SUMMER PLEASURES IN TURKEY

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 188, 4 May 1908, Page 3

SUMMER PLEASURES IN TURKEY

Between the life of an English lady in Constantinople and that of a Turkish one there is a striking contrast) for tho former. (says a lady correspondent in tho "Daily Telegraph") is able to enter into , all the amusements that are strictly forbidden to the latter. - It is a land ivhero one may enjoy tennis, cricket, polo, football, dancjng, riding, boating, swimming, and the like, but tliero is a sad dearth of concerts, and plays. It is seldom,' if over, any good music is. heard; except that of private performers or the public bands. Yet the lifo is greatly enjoyed by the Europeans, and • during the summer it is one continual round of .outdoor amusements; starting from the early spring days, when everyone leaves town' for- the country, which is quite beautiful. . In June the summer season begins, when /all tho' Embassies niove to tlieir. country residences,-andthe large hotels open, followed by Pera society and many 'travellers who come to spend the season there.;, From. 7: a.m.:- the tennis courts are. fully occupied by the . most energetic .men, and lady players, and some of them are wonderfully good, as is shown' in the international ■ tournaments which : take place during the summer. Tho afternoon is the .time when the fashionable crowd collects on the courts, and some , of the dresses worn arc the smartest to be seen at any: up-to-date watering-place. A most characteristic, feature of every meeting is; its cosmopolitan nature, for English, French, American, Austrian, German, Italian Greek, Armenian, and Turkish (men) society is-fully represented on. all' occasions.. Greeks are 'prominent amongst .tho best tennis players, and this year tliey hold the champion lawn tennis cut>. • Turks often come and watch the games, but do not dare take part ; they take a great interest in polo, and have joined the club, but- only belong to tho organising committee. .' Twice a week iwlo , is. played, when it 'is considered the proper : thing for ladies' to' drive out to the ground in their daintiest cpstumes and walk about .the'-.lawns;i At,a little distance a game ;is 'being l played' by, miembers of the club, but small if any interest is taken in the game, except by just a, few sporting people; the greater number feit with their backs to' tho players, enjoying tea and entertaining their friends. Orice ortivice. during the season grand gymkhanas aro given, and for these events special gowns are-made, -and certainly it is a sight to -seetho magnificent creations the, Greek ladies appear in, quite eclipsing tho English simple muslin gowns, of which they make • the greatest ridicule. - These are some of the unpleasant sides of the_ life' in Constantinople,' but they can be avoided by never going out. alone. ; : 'SHOCKING "THE UNSPEAKABLE.'' Turks look upon English people as hopelessly- madr~and, _ though they • are fond of them, some of their amusements are strongly disapproved of. At one'time mixed bathing was' commenced, but the Turks were so shocked that they removed their families the''vicinity, so- that their ladies should not see such proceedings. Finally, they asked that' such a. tiling should' bo - stopped.' Their wishes wero complied with: Dancing is another) amusement that they cannot understand being allowed, and they emphatically condemn the young Turkish' officers who take part in-the balls. , Dinner parties and dances aro the usual evening .entertainments, oven' through tho hottest months, and every Saturday there is a dance given at'the Summer Palace Hotel, which is attended. by the elito of Bosphorus society. Between the dances the interval is spent on the Terrace, alnd many of the guests return, after... midnight to their homes in caiques. There is no more'delightful -way of travelling than this, of being Bwiftly rowed in a long comfortable boat over the Bosphorus, and on a moonlight' night it is quite perfect, . Friday, the Turks' Sunday, has long bqen the great day for visiting the Sweet. Waters of Asia, where all tho smart Turkish ladies, wearing their most becoming costumes, used to be rowed up and down in their beautifully-fitted-out boats and caiques. So packed did this river become on a fino dayVwith craft of every description that oars could not'be used, and the boatmen were obliged to push along each, other's -boats. At such times letters are passed between the Turkish men and ladies, and this has been reported to the Sultan, so that now ladies are forbidden to go up tho river. • While that order lasts, one of the prettiest sights, with so much local colour in it, is lost to the European,;