Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/169

Rh European institutions, though very few in number, are generally becoming abject infidels in their hearts and heads, an element which does not seem more favorable to the Christian civilization and a better illustration for the re-entrance of the evil spirit into an empty heart. Hence all the outward appearance of the Turkish education and progress is a total farce, and an extra burden upon the long oppressed and impoverished Christians (for they must contribute to support) and a serious danger for Christian civilization.

2. A Closer Investigation of These Institutions. The buildings are better than the common schools, but not as good as one might expect for the large sums collected from the people. The first floor is generally used for the wood and the ashes, and as a place for the shoes, which must not be taken up to the second floor, because it is used for Mohametan worship as well as school. The second floor consists of a narrow hall, to which all the doors of so-called lecture rooms open. No directory, no time-table and no program in the hall, only the emblem (arms) of the Ottoman government. You have to go from door to door and look in to see the contents. One of them looks like an arithmetic class; all the students of the class are crowded before one faded small blackboard and working together in great confusion. The other room looks like a geography or history class. The torn maps are inscribed all over with Arabic letters, reading from right to left. The largest letters on the eastern end read, "The Great