey.

o At the rejoicings which took place recently on the proclamation of a Turkish constitution, many Turkish women took part, and, says an English paper, for the first time in Turkish history they appeared without their veils. They have appealed to the Young Turks party to abolish the harem system, and with it the compulsory veiling of women. Now, the constitution offered to the Turkish nation, and sworn to by the Sultan, is, of course (says a w r riter in an English paper), a copy of or founded upon the British constitution, which, as it was the first, is universally acknowledged to be the best form of representative government in the world. Moreover, the change of regime is largely the outcome of British policy in Turkey, and is so recognised by all classes of the population, especially the Moslems. King Edward is not only the head and representative of the British Government, but is also the ruler of many millions of Mohamedans, who are among his most devoted subjects. The granting of a constitution to Turkey is looked upon as very much the result of our King's enlightened policy and that of his Government. If, therefore, the minor reform referred to should indeed grow out of the present movement, it might truthfully be said that Turkish women owed their emancipation from that sign of slavery and subjection to man, the Yashmak, or face-veil, to the King of England. The movement for the abolition of the veil and the harem, though only a minor part of the modern reformation of Turkey, is yet peculiarly indicative both of the strength of the internal revolution and the influence of Western nations, and especially Great Britain. Indeed, one is almost tempted to think that the Turkish women have heard of our Suffragist movement, for never before have Eastern women dared, or perhaps even desired, to enter into practical politics. No doubt the Moslem women of Turkey have hearu of British rule in Egypt--a tributary of Turkey—and of the better conditions of their sisters in that country, where, owing to there being so many foreigners, old-fashioned racial customs have gradually disappeared, or at any rate diminished in use and influence. But whatever the cause or causes, the fact that at least a section erf the Turkish

Mohamedan womwi should have dared to rise again?!, so old and so strongly established a custom as that of the system of marriage and seclusion ot women, generally known among l''n.ro;ie;ins as that of the ha'vni, is significant in more ways than one, and worthy the attention of all students of human nature. and particularly that section of it termed the gentler sex. The wearing or the casting aside o; a lace-veil may appear a very small thing tons in England (concludes 1 lie writer), 'out when it accompanies a movement for better government and typifies the preaking away from bad old customs, it is a matter for rejoicing on the part of all lovers of their fellow-men. For the sake (if the women of Turkey, as well as for its influence on the Moslem and Hindu women of our great Eastern dominations. I sincerely hope that, the anti-yashmak and anti-harem movement may make immediate ami far-reaching progress in the Osmani Empire.