Behind Turkish Lattices. By Hester Donaldson Jenkins. (Chatto and Windus.
6s. net.)—Miss Jenkins describes the life of a Turkish woman from the beginning to the end: her babyhood —on which, it would seem, very little intelligent care is commonly exercised—her childhood—including home and school life—court- ship—so far as this can be said to exist—marriage and harem life are successively described. The picture is not, on the whole, a cheerful one. The Turkish woman has neither serious employ- ment nor recreation in her life. There are exceptions. Some women are bestirring themselves to help their sisters into a better position, and of course in the working class necessity compels the women to work. One thing it is satisfactory to hear : polygamy is distinctly on the decrease. The reason is partly economical; anyhow it works for good. There is a curious detail of a Moslem funeral. "The Imam in long, wailing tones, sometimes of piercing sweetness, relates the life, apparent death, and resurrection of Jesus, for, curiously enough, the Moslems regard Jesus as their hope of immortality, and think that he will preside over the Last Judgment."
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