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TURKEY: Faint Perfume

2 minute read
TIME

Strong, natural, healthy smells are not repugnant to the slightly beaked nose of His Excellency General Ismet Pasha, now for the third time Prime Minister of Turkey, onetime victorious Commander-in-Chief on the Turkish western front in the odoriferous war with Greece. Last week bristling General Ismet decided to flay the faint, insipid, artificial perfumes which Turkish ladies buy with the guarantee: Fresh, and Direct from Paris. Said Ismet with a soldier’s scornful snort: “The Government will consent no longer to having the daughters of Turkey perfumed with expensive foreign extracts. Pha!”

With a soldier’s mellow sentimentality General Ismet continued: “We want our daughters, at the urging of their mothers, who, with their heads ornamented with the flowers of Anatolia, than’s to the vigor of their healthy bodies, transported munitions in our time of need, to consecrate themselves to the pursuit of a vigorous physique. We want them … to exhale the perfume of the flowers of our mountains, and to reflect the spirit of economy and sobriety.”

“If,” cried Ismet finally in ringing tones, “if we can teach the women of this country economy, it will be impossible for the men to resist this heroic influence!”

Amid Turkish cheers roughly translatable as “economy forever!” the Grand National Assembly voted confidence in Prime Minister Ismet, took under favorable advisement his plans for curtailing Turkish imports not only of perfume but also of silks, tea, coffee. On imported tea and coffee alone Turkey spends $1.57 per capita every year.

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