The delay in the peace negotiations is causing considerable alarm in
Europe.

It seems that the Sultan's main object in writing to Germany and Russia
has been to gain time.

It is thought that he hopes the Powers will disagree and leave him free
to do as he pleases.

If, however, they still remain as firm as they are at present, he thinks
the delay may give time for the Mohammedans to calm down.

These people are now so excited over the success that has attended the
Turkish arms, that it is feared they will revolt against the Sultan if
he agrees to give up Thessaly.

We told you about the visit of the Sheik ul Islam to the Sultan.

These Sheiks are very powerful persons. It is perhaps a little difficult
to make you understand just how powerful they are, living as you do in a
country where such conditions do not exist.

The Sheiks are leaders of numerous tribes of people to whom their word
is absolute law, and whom they command as entirely as a father commands
his children, and for the reason that the tribesmen are in a measure the
children of the Sheik.

In the olden times family life was much stronger and closer than it is
to-day. The father of a family would continue to govern the affairs of
his sons after they had grown up and married and had families of their