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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1915)
Tee Omaha Sunday Bee Magazine Page - t Pmi Lots i "" ' ' ' ." 'ft 'VI ' v.l" '" f"ll,w"-v It . - ' i . .. . f t ?.' I. S , "i ; i : . 4 I ! J . t J' v. ; - . 1 :. " : : I 7 - . t -f ! -' ' .'i V' -" ' " : r v ; - .' - - ,'; '.... I . i iv:, XL ik-. I . )' S - 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. f. A : X t - t ( " )S it ! li.Wi.it' - 4 1 ' . r i m w..i&,ijajt., "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 it I I '-I if : I. . . . Captain Julien Viaud (Pierre Lot!) in Ilia French Navy Uniform. Pierre Loti Entering the "Motque Room" of His House at Rochefort, France. '. ,-. : ' ' , r 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