According to the Koran, divorce is easy and can be obtained by the husband simply proclaiming that he is weary of his spouse. The wife, on the other hand, can only obtain divorce for sufficient cause. In fact, matrimonial ties in Mohammedan countries are flimsy. No better example of the ease of Mohammedan divorce can be given than that of Mustapha Khemal, the Turkish leader, and his wife. The American papers explained that Khemal himself pronounced the decree, his priestly functions enabling him so to do; but the fact is that divorce in Mohammedan countries is an extremely simple process for both high and low. The Koran teaches non-indulgence in wine, and in general devout believers are absolute tee-totalers. The cultivation of the grape and the making of wine does not prevail among the followers of Mohammed. Circumcision, non-eating of pork, objection to statues and photographs are all borrowed from the Old Testament, the last named from the commandment, “Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image.” Not one Turk in a thousand, if that many, can read the Koran, as it is written in Archaic Arabic, but the general conception that they are the faithful and all others are “dogs of unbelievers” is well fixed in their minds as also the few broad articles of faith hitherto enumerated. Illiteracy is generally prevalent among the Turkish people, and the hodjas or priests do not do much in the way of teaching except crying from the minarets “God is God and Mahomet is His Prophet.” Nevertheless, during the horrible days of massacre, fire and rape in Smyrna, the Turks were chanting, with joy: “Their wives shall be widows and their children orphans.” Hearing this, and thinking of the thousands of babes who were being made fatherless, or subjected to suffering and death, I could not help remembering the words: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Mr. Geddes in his statement asserts that in no instance did he see any Moslem giving alms to Armenians, it being a criminal offense for any one to aid them, the object of the deportations being “the extermination of the race.” The teachings of the Mohammedan cult render it possible to issue such an order to an entire nation, with the certainty that it will be universally obeyed. CHAPTER XXXV THE EXAMPLE OF MOHAMMED Though there have been great Mohammedan civilizations that have contributed much to the world’s progress and have left imperishable monuments, they have not lasted. They have arisen through the fundamentally noble character and intelligence of the peoples that have founded them, and have flourished for a relatively short time rather in spite of their creed than because of it. And, as is the case in all religions, the example set by the originator has had a greater influence on his disciples than his book. The Prophet is deeply reverenced by all Mohammedans who regard even one hair from his beard as having miraculous power.