THE TURK AS HE REALLY IS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 233, 24 June 1915, Page 2

THE TURK AS HE REALLY IS.

GOOD AND BAD POINTS OP HIS CHARACTER. There is an old Turkish saying in these words: “When we are driven out of Constantinople, we will go to Uvousso; when we are expelled from Brousso, we will fly to Paradise.” The saying gives a very good insight into the character of the Turk as he really isFatalism and a simple but profound belief in his religion are two of his strongest characteristics. Although he will tell the most outrageous false-

hoods and exercise the deepest cunning in driving a bargain, he is, on the main, a simple soul, contented with little, and blessed with the most enviabe powers of endurance.

In many ways, of course, the Turk is an abomination, and utterly out of place in twentieth-century Europe', but he has his points, as only those who have travelled and studied him at home can properly appreciate. He is not the complete villain and ragamuffin he is so popularly supposed to be. First Used the Turkish Bath. As befits the introducer of the Turkish bath to the rest of the world, the Turk is a scruplously clean person where his own person is concerned.- Ills town's and streets may be, and mostly are, filthy! but not so the Turk himself. Soap is scarce in Turkey—to the majority of the inhabitants it is on unknown luxury—but the religion of Islam demands daily bathing, as well as certain ablutions before oft-rcpeateC prayers. The religion of the Turk also keeps him sober, while his kindness to dumb animals certainly pints more civilised and enlightened folk to burning shame. The prosecution of a Turk for cruelty to animals is an unknown thing; no Moslem would ever overlook his horse or his donkey, or beat bis dog. He would as soon assault his own father. The Turk has an extraordinary and

apparently inevitable way of deteriorating when he is bonded with others of his race for any purpose, but, by himself, in private life, he is often quite a charming person, tie is . courteous, he is kind, he is considerate, lie is hospitable, and he has a sense of humour. In fact, -when he likes, the Turk can be a perfect gentleman with perfect manners. But, unfortunately, the bad traits of the Turk far outnumber the good ones. The position which he allows to his women, for instance, is archaic. Girls Have A Bad Time.

For a few years a Turkish girl is allowed to run about and play and mix with little, boys in a more or less rational manner, except that not much attention ,is given to her clothes, and her attendance at school, despite compulsory schooling being in force, is not generally insisted upon. But verj - early there conies a change Her mother looks at her and says she is growing big, and must p t on n eharshaf. A eharshaf is a silk cloik reaching down to the ankles and up to

the top of the head, and It impedes *he child's movements, naturally. She must also wear a thick veil, never sec a little boy again, and never speak to any man but her father until she is married. The majority of Turkish girls marry the man their mother chooses for them. But as the mother must rely upon the advice—based on rumours and hearsay of her women friends —or else employ a professional match-maker. After she is married, a Turkish woman just “sits." She sits for hour after hour, placidly, with her hands folded, in the manner of a sleepy eat. A day’s shopping or a rowdngboat trip on the Golden Horn is a thrilling event in her life. She plays very distinct 1 second fiddle to her mother-in-law, who retains first call upon her son’s purse and larder, and such pastimes as reading books, playing cards, tennis, or golf, are nearly unknown to Turkish women. The Turk hates reform; what was good enough for his father, and his father before him, is quite good enough for him; and, although he wakes up for a moment and passes laws for this or that modernising of his country or his national life, his enthusiasm soon dies down and the laws are ignored or else reduced to an .absurdity by reason of the corruption of the officials appointed to carry them out.