Show FROM THE ORIENT an interesting letter from asta minor the manners customs conditions and characteristics ot of the people clearly described oct 1888 editor edior deseret news it has fallen to my lot in the providence of god to make a trip across the asiatic part of the turkish empire known as asia minor from samsonon on the black sea to palestine knowing knowing the interest the saints take in the customs laws and manner of life of all nations tar and near I 1 take pleasure in contributing a new words concern ing the present state of this country two wo thousand years ago this country figured prominently in the J and those familiar with history know well the advantages it then possessed it is also a matter of fact that as time rolled on the inhabitants here tailed failed to enjoyed both civil and ecclesiastical and a lethargic spirit crept over the people the natural consequence of neglect and indifference and the strict fulfillment of the decrees of a wise creator it appears that all nations at some time or other have had bad privileges to shine forth and show their ability and desires but as the spirit of and pride stole its ts way ay into the body 0 y politic and 0 oppression p assion strife and t tyranny ranny follo followed e t the e sceptre waa transferred t nef erred to another nation so that a righteous judgment may be brought upon all and tie no excuse be left the people in these lands possessed another rare 0 opportunity port unIty after the suffering of the el lord ord in IB jerusalem the tb e apostles and elders in former days traveled extensively through all the nation preaching the gospel and more particularly to the people peo e here in asia minor but bur having hav ng having reject rejected ed this holy message the result to is their country at present Is inhabited by a people that is divid divided in sentiment a socially and religiously a and nd yet by a combination of circumstances they are fore forced ed to live together und under er one government a government they do not like yet it is difficult to understand udder stand how any other state of affairs could exist we have here a host of religious confusions each whirlpool claims sonie some national distinction they range all the way from on a par with our flute indians indiana to the more refined this condition of things la is in strict fulfillment of the words of the inspired servants duts of god the land seems to be laboring under a curse corse lands that were once fertile and prosperous are now almost worthless returning barely a subsistence tp to the tiller the people tilling the land are filled with priest crafts craf ts and omens almost everything done is to be watched lest it is out of its proper time and season and somo some evil befall them I 1 asa As a circumstance in point I 1 will relate a simple affair to us ridiculous but to the people here aeby serious matter the writer ordered some milk one evening and on the milk being brought in a piece of charcoal was found floating in it on asking why the milk had not been strained I 1 was gravely infer lu termed med that being alter after sundown the milk could motjie dovd ad without the coal being put in it as aa otherwise serious results would follow to the cows the same is done in amov moving ing dough after sundown many other customs equally absurd are practiced upon moving into a new house a chicken is killed and the blood sprinkled on the walls walla as a sacrifice to toe the angel of death who is thus appeased 9 and who might otherwise require ai a sacrifice in the family until the last halt half century the people here were in a fearful state of ignorant bliss they knew but very little of the world at lar large lare e the greek consoled himself with worshiping his images and deceiving himself in ia the thought that his bis church was banded down dow n from father to son unchanged and undefiled dented un stad that the world owed him something because of the deeds of his forefathers TheAr claimed he was somewhat superior in his big intellect and that he had his religion from the apostles and the forerunner gregorina gr re or and paylag paying some respects to their images his way to heaven was secured the of every shade were sure that they were the only real faithful and pleasing ones in the sight ot of god in this condition of things the protestant missionaries have found their way here sod and although we cannot endorse all their movements especially the hireling hirell hire liag Bg part of the move movement ment yet a good deal of bf enlightenment is delo being introduced among the people aug and much of the absurd practice of the darker ages la is being removed hence the last half century has witnessed the erection of some good schools but it is a sorrowful sorrowful fact that the situation is not different here from that ol of christendom at large infidelity follows f 01 enlightenment the student fida the religious doctrines taught are not in harmony with the scriptures and science and that money and not the pure love of god is the maid cause of the much regard exhibited for their welfare the people here are still very ancient in their manner of dress the turks turk 5 dress as represented on oa pictures in their long loose dress women being closely veiled the Chris christiana still use the loose bay baggy pantaloons both male and female with a kind of loose gown that is 13 simply the width of a piece of cloth bung before and i behind the body being open at the sides the middle of the body is i wrapped with a heavy bandage the women while walking on the streets are enveloped in a white sheet with which they cover their faces thus distinguishing themselves from the turk 1 ish women who generally wear the colored sheet coverings called char chaff to us their manner of dress is more or less immodest and uncomely but according to their customs it is only fair to state that they are very modest about their bodies and do not expose expose their naked persons poverty Is a plain fact here hence the clothes are in most instances a batch of rags and tatters from top to toe women are but little respected being often bought and sold in marriage without their consent and are expected to do the rough and filthy labor about the hoube ind and yard at home they are under the control of 0 the mother in law while young and in society they flock together and take a back seat while the men take the foremost places and smoke cigarettes is a rare jewel as woman is a sort of slave to the man virtue is an imperative duty on the part of the women and after marriage they are required to produce the tokens ot of their virginity vir finity before proper committees from anese conditions the male Is exempt the people as a rule are hospitable and generous which is evinced by the plentitude of the begging fraternity visitors visitors are always treated to either sweets coffee or tobacco As no chairs are found here in a well re regulated u family their place Is supplied b mats of fine workmanship and ot of a lasting quality anese are spread on OB the floor or the nion din turkish sofa where we perch and in true oriental style double up our lower extremities a posit position lon your correspondent is enjoying jo ying while writing this letter while 11 holding ol 01 our meetings and conversations ti ons with the people they will file in and quietly take a seat on the floor in rows thus forming a rare sight of oriental life the people vary much in their stability of character I 1 but as a rule they are children in their ideas and notions and are very apt to seeK the extremes of all questions love and energy being dormant characteristics they cannot espouse accuse either for or against the same warmth or hatred that north european and american nations are capable of coffi commanding ever praying tor for the triumph of right and justice and steady progress of man in the way of truth I 1 am as ever F F HINTZE |