REFORM IN THE HAREM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3259, 3 July 1911, Page 3

REFORM IN THE HAREM.

THE WOMANKIND OF YOUNG TURKEY.

Miss E. S. Stevens is well known to readers of fiction through her powerful novels, such as “The Veil” and “The Mountain of God,” which give vivid pictures of Oriental life and scenery. In the May “Contemporary” she writes with evident knowledge upon the present position of the Mohammedan women in Turkey under the new regime. She points out that in the past a certain amount of Western culture, not always oif the best kind, was brought to Turkish women of tliq well-to-do classes by means of European governesses. The Young Turk himself she- considers to be, partly at any rate, the result of the almost universal introduction of'* the foreign educational element into the homes of Stamboul. The foreign education created in the women a longing for liberty, and their feeling of unrest found its practical outlet among the young men. While the commitee of union and progress was carrying on its secret propaganda, its secret preparations it found its easiest channel of communication, its safest messengers, among the patriotic Turkish women, whose veil and seclusion rendered them less likely to be discovered by the Government spies.” When the revolution was accomplished and the free constitution established on the ruins of Hamidian desnotism, the Turkish women thought that they, too, would share, in the new-found ligerty. Some, of them gladly threw aside the disfiguring veil, and thought to wear hats—hats from Paris—to complete their European costume. They were speedily undeceived. The new Government, realising that such innovations would offend the old-fashioned and devout members of .me community—the majority in fact of the Mohammedans —required the ladies to go veiled as before. Notes went round to those of high position who had transgressed convention, and prudent husbands and brothers ordered their womenfolk to observe the same rules as their grandmothers in all such matters as the veil, walking out alone, and other little privileges that Western women enjoy. Others of the Turkish women thought that they would at least be allowed to receive visits from male friends. Here, again, the Young Turk proved as uncompromising as the Old Turk. He urged that Such conduct could only cause scandal, and asked why his wile could not be content with the society of her kinsmen. The wise among the Turkish women then turned to education. with its gradual uplift, as the hope of their, sex.

A la'dy of high rank, who has been actively furthering the educational movement, was asked by Miss Stevens how long Turkish women must wait for the wider life, for a wider sphere of energy and activity. She replied a little sadly, "We only ask Turkey to forget us. We must be content to sacrifice our own aspiraions in order that the next generation may not suffer. It is a sacrifice that we must make for our country. Tli© day of liberty., must come; it must come as a matter of course ; but for, the present we can do nothing but wait and, above all, work in secret for the education of women. We have to prove to the nation that her freedom does not rob a woman of her religion or her domestic instincts. We have to prove that an educated Turkish woman is a better mother of Turkish men that a slave.” The Young Turk apparently does not mean to suffer any longer the reproach of leaving the higher education of Turkish women to foreign governesses and foreign mission colleges., “Progressive Turks,” Miss Stevens tells us, “have long seen the necessity for an education for women which sjiould be national and not foreign. The governess system had its undoubted evils. The foreign school system was better, as setting a higher ideal, but it could only be carried on in a very limited way. The growing need was to have State schools, witlr Turkish teachers and pupils, in which the standard of education should be .as high as in State schools of other European ooun tries. At first this seemed an impossible dream; firstly, because of the lack of a staff of trained Turkish women ful-lv qualified to instruct; and, secondly, because., of the suspicion with which such a scheme was looked upon by the more old-fashioned and conservative. Such a staff, however, is now being trained in the American college and elsewhere. Other difficulties have so far removed themselves that Sultan Melimed V., who lias interested himself actively in. the scheme from the first, has presented a palace at Kandilli, on the Bosphorus, in which the first lycee is to be opened this spring.” Many pupils have already inscribed themselves, and they comprise Mohammedan girls from all over the world, some coming even from India.' The main difficult- in establishing these lycees is lack of money. The Government is too poor to boar the burden of the scheme, .which is also very unpopular with a large fanatical section of the country. Turkish ladies are, however, coll acting among themselves, and money is; being raised in various ways, so that it would seem as if a new and important development is likely to take place from, now on in the education of the. women of Turkey. Such a development ’is hound sooner or later to bring about marked changes in their social position, even though the Turk may remain a Turk still. Though he moves* on .only in spite of himself, yet in time, with his women really well educated, he will be bound to adapt himself to a more liberal conception of womanhood.- - ' .