We have quoted elsewhere very largely from Lord Houghton's striking
poem of the 'fifties, "The Turk at Con- stantinople to the Frank," in which he depicts an Old Turk who fully realizes that fate is against him, and that his people, only "tented" in Europe, must return to Asia. We cannot help feel- ing that all true friends of the Turk must recognize the truth of this. The Turk, indeed, is like a sick man who will keep up and about in spite of severe illness. At last, however, he has to listen to those of his friends who have been assuring him so long that he will be "much better in bed." Asia is the bed to which the Turk should betake himself, and will ultimately have to betake himself, even if circumstances should allow him to struggle about for a few years more. The Ottoman clan may have a future in Asia. It has none in Europe.
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