| Show ARMENIAN I SUFFERINGS I that Relief CommlttooHuabands I and rriitlons Found by CordItions Fathers Killed and Wlvos and Chlldron Loft Dostltuto Constinliclople May recdllello 97 10h rielol tire kan baut traVI l e r C playrill t Alnerican Irli cc an tro etlin2 I other ot-her Iromla yo I iel ork which interior I t of I the re dGii he A mJCan c fl g i J i j e a1ssol I and Car yin an to r hiteerg anz te d t 1 the beleBlis of Aulitnyan the w1hJ01ra andriorpchr2ninenade r I such by oc Until 1 that time the Ar a tO yrs by heavy down ul fan0s lehlull h round menlansdlge a bco stISysten 01 legal Jsd s stemallc plunderin were own I far air o able alwajS tin afraid oC IPalaaea9 I You nd never Frb ltl their lhUe homes con t a ra tbl lamed I IZ a of 1 Cafhe Wf r I t were fairly adap even Thhealhuniblest com atrn Their w Oman were neber b bul allowed to eo out as wacteirnrs are rarely Idle and ass as-s their finglu krIY both with IY expert W a b111ced1111 YI in = arklbill mbro de y a cd the Irult tq I tI dt lrallwe r often acioll rapacious sol III I I spite V rappOvId n lax galherer orto provide c am hef ctl lelldanil fO i c or c g I nrowvcrrhelcn threatened lIow Stoo n ovald in ssacr6nt it rrVl tr late I Satiation rvlll I by the I Sultans buttheries In I oie village r tiler ting I ar ithingrof cr Conslantmop e Aug 26 anil Yil fif ccuntry was left tOI with fifty thous tne und1 27 orphans and thirty llicujaiid widows homeless women entirely and helpless tuined ravaged homes from or with I dg d which everything had been carried even to lie nails I in the walls The situation I was a desperate one rhrkn1a spirit shattered in pi health bereft be-reft of ell I their earthly possessions I and ulihnocroeciors left to wage the I unequal un-equal battle Cor hem many succumbed of the situation at once to the terrors while others struggled back to the greater hinter of an almost living death When I i i Constantinople b > the combined intervention of the ambassadors the runs tervention i i lti sacici had been Hopped I the first relief tothtlrrpivtrishcd people in thevillages j edJ J fl along the Golden Horn came Irom I the I lench Consulate Amenj other gin I1 kind they distributed lo them rice I bul so cotrplettly had their homes been ravanet that they had no vessels to icoe it in no fuel to make a fire They received a change ol linen and at once wished to wash f eo blood stained clothes they had taken off but they had no wash wc ub no soap Many had escaped clad inly in I their 1I I Nig clothes and to these remnants cl calico were dumbuted but llrt hail no thimbles t no needles no thread There was utter destitution I u hI h as no pen can describe and into this I reach 1 stepped the devoted misionaries and self acrificing ladies among the European residents The quarters oft of-t city where the massacres had occurred oc-curred were districted and as funds cane In from rut ape and America food c Olhing bedding and the most necessary cocking utensils were beught and distributed distri-buted under the name of the Local Relief Ccmmittee1 Sad and pitiful Indeed were the scenes witnessed by tlese ladies during their visits experiences ex-periences ol which we in America had little idea Amone a host of the incidents told me by vis lots I give jut a few all In niadligoLe the condition of the people that made tne organized relief work as earned ear-ned on later a necessity Amidst Ihe rows ol empty and devasted lioues said one ol tnese heroic women we found now and then one in which all the survivors were huddled together for safety sitting crouched down upon the bare floor and living upon a ration of bread dealt out by the government We gave each a small coin and also a card with her name written on it and a list of such things as she specially I required F and to d them to come and present their card on Friday at the mission gate when tney would get what they most urgently needed Many shook their heads incredulously in-credulously thinking it another trap when we had visited atout twenty rouses the Turkish police tried to inter fete An officer offered to conduct me to the houses of the most desltule which offer I declined They also arrested ar-rested the Armenian youth who accompanied accom-panied me and threw him into prison On the two days intervening before Ill day I managed to get together a store ol rice cheese cooking pots bed covers etcP and hired an Italian I to come and keep order during the distribution I expected the women at 8 oclock but when threw up my bedroom window soon alter 6 oclock I found a crowd of women already waiting at the doors I began the distribution at once but In a few f moments the Turks and police I were enw d Yn SII h t SI on hand examining the bundle ol each woman as she left the door Soon the Italian came bill in a quarter or an hour came In pale as death and saying he would on no account stay as the lurks JfoultrYbi had threatened to arrest him l that their curses as they passed were too awful for human ears lo hear After an hour a man came to tell me that I had been cursed in the moquej but I could not send away empty the hungry women who had trudged so far for n little Cood Oh the scenes of horror we came upon la doing the relief work said another lady who has devoted herself heart and soul to the caase Son < I limtswe came upon loccly old met passed70 and So years their sons and grandsons slam their relatives fled un able to burden themselves whli such od men In the flight without food or ted and we wondered how soon the sOiel who comes silently ard unbidden cold mercilu I ly put a gentle hand dl cl upon lhem tacitly and forgotten ones upon snug sweet little house newly built for anewlir married couple I founda lovclv toung woman lying with a newborn baby in an utterly barren room but fr te mattress on which they lay Await to do J couple hd lived there with their selvant I in Perfect rplnes up to the day of file illassacre1 On Thursday the oullg husband stated home with his life who was near hr first confinement In fear and Trembling they awaited the develop Inent of results Soon the mob appeared acd their house was one or the first to be attacked The mn servant was killed lelore their eyosnnd then the mob IUllId Upen file husband The Wile Kling tilt cast lit r elf at their young fet embratedtheirknees ru led diamond tints from her lingtilsano took oil the trilliant gl sOn cardrcps cffcr nZ them and air Writing l them to pare br husband As they Otrltd by her desteratatntrealics bill hicked I cff bu hindq then lSh hhl down but without quit kill itt Thin began lo plunder I ki flig cl k i nl in Zhis u iel W11 oody tac tire lie moved I led under these Ccllmlances hu CHW lichenin b Ichabodl Her father aid lse h uera IfIctwise 111edand 1 s c Was left with l her baby deptndart on lite lialtess at the lemlilillug I Wntn l1 ho were FS Und to hr M they were abe M be In their I own utter misery I In another quarter a vis i 1 tr old ol 1a family ucll known lu her who before the mas < sactes lived In case und comfort ThIther Th-Ither ws kl e1 the night tf the Va one ton succeeded in I escaping to 1 Van uh lethe other who was cirployed byn Ig German firm was dimllsJ nollg wltn all ilie other Aimeman tmplo by order of the tovrnmcit there was nj ciarce of his fmdhrj 0 k en 1 1 he was In constant nrcaJ of being arrcit cd The mother end daughter lived in their targe and devastcd hou < c because It was their and they hid no rent to pay but all their eailhly possession consisted eJ venp r 01 ii J I sisted 1 cf one slcwpiit n little chlrcoal two rlllous two bedcovers and a change I oflmei eacholltC which articles were I cuen them An I this was the cond tion of hundreds of fami ies in tl cir immediate I im-mediate I inily AencrableGrccrian I priest who cieu I lest year had I left I behind Film a family I ol two t fi e tons and three daluheis Ones n was killed tie night of tt e massacre and the bight tf it I made fitIt the oilier s in go tut ol I his 1 mind so the widow ard tinco daughters were lefl wi I h the care of the bruthrr 1 who ucs who once the pride of the family and Is I wan w-an idiot And these Instances were but solitary one amtng the thousands ol others equally fistful Ing As the rI let work went cn some people were found quite willing to continue lo accept the quhgd11nj I but many others cf rood family and lormcrly ucll I to do flta I dehcicy b orene v1isistaig on pubic I charity I longer i ban was nectssary and began to ask If it were p ssible I il any I i waylo find Them employment t IhU idei I commended Itself to the lad eS in c large of the relief funds and various schemes weie at once propose I as to the bist I Ae e P1O furtherance ol 1 thli prtjecl Upon Inquiry It wts foand that many of the women eres already experts in Orental ellbroldery tile stye tC J work material emp o ed and at teh uedvaiy howeer various quarters of the cuy as well as sections ol the courtr Acting = aiAbc ing up n IhU suKRestioi work waj begun be-gun m a small I wa yjo several dilleient centres the meihodi cmpoicd Long vaiid accordm 10 file ideal cf the dillel sot ladies in rf charge ard the mate al < at hud While all ol Uese have bern successful in affording selrespect i mpoymcnt to h algellll bets o women will I give the details ol but one with whose workings I wai privileged tohave special inlane The head CftnIq brarchli a hnits lady of rare adorn t r lishmcntsnnJ trarvclous excess ivcabil I ty whose home h up on the Goden I10mtnee9laITel Home I I clo It t I the old Iizintm Iahie Hebdomen lies just acroii Iron the scene of the frightful massacres of Has I ktin Where6 omen werecutdojvn two days Resp tiling 10 an imitilion to t tee tne uiual Siturilay giv ng out tot inhge10U work I took a caique early in the morit irg and arrived to held tint the distnbj tlon had already commrncid anJ tint crowds of oaCcod womn were patiently pati-ently awalling thtir turn In the little cilice which each applicant i appli-cant was milled in rotation uercgleat piles stamped batui and gao squaics lor cushions and footstools l each with Its own skeins cf embroidery ilk android thread laid ready There wera Ion strips for borders 10 curtains tiny silk squares for hnJkerchles round piece for lea Fosles and frolll ter the prU Bolero jackets All these hid been cut designed and stamped urder the personal person-al rvislon of the I lady ill charge a work of no small majmtujc in itself alone As each woman came in with her completed work and the silks leftover left-over they were weighed to see that all was right and she was paid accor ing to her work New pieces were then given her alter weighing and setting down the amounts special Instruct ois or if necessary corrections were also given I a few helpful words of sympathy a scripture scrip-ture passtee in Armenian on a pretty picture card added and she was dismissed dismis-sed lo give room to the ext i In this way about i5o women were received re-ceived and assisted At luncheon my hostess at my request gave me her ex perltncein starting this work that has grown to buch a magnitude I have Erown repeatedly asked yit she said by Wends in Great llutain France and Switzerland to send them Oriental I err broideries for Clmslmis or for charity bazirs Sa the idta at once occurred tome to-me when tHi necssity arose to get them ol the women At once I bought a few material and gave out the orders As soon as this was known crowd came with the unanmos cry Oh give us work work I Great was the joy in the community whei it was announced that I would give them as much work ail could Instead of sitting at home huddled hud-dled together mooing sit J vveepmgihey were taken out themsehes by having something to occupy their minds Not all the women coum tlo the embroidery It required nimble fingers unspoiled by hard word and a long and careful apprenticeship ap-prenticeship They cannot ib it without at least three months hard practice They have to sit bent over a frame and wear curious thimbles to protect little fingers from the needle lint number les women bgan to learn the work in the hope of finding employment The first consideritioa was to stifle the right price for labor Considering that a dressmaker here gets 20 piasters a diy So cents end her lood and a washerwoman washer-woman 23 piasters it seemed best to allow a good expert worker piasters 49 cents a day less or more according to the speed or quality of the work This the Jews and Turn who lure such work for the bazars and nty but one or two plasters i a day declared J too much altogether alto-gether but I con idcred that a woman whose husband had been suddenly and Innoctntly killed and who is I left with a family for whom she is willing and anxious anx-ious to work is cetahilv entitled to tell plasters least Very rapidly I the wuik grew until suddenly I realized that step by step I had committed my self to avery a-very responsible position when it would require great courage and a larger capital 1 than I had to conlinu At the same lime what would become cfthe I women llt I stopped One pouring wet cold day many women had come for na ddlo d mills i to beg for work and It seemed hard to refuse With what slanted to me a reckless ccurage I told them to come Hack for work la two dI And when the last woman was gone It seemed to me as if a powtr qu te outslds of me threw me dnwn CII my knees to pray lor this and this alone that We Lord might clearly show me what to do to go on It lie would bless and it not to stop ere It wa too late To gu on I needed money murh nionnRad so much was nr re < dy involve that it would have been onTicult to retract Towards evening as I was still think I n on tns the bell rang and tl e servant announced a visitor It was Mr Mucky preside and deputy of the Swiss National Committee of Armenian Ar-menian Relief ol nrnc The following morning he wntthed all the women arriving ar-riving with their work at seemed greatly great-ly I interested On leaving he bought every stitch 1 of work I had left In the house and deposited for me n sufficient sum to relieve me of all anxiety regard In the morg1 0 worn To the question Mav rot the women find calq I a 1ejfjayino e answered If they did Hit y J would come under the Irllrldy would homb B nweating system by which a larjcrrofi went into the mrO t ol the middlemen and the rot ol the Turks and Jews II was bad enough to work for suh a pittance while yet thlr husbands and fat iers were nilvc to glvclhtm trend What would it le I no K when tiey hive to depend ertrcly on the labor ol their CIA n liandt Do I calc for mo orders Ye 1 have much to to toil mt heat is fcresdv for mere nt reI 1 r numberless families now live I by his To the < 1Uellon What b I the eliteleno nnsl efficient help that can be given to treed this labor of 101tOJthe reply was he pus to sell toestabUli if possible permanent sales 1 At Airtib Mrs 8 be rnnkt is employing employ-ing about 200 widows lo mnkr ei < nmit = cmbroderiti s which he lendt lo Lit ertys m London At Oofa trc women are do ng a very artlilic vv rk on the r ht bomepuit liitn I which I they mike thcm t1J I molkdo Illtl111 selViS ami the e aie bing sold at the vilrsrocnuh Constannnop which the American and Ergliih lldiii shave opined with Lad Lurne ut the head The sum cmbroidenoi midc by the I widows ol I Sm via under the direction of the hdiei ol tie Amtlcan Mission Slanlboll lIe sent abroad whatever ordered j as a so lie J exquisite satin vvrk dono under tne guidance ol Mrs llowen Ronnie Illssar I I So lar ti egteudut e imputed have imdel I impjsiule to icnd ntllch I I thl worl < to the United bnts mYoi1rraBz c mkttnt bat it Is hoped that some arrangcmnt may so in be effected m Men VII ciabe the American wcmei 10 how their in te est In Abcrdicn ard Glagow dlIet tilt shops have liken uy the work and in Pam special more lidS been opncd will e in liisle Cdmburg i Ncuclnitl ai J other places bazars i ave lieu 11 eld witn ths pirpjse 01 uiakm < kilo in ilia work EMMA PADDOCK TELFORD |
