Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-02

going to church for a sermon less than
one hour and half long. Wonder how
she would express herself if she knew
that the Sultan, who, in the ordinary
course of nature, has no few sins to pray
off, does il all in one half an hour after
all the display and parade gotten up for
the occasion. One may read all that is
written about how kingly rulers dash
through their subje cts money, but no idea
can be formed at all near the truth of the
prodigality till one of their royal displays
is seen. es snfl o.e
Sullaus, princes, etc., have all read
Shakespeare, / suppose, and think with him
that money is trash, Some people, l know,
are foolish enough to wish for king.
Let them see how kings spend money not
theirs, and the wish will be changed.
Sultan Abdul Medjis is not the only ex-
travagant man in Europe. Maybe, how.
ever, kings had as well spend the peo-
pies money as Congress.
The Sultan having teen "did' in the
true and correct style, something or some
body else had to be did. During the
meeting one of my party had strayed off
and had been hemmed in by the guard.
That was a lady. The alarm was sound
ed nobody seemed to know or care.
That would not do, SO set out in search.
Presently l came upon a distressed look
ing creature, who appeared to be making
her will. | told her to make codicil
and bring me in for a share, else would
leave her. This seemed TO arous her
and she chung to me- till the awful SOL
diery was left far behind.
The next thing was boat ride on the
bosom of the Golden Horn, a body of
water, the image of which remains stamped
on the memory of all visit who SIAM
boul. The scenery from this Horn is en-
chanting. The vehicle in which was to
do the next point Of interest was fancy,
light canoe affair called a caique. They
dash through the water in regular west
ern style but woe betide tender stomachs
and light heads when a large steamer
passes. Who did it or how it was done |
knew not but somehow found your cor
respondent in charge of six fair creatures.
The more the merrier, if any drowning
was to be done. The company was select
except the guide. If any of my readers
intend travelling to the east be sure to add
two months before you stand the clause,
"deliver me from troublesome, ignorant,
impudent thievish guides" and may your
prayer be heard. While we were gliding
round admiring the graceful minarets,
the massive mosque, the fairy palaces, the
busy shipping, fantastic caiques, deep,
soft, blue sky and many other things,
and talking of them, this guide would
keep interfering with our conversation
and thoughts by giving his idea of things
in general. But the attractions were
sufficient to engage us so deeply as to
cause much of his bother to be unnoticed.
A ride on the Golden Horn must not be
missed.
The day for the trip on the BosphOrus
aud the Black Sea, one of the greatest
pleasures of visit to ConstantinOple, was
stormy. In going to the BosphOrus
several beautiful palaces and residences
are passed as it is entered. All along on
both sides are exquisite scenes, such as
are met only once or twice in life time.
The beauty is almost entirely natures,
for art has done but little How much
of earth's fairest portions these
thriftless, worthless Turks rule In
England, ON the Continent, and
in the United States, many places have
been made paradises almost, where nature
was not half so lavish as here. The bet
ter classes live on the shores of the Bos-
phorus, as also many foreigners. The point
where the sacred waters of Asia fall into
the sea is better improved than any other.
rrhaca coorol tho No
hommedsns, and pilgrimages are made to
them. When the Black Sea was reached
the waves were so high that our small
steamer could not get far out. Just :
the sea is entered large rock juts forth,
on which was heather temple, the affairs
of which still remain. Some of the Ia
dies soon grew sea sick, so we had to
return. The sea had been rough for sew
eral days, preventing thousands of MGR
Chantment from gsing on for cargoes OF
wheat, millions of which are raised on its
shores. On this trip we had another proof
of Eastern meanness. A lunch was or
dered before leaving G. When this came
to be eaten it was asked what each ones
share would be. No answer could be
obtained, but when the trip was over,
the lunch-man proposed to size our piles
and take them as pay for our dinners.
He did not quite succeed in this, but the
cOstliest meal | have taken was on the
BOsphOrUs.
The dancing Dervishes next came in as
a matter of interest TO the sight-seer and
observer of Eastern manners, etc. This
is quite respectable body in the East,
especially in the capital. The leader was
in succession to the throne, but renOunced
his claim and is in great favor on this
account The buildings in which these
men, who are philosophers enough TO
make a religion of the Fantastic zoe"
business, meet is quite fine one. The
dancing is not graced by women as parti-
Cipants, for they always become too
merry, TO say nothing of other objections.
Visitors are Accommodated on the outside
of railing, which inclOses a round
space. Farther on, Mahommedans who
are not monks or devishes, worship. In
side Of the railing the performance
takes place, and lively performance it
is. There were fifteen or twenty brethren
on hand. After the laymen had taken
their places, facing the east, the leader of
the meeting appeared. A long run of
prayers, kneeling, rising, prostrating,
chanting, stirring the air with the heels
was first gone through. The more they
said and did the more they became ex-
cited and louder they chanted, with ex-
ceptiOn of two or three, who were good
enough to have spare time for nodding
occasionally. Human nature is the same
in all ages and chimes. Some of the very
piOus, go to what church you may, will
indulge in friendly snooze at chants,
and, what is strange, they are generally
the most devout at first. The principle
of reaction is in force, | suppose, il re-
ligiOus as well as other matters. After
the snoring and other performances
had gone on for long time
long enough for some of the
words to be memorized, but they have
been fOrgotten-some most unearthly
sQueaking, intended for instrumental
music, broke forth from a gallery. The
Mohammedans, as a rule, do not have in
strumental music, and well it is, if this
was the best they afford. Did they have
much of it, few would heed the Muezzin
when he calls to prayers from his lofty