St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-12-31
appearance, being all illuminated. 1t
Is this that Byron refers to when he

"PPehidnce, Delng all illuminated. Ii
Is this that Byron refers to when he
says,-
The crescent glimmers on the hill,
The mosques high lamps are auivering still"
here are prayers in the MOSQUES
every evening during the month.
l have said that the Turkish months
are regulated by the moon, but the
followers of the Prophet do not trust to
any infidel almanacs or blasphemouS
computations to fix the boundaries of
of their sacred Rhamazan. Not they
1t is not till an ulemd or sofia. or some
other trustworthy believer announces
that he has seen with his own ewes the
faint crescent of the new moon that the
holy time commences. In case of cloudy
weather it may be il day or two late,
but no mrtter. | doubt, however.
whether the most devoted Musslllmarl
prolongs his fast at the other end to
make up for such deficiency.
The last gun of Rhamazan is joyful
'- anu pe'i "i'ci pedl Il"hl tHt
royal batteries at Dolmebag ghche, an
nounce that Rhamazan is ended. and
the joyful feast Of Bairam begins
Bailam is the Easter which follows
the Mohammedan Lent. 1t is il happy.
noisy time. Three days are given up
to feasting 10y rich aud poor alike, to
the extent of their ability. Visits are
made, presents given, sherbet drank
and sweetmeaIs eaten; the people have
new clothes and the Sultan il new
wlfe.-a present from the Nalidc Sui
tana. his royal mother. the most beau
tlful slave i'll her possession.
On the first day of the feast the
Sultan goes i'll state to Il sacred shrine
III the city To vcnerate the mantle of
the Prophet. and then returns to one of
the principal mosques where he receives
the homage of the dignitaries of the
Empire. lis the scccessorS of Nohaumcd
of the faithful. the Nicegercnt of tod
on earth.
Such are Rhamazan and Bairam the
principal fast and feast of the Moslcms.
| had intended to speak of several
other fastS and feasts observed here hv
the Turks and Christians. but my letter
would he too long. and must postpone
them until some other time. There is
one feast day, however. which has Just
occurred, that must not forget To
mention.
TIANK>,,ININt; DAY
WAS observed last Thursday 10y the
Americans of tnnstantin"plc in good
old New En@land style. The mi>sirna-
Iies of the American Board provided Il
b"untitul rcpa>t i'll the new "lIome"
building in Scutari. and all the Amer
lean residents in the city were invited
to share it with them. We were 10 in
all. including the children. and Il Jolly
party it was. At eleven o'clock there
WAS Il religious service. with sermon
10y Rev. Mr.. Blingtun. The Presidents
proclamation WAS read. and We sang
the good old songs. My country It's
of thee" and Praise God from whom
all blessings flow"
\ distance of 5000 miles adds Il zrst
to our national songs which none can
until they have felt it. 1t
made us feel 1T home to bc preached to
like American citizens. The scriaon
was originally prepared to he delivered
to an audience at home, and although
not Immediately applicable to us here.
seemed all the better. us the preacher
made us forget our exile when he spoke
of our duties to our country aS men
and citizens
Our Ambassador. Mr.. Maynard. was
present with his family. and some other
American guests. DIR. Field of the
New York Erdngelist was to have
preached t" us Oh that day, hut um-
was obliged to Z" away on
W edncsday.
| need not describe the dinner. nor
the social entertainment, the most
delicious feast of all, for they were
what lou can easily imagine under til"
but of this | am sure
that, of all the companies that came
together on that day, the one least
for Gods mercirs was not the
one which celebrated Thanksgiving day
on the shore of the Bosphorus.
{. \. :.
Robert College, Constantinoplc,
Dec. |. 1879.