In character he is grave and saturnine, pious to the extreme, brave yet pusilanimous, simple yet luxurious, and extremely indolent.

     It is the custom of the Turks, when they entertain to dinner, and wish specially to honor their guests, to engage professional story-tellers, singers and dancers to entertain these, when the feast is ending. Decked in the graceful and filmy folds of their drapery, these latter make entrancing pictures, and the soft tomes of the lute, added to the sinuous movements of these lithe girls, is ravishing to the senses.

     Although not of Turkish origin, the game of checkers or draughts is an extremely popular pastime. It is no uncommon street sight to see two venerable bearded sheiks bent in deep abstraction over the engrossing board.

     The favorite musical instrument of Turkey is the lute. This is extremely dulcet of sound, graceful of appearance, and charming and seductive of tone. It is shaped like the section of a pear, and in the hands of Oriental beauty adds irrestible witchery.

     The land of the Moslem is the home of the harem. Within its secret walls, young maids disport. Here it is where they acquire proficiency in dancing.