The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-12-08
A Turkish Snuf-BOx.

A Paris correspondent tells the following
curious custom
"Well," said our friend F., sis there
any news to day from snulf-box land?"
"We looked at each other, little aston
ished, and not knowing very well what he
meant to say. Snuf.box land What was
this fantastic country, and was he not speak
ing of creation of fairy art He took
from his writing table very pretty golden
snuffbox, square in form, incrusted with
enamel, and having in the centre some let,
ters in Turkish writing, engraved upon 6
gold plate, and resembling al abesque.
"Ths," said he showing the inscription
"is the cipher of the Sultan Abdul-Mejid
Listen to the story of this snuff box:
twenty-five years ago, at the time o
the Eastern war, had engaged in the ser
! vice as volunteer in the ranks of the Turk
;sh army, in order to continue on the Dan
ube the duel against Russia which we (my
countrymen and myself had commenced OF
the Vistula Omer Pasha, Il great general
and at the same time an excellent man, who
had but one fault, very Innocent one
however, that ofsaying My Highness' When
speaking OF himself, had taken Inc to hi,
staff rs orderly officer. Notwithstanding hi;
title, | commanded Il company OF brave and
coed men, and accepted no pay personally
although | was not rich. My salary wa.
paid into my soldiers coil,r 1t happened
that it was who, ut the head oi my men
had the good luck to enter first into Bucha
rest, evacuated by the Russian army. Thi'
evacuation of the Principalities vas certain
= a great feat of war, and coIu not fail t
awaken very agreeable emotions IN the Sui.
tan when he heard Of il, and the mes
stnger Of this good news wculd certainly bt
generously received. Omcr Pasha, whs
Showed me genuine sympathy, SAW an op
portunity to be kind to M, aud p,rlap,
making my fortune.
"Yuu will take horse from Bucharest t
Varna," said he. "Thore you will take tn,
| Danube boat, and % directly to CONSTANT
nople. Above all, ask to speak with tn,
Sultan ia person tho news Of the evacua
ton of the Principalitiv is well worth fin,
snun-box."
"A snuh.box | scarcely knew wha
Omer Pasha meant, for | WAS yet ignoran
that in Turkey remuncratiuns IN money ar,
given AS suuIl-Goxes. The Sultan distin
guishes snutl-boxes into first, second anC
third classes, aud the value of the snuff
boxes increases or dimnishes according t,
the recompense which his highness wishe
to bestow After having received the snuff
box, one can go directly to the treasury an,
exchange it for the official sum which i
represents. Omer Pasha knew this, ant
wished me to receive this time Abdul Med
jid's snuff box. | arrived at Constantine
Pile. Every ybody snakes way for the younI
officer bearer of message for the grea
Turkish general. | stand before the Sui
tan, and the Sultan is enchanted, he is hap
py, and smiles without ceremony at the new
| have come to bring him. Such joy is wei
worth something.
"Giye that officer" said he "a forty-thou
sand franc snuG,boxp p Forty thousan,
francs was pretty sum. / don't know wha
Vizer was there, who bowed, and Abdul
Medjid dismissed me very graciously, smil
ing all the while.
"When l returned to camp, some days al
terward, Omer Pasha said TO me in yer,
good -natured tone;
"Well e you are satisfedS"
al am delightedp
! "Ysa received your snaii.box"