30th June, 1915.
The skies are dark here, and people have been in and out all day—these of all classes, and every one with the same question: “What of the night?” The news from BV. was not encouraging. A few influential Turks here want to help, but dare not. Some women went by carriage to see an influential man and his family in a vineyard; were well received. Each had her part; —— was assigned that of shedding tears, but I do not think she did so alone. It has been like a funeral here. Several families have been notified to be at the station with all their members and their beds on Monday next, when they would be told their destination. P.’s brother and Q. head the list; the others are poorer people. They are working for a week of grace in which to settle business affairs. Isn’t it awful—and all are asking: “Who next?” Such drawn and tired faces as we have seen all day.
Half the town want to “store” things here, to be ours if they never return; rugs, coppers, etc.—but we may be blown up, who knows?
1st July.
Times here are lively. In B. people get two orders at once, and then ask which one they must obey? Conditions in BV. are hard. The Vali’s brother is against the Armenians. People of all sorts and conditions come from morning until night to ask questions and to weep. The conditions here are far from cheerful.
4th July.
Several families go to-morrow (only one of them a Protestant). The Government says they will go a few at a time. I doubt their sending widows, and, for all their positive assertions, I still feel it in my bones that there will be modifications of the order. People come from morning till night to talk.
I am giving up the room downstairs for a store-room. —— says he has 5,000 liras’ worth of mortgages and farms, etc., which he can’t store. The R.’s have eight times as much out among the ruling race. I suspect that leading families are to go first. Every one trembles.
We had a comfortably full chapel both morning and evening, and two beautiful sermons suitable for the time. Many Greeks and Gregorians present. The Greeks are being sent from Constantinople. —— urged upon the people their going away in a right spirit, remembering the blessings of the past, opportunities as a nation for education, business and church life, to pay their debts to Moslems, to help the poor among them, to go as evangelists in faith and courage. It was comforting and inspiring.
18th July.