. The Turk and the land of Haig; or, Turkey and Armenia: descriptive, historical, and picturesque . the stagnation of primitive times, theyhave contrived to abstain from the blessings of civiliza-tion. Science and philosophy are alien to the mindsof even their high governmental and religious func-tionaries. Rev. J. F. Riggs, one of the Americanmissionaries in Turkey, relates that the late Sir HenryAustin Layard, the English diplomatist and archaeol-ogist, toiled along with one of the Turkish pashas tointerest him in astronomy. He gave glowing accountsof tlie sun, moon, and stars, and especiall
. The Turk and the land of Haig; or, Turkey and Armenia: descriptive, historical, and picturesque . the stagnation of primitive times, theyhave contrived to abstain from the blessings of civiliza-tion. Science and philosophy are alien to the mindsof even their high governmental and religious func-tionaries. Rev. J. F. Riggs, one of the Americanmissionaries in Turkey, relates that the late Sir HenryAustin Layard, the English diplomatist and archaeol-ogist, toiled along with one of the Turkish pashas tointerest him in astronomy. He gave glowing accountsof tlie sun, moon, and stars, and especially hedescribed the comets, with their strange he paused at last, the pasha said, Well, yousay that the comet comes near and then goes awayagain ? Yes, I said that, replied the veteranEnglishman. Very well, retorted the pasha, let itgo. Such a response from a Turkish governor, whorepresents the highest culture of his people, might wellillustrate the scope of Turkish intelligence. As to Armenians, we have our own civilization andculture. If our civilization and culture are not as high. JOHN AYVAZOVSK, THE ARMENIAN PAINTER, 68 THE TURK AND THE LAND OF HAIG. as those of Western nations, we are a progressivepeople, at least, which is a marvelous quality to pos-sess in a land like Turkey, where stagnation reignssupreme. One need only become acquainted with the Armenianrace to convince himself in regard to the superior placewhich our people occupy in the advance march ofcivilization. We have our own literature, rich withpoets, historians, critics, translators, and scholars. Norare the Armenians less conspicuous in the field ofcommercial and political activity. Indeed, in spite ofthe most gigantic obstacles thrown on the path of theprogress and development of our race, the Armenianshave, as a people, always occupied an advanced posi-tion in everything that requires energy, capacity, andintelligence. This is true not only of the Armeniansin the Ottoman Empire, but in Russia
Size: 1304px × 1916px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidturklandofhaigor00azhd
