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W7ien is "Second Fatherland" Joins Forces with the
Kaiser, the Famous Novelist Roars His Rebuke
from a French Gunboat in the Dardanelles.
Costumed as a Turk, Retting in a Favorite'
Nook of Hit "Mosque."
IN command of a Trench gunboat, part of the great
allied fleet now .bombarding the Dardanelles forts
which guard Constantinople, Pierre Lotl Is fight-'
!ng his beloved Turks attacking his "second father- .
land."
For Pierre Lot! to fight the Turks Is one pt the
most astonishing minor spectacles of the -war. Here
tofore, for nearly a quarter of a century, this French
naval officer, the excellence of whoso literary works
made hlsn one of the forty Immortals of the French
Academy. h,a8 missed no opportunity to defend the
Turk against the criticism of the rest of the world.'
The virtues of the Turk are set forth with, captivating
elo-iurne on many pages of his books. In his house at
Rochefort, France, his favorite room Is a duplication
In detail of a Mohammedan mosque. His most af
fected house costume Is that of a Turkish gentleman.
He has a villa In Stamboul, where he has lived for
iroonths at "a time during many years.
All the literary and political world knew that Tlerre
Loll loved the Turks and now he Is fighting them.
Ho is sixty-five years old and wasretlred from the
navy some years dgo, but when, against all he force
of his pleadings, Turkey became Cermany'a ally in
this war, his patriotism was'tfor France, however
much he loved the Turks. Ho applied for a command
in the navy, and is ouce more Captain Jullen Vlaud
his real name. Ilia conscience Is clear, for If the mis
guided country of his .affectionate adoption had not -been
"loved and lured away" by the Kaiser his French
patriotism would not have compelled him to rebuke
W with shells from bis gunboat
One reason why Pierre Lotl loves the Turks is'be
iause he adores everything Oriental and mysterious.
His ancestral homo at Rochefort has the plainest of
xterlor; but Its vast interior breathe in every tota
be spirit, of the East During the many years while
ne combined the duties of a somewhat obscure French
naval officer with the vocation of litterateur one of
the most highly esteemed of modern times he not
only visited all the Oriental countries, but in succes
sion, lived the lives of their people.
From India, from Japan, from China, from Egypt
and from Turkey he brought home a wealth of native
costumes, rugs, tapestries, furniture, household Im
plements, architectural designs and historical and re
ligious relics. Of all his temporary Oriental hornet he
loved best Constantinople. So, when he transformed
the Interior of his Rochefort home the room which
he made over into a Mohammedan mosque down to
the smallest detail naturally became his favorite
sanctuary.
Here, after his retirement from the navy," he spent
his most contented hours, attired as a Turkish gentle
man. Pierre Loll was always a lover of solitude.
Even when old friends visited him he would not In
terrupt his meditations, but for hours would sit silent,
cross-legged on a cushion, planning new and fasci
nating literary Arabesques. Attired at an Indian prince
when the spirit of that country moved him, he would
go through the same silent ceremony Sn the room
transformed into the Interior of an Indian temple.
But his most exalted Oriental literary moods
ould see him In his Egyptian room, in costume and
l-'ooo impersonating the ancient Egyptian deity, Horus.
U auch times the only thing un-Egyptian about him
was his heavy, black mustache, and his wide-open,
dark eyes, which suutd always to be thrusting his
vision deep into Eastern mysteries.
In the case of Tnrkey and the Turks, however, his
interest was much closer, more human. He loved the
Turks so much that at one stage of his career the
Ereucb Government transferred his naval command to
a station as far away as possible from Constantinople.
It was feared that his passion for actually living the
lives of his Oriental heroes would get him Into serious
iroutle.
When bis roraance, "Arlyade," appeared and Jumped
liiia at once taio fame, it was marvelled that be could
hate had tbe experiences therein portrayed without
attrscticg characteristic Turkish animosity. At his
on hero lie told the story of the hero's love lor a
f.'ircagcidu beauty and his fruitless search for her
(ii.i.ong the atrttts of ancient fitambouL.
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"Yes. I actually met her,) he told a friend. "First
in Salonika, and later we lived In Eyoub, the loveliest
of places, which lies along the banks of the Golden ,
Horn. Aziyade was divine among women. Bhe no
longer lives, but the book tellt of an experience, all
of which I actually lived. Ah, for one single hour in
", that oldest of buildings in old Stamboul to which 1
will retreat In the Spring and try to recover the peace
of soul which one leaves behind him In the Orient and .
can only recover there."
People who met Pierre Lotl while he wat visiting
this country last year found him an enigma a little
man, almost effeminate in hit manners and dress, yet
with an eagle-like look about his -face and eyes which
, accounted sufficiently for his record as an officer of
the French navy. He frankly disliked most of what .
he saw of America it was too rude, too rushing, too
unconscious of these ' subtle, precious things in life
that are not to be teen and grasped on the instant.
. He preferred to talk about his friends, the Turks, and '
about cats which he loves almost equally well he
cause they, too, are mysterious. He wat Incensed at
the Balkan States.
"The people of the Balkan States are cowards," be
said. "They have taken advantage of Italy'o war to
attack Turkey. But the Turks are patriotlo and will,
fight to the last cartouche. The Turkish soldiers do
not wear smart uniforms, and perhaps do not bathe
to often at those of other nations, but when it comes
to fighting there are no braver men on earth."
He went back, to France, where hit views about the
Turks were highly appreciated. A Paris newspaper
editor engaged him- at a fabulous sum to write on the
subject. Here are tome of hit expressions in that
series of articles:
j "How easy to explain is their hatred against the
peoples who bear the name of Christiana how should
they not feel that, openly or underhand, those peoples
are fundamentally united to suppress them? We, the
French, have taken from them Algeria and Tunis and
Morocco. The English disloyalty kidnapped Egypt.
Persia is half under the yoke. And Italy, staining
Tripoli blood-red. gave the sad signal to kill the game
pitilessly. Next, on these conquered countries, each
in our own way, we lay the burden of our disdainful
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Captain Julien Viaud (Pierre
Lot!) in Ilia French
Navy Uniform.
Pierre Loti Entering the "Motque Room" of
His House at Rochefort, France.
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hands. The least of our Httle bureaucrat treats every -Mussulman
as a slave.: From people who believe, we
take away little by little their prayer; upon dreamers
passionate for immobility, we Impose our vain agita
tion, our speed madness, our alcohols, our shoddy and -old
Iron; and everywhere the unbalancing of peoples
follows us with all its lusts and despair. '
"What can be more revolting than to see to what
degree the Turks are unknown, I could even say un
suspected, by all Occidentals, by all those who have
never set foot in their country. It is the same in
America, whence I have Just come. There the current
phrase in speaking of the Turks is "hordes of Asia,
barbarians.
"Now I do not believe there is in the world a race
more thoroughly good, brave, loyal and mild. A&k
those of ut who have lived In the Orient, even our
priests and sisters, who are to respected there, ask
them which they prefer or esteem more Turks or
Bulgarians, Serbs, Levantine Christians generallyI
know their answer beforehand. Every one of them
will say that these Bulgarians 'with all their wonder
ful courage which I am the first to acknowledge
advancing at they do to the chant of ,Te Deuma and
the ringing of church bells, are a a race. Infinitely
rougher and more deadly than the Mussulman race."
Pierre Lotl's Turkish friends were not slow in ex
pressing their gratitude. Mahmsud Shevket Pasha,
the Turkish Grand Vizier, wrote him a letter contain
ing these words: .
"While Europe in a cowardly way closet its eyet to
the Balkan atrocities on ' defenseless and peaceful
Turkish farmers, you alone have taken up the pen in
theln defense, and for this you will please accept the
thanks of 131am." . v
But the eloquent Frenchman received even more
emphatic proof of the value of his services to tne
Turks. Lieutenant Torkom, of the . Bulgarian army,
challenged him to a duel. Loti replied that the chal
lenge was couched in such Ignoble terms that "my
fingers refuse to touch it" ' He refused to believe that
the Bulgarian Army could choose such a person to
Meditating as Horus, the Ancient Egyptian
Deity.
present It And he wat right, for, as Loti saIJi
'The Insolent youth was subsequently repudiated."
He goes on in his articles event more eloquently on
bealf of the Turks:
"Nowhere life among the best Turks will auch
solicitude for the poor, the weak and the aged and
children, and veneration for mothers be found.' . The t
wandering dogs of Stamboul have proved the Turkish
Kindliness. At Broussa there exists a stork hospital
where wounded and aged birds are fed and bandagec
' and even supplied with Wooden legs."
It was not to be expected that the breaking out ot
the great European war would cause Loti to drop the
v pen in favor of the sword. He wat sixty-five years
old, and in retirement after having served his country
in the navy long and welL At the start he did not
' even exercise his pen. But when Germany began ta
coquette with Turkey, the watchful - friend of that
country was promptly heard from via the French!
newspapers. He wrote:
"Every one can understand that Turkey wants to
reconquer her islands, but I perceive, alas! pressure'
exercised ,by the abominable being In whom Is In
carnated all the blemishes ot the Prussian race!
ferocity, insolence, treachery who is doubtless tak
ing advantage of your chivalrous patriotism, over
whelming you with lies and obscuring the truth.
"If you only realized the Immense dlsfr- t rising
throughout the entire world against the Prussian race I.
- Unfortunately;, you owe nothing to France,; which au
thorized the action ot Italy against Tripoli; which
took the part vt your neighbors in the recent wars.
.The Germans sione comforted you then, hut that does
not warrant your committing suicide for them now."
To Enver Bey he wrote: "I know your merited in.'
fiuence with your country. When my letter arrives
perhaps your eyes will be opened, despite the Tell ol
lies in which Germany seeks to envelope you. I ant
positive of our ultimate victory; how my Joy would
- be darkens 1 by mourning if my second, my Eastera
Fatherland, should, be buried In the ruins ot the1
hideous Empire of Prussjal"
WfelL Pierre Loti had en loyal to his beloved,
Turks. He had wahied them, he had pleaded "with
them. But they would not listen. They Joined forces
with the enemy of France. Loti loved the Turks as
much as ever, but France was his "First Fatherland."
So, more In sorrow than in anger and with true'
patriotism be demanded and, received a command la'
the navy and went forth to bombard the Dardanelles
forts. ; '
Should Pierre Lotl be captured by the Turks, doubts
less he will be treated as their most distinguished
' prisoner of war, and permitted to live like a Pasha lnl
his own Stamboul villa.
Do Divorced Men and Widowers Make Better Husbands Than Bachelors
By Professor Charles T. Watkin3r
The Distinguished American Psychologist.
A BACHELOR is a greenhorn in regard to
women! He may pride himself that he
is a great catcher of the ladles' heartt.
Just as he prides himself that he has always
thrown his heartt to the four wlndt when tired of
.them, but when it comet to old-fashioned real
love-making It takes a widower or a divorced man!
The man who has been over the matrimonial
road once It like a boy from college compered to
a wild young stag from the backwoods. Not that
a woman has such a refining influence that she pro
duces this great change, but only that a woman is
a woman, and really to know her and to know tier '
moods a man must have been married to her. The
mere drawing room woman Is not the creature
men encounter In their married life. No matter,
how many sisters a bachelor has, no matter how
well be knows his mother, he can never play the
role ot husband to them and he can never under
let aud them as be can a wife. This brcbelor may
chuckle up his sleeve and think he knows the
ladles, "Ciod bless them," but he doesn't know
Lt much about them as a newborn babe. Tour .
widower and divorced man can beat him in the
game of love every time, because they understand
the woman they are making love to.
Woman Is a many-elded creature. She is more
like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde than any creature on
, earth. Woman Is so complex that it takes more
than two or three hours of pleasant company to
, understand her. The bachelor must have a great
conception of the feminine Instinct!
It is for the very Tea sop that they secretly re
sent the selfish instinct- which makes so many
bachelors incorrigible, that women take a ma
licious pleasure in misleading him concerning
their real feelings and prejudices.
The widower has a slight advantage even over
the divorced man because he createa sympathy..
A woman's heart it made up of desire to comfort
Even the hardest woman wantr to comfort a child
on the street when she sees It In tears. Ana to
when gentle woman sees the lonely, sorrowful
Widower approaching her path and asking tor her
love, her heart opens and fills with pity for him.
If be is clever and takes advantage of aM this pre
vious education which he hat had he will win hit
first victim.
The divorced man can, of course, concoct a tale
of misery and abuse, desertion and atwuxdonmenlv
and be usually does. Hit little experience hat
quite fitted him to know,the nature ot hit new'
desire.
But the baeholor it at the tall end of the race.
Oh. yes, he THINKS he it the winner, but that
it because he is merely tolerated. Women will
tolerate a great deal. That is one of their best
characteristics and one which the bachelor is en
tirely unaware of. If, however, the bachelor de
cided really t stop flirting and propose he might
hve to go to several ladles before he succeeded
In getting a wife.
Of course, a woman will flirt the best of them
flirt But that does not lead to matrimony, as
the bachelor might find out If he would play the
game a little farther. How many hearts the
bachelor thinks he hat thrown aside which he
really never bad at all! Hit widower friends and
bachelor friends tit back and laugh at him, but
he. poor greenhorn, playa en and on in hit little
game. He sees the widower walk off with one ot
hit old girls and secretly laughs, saying to him
self that be might have had her
But could he have had her T Did he ever ask herV
Yes, she flirted, of course; she tolerated himj ot
course, but that is the woman of it That is the
side of a woman the bachelor does not know
Later he sees his divorced friend carry away am
other girl of his. But he slaps himself upon th
back and goes forth to play the game of lov
again to catch a girl for another chum and ad 4
another to his Hat of reveries!
Perhaps in old age the bachelor receives a rev
elation of the truth that never in hit life has h(
made a "conquest";' that if be had ever sub
mitted bis neck to the matrimonial yoke lt would
then have been the woman, not himself, whs
withdrew" gracefully."
The divorcee man and the widower have bin
beaten ten to one, and the worst of lt is ht
doesnt knAV he is beaten! All the bachelor'!
reveries turn into pipe dreams, and ever wilL 11
be wants to win the game, to understand ths
feminine nature, to appreciate woman in all bei
moods and fancies, he will have to bunt UB hh
widower friends and his divorced friends and ge;
a few hints on the subject which lt hardest te
learn
