"My friends at the Assembly attribute the temporary fall of Turkey to the strong, non-progressive, influence of the hodjas, who have converted themselves into a powerful priestly class, as forbidden by the Prophet. Others attribute it to ignorance of economics; others to Western remoulding of Islam, and foreign oppression; others still, to a perpetual state of war."
"What is the Pasha's personal opinion?"
"No man," he says, "can live without complete liberty and full freedom; nor can any nation. So long as the interests of my own country permit it, I will be the friend of all nations and all humanity; but when any nation begins to tamper with our freedom and our independence, as Germany did in the war, then we can only resist and fight to the bitter end. I sought to discover my people's will, and I found they were ready for any sacrifice to defend their country. I had faith in the sons of Turkey, and my faith has justified itself to the utmost."
"There has, indeed, been no finer movement among the 'despised and rejected' since the world began."
"Here comes my friend the sun," I exclaimed; "a snow-capped Olympus, the cypress beneath the azure! Why is our driver using his whip with such unusual success, just when we want to linger and admire Do you know, my friend, should I paint this soil, in all its varied tones from ruby to terra-*cotta, all men would cry out, 'that woman always sees her Turkey en coleur de rose!'"
"I will bear witness," laughed my friend.
"But, seriously," I went on, "does it not mean iron; rich veins of iron that it would pay someone to produce?"
In this district of lonely marshland, one can at least rejoice in the cold for one reason. It has driven away the flies and mosquitoes.
"Why does not your country find the capital
