The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-09-07
A Turkish Romance.
THE pAcHA WHO NEVER SAW A PAIR OF
GLoVEs-How A POOR AUSTRIAN BE-
CAME CHIEF OF THE OTTOMAN ARMY.

reaQerS.
About fifteen or twenty years ago, young
man presented himself at Widdin, and asked
for Hussein Pacha, the commandant of that
place. This young man was as handsome as
woman, and as imposing as demigod.
His complexion was white and clear, his
eyes soft and penetrating, and his form slen-
der and vigorous. The Turks, who are sup
erstitious about countenances, received him
with cordiality, and pointed out to him the
Pachas dwelling.
Hussein had encamped before Widdin, in
superb tent. The young unknown pre-
sented himself for an audience just as Hus-
sein awoke in a very bad humor
"What do you want?" asked he, roughly,
of the importunate solicitor.
"To enter the service of your excel
lency."
81 have too many servants already.
Cop
In Turkey men of the most humble con-
dition may offer presents to great noble
man, without infringing on customs. The
young man drew from his pocket small
package, carefully enveloped, which he hand
ed to the Pacha, entreating him to accept it,
"What are these? ~ said the pacha, when
he had opened the package.
Gloves, your excellency."
"And what are they ?"
when you march in the sun, its rays will
not burn your hands (those Of Hussein
were very white), and when you hold the
bride of your horse your fingers will not be
wounded by the hardness of the leather"
And how are these gloves put on ?"
The young man put glove on the pa
cha's hand.
"Now the other,"
The young man complied. Hussen then
clapped his hands three times, and held
them over his head while the officers of his
suite entered and looked wonderingly at the
gloves.
Thanks to these, which were a long time
the admiration of the pacba and his staff,
the unknown was admitted to the service of
Hussein, and became his confidential aid.de-
camp.
Now this unknown youth was Michael
Hattas, originally from Croatia, formerly
sub-inspector of bridges and causeways in
Austria-at present Omer Pacha, general-in-
chief of the Ottoman army. How came this
young man withouta a country, this fugitive
without resources, this German turned Turk
to risk his future destiny on pair of gloves?
This history is not less curious than that of
his audience with Hussein Pacha.
The fourth son of Peter Hattas, poor
and noble Austrian lieutenant, Michael was
in his childhood so delicate that he lived
only by prodigy of maternal love- AT
eighteen he was appointed superintendent
OF the bridges and causeways of Carlstadt.
AT twenty he was nominated sub.inspector
at Zaro, in Dalmatia. Compromised in po-
lltical affair, he exiled himself and gained
the Turkish frontier with few sequins in
his pocket.
The first Ottoman village which he trav-
ersed being Omer Unas, he took the name
OF Omer with the turban, and advanced at
random into the province of Bosnia. Some
wagoners met him, attacked him, robbed
him, took away even his clothes, and left
him almost naked on the public road A
peasant furnished him with garment and
little money. He arrived thus at Boualaka,
where he entered the shop OF merchant as
a clerk
Here consolation awaited him, which
had nearly turned him from the arduous
paths which led to glory. The merchant
had charming daughter. Omer perceived
it by the beatings of his heart. The young
girl, on her part, could not see without emo
tion this exile pursued by fate, this brave
and skilled engineer reduced to the condi-
tion of clerk, this white and delicate but
energetic and valiant and, which trembled
at holding pen instead of sword The
two young people understood each other
without speaking, aud the father compre-
hended them in his turn, without needing
their confidence.
One fine morning he sent to Omer two
caskets. The one contained welded ring
his ami the inventory of business, the other
purse full of gold and Damascene saber.
Omer OWNED the choice which was offered
to him-the fortune of the merchant and
the hand of his daughter, or departure and
a military life, with the expenses of the
journey to the nearest camp.
Omer kept the book and the ring, and re-
stored to the merchant the saber and purse
The next day the two young people were
athanced amid joyous family festival But
on the day after, the young girl, overcome
with happiness, fell ill, to rise no more.
The father and lover watched ever her eight
days and nights, and tearfully received her
last sigh. Then the merchant, taking the
saber and the purse, offered them again to
the young man, saying to him:
"God has willed it 1t was decreed Nav
glory be more faithful to you than happi-
ness p'
This time Omer accepted the arm, and
kissing the icy hand of his dead betrothed
took his way toward Widdin, where he be.
came the aid'de-camp of Hussein, as we
have seen.
| After the death of the pacha of Widdin
omer repaired to Constantinople, where h.
rose rapidly from rank to rank, and was ap
pointed in 1852 and 1854, by his merit anC
success, to the supreme command of the OF
toman forces against Russia
See what pair of gloves may produce
in good hands.
Mr. Cenroa W;ll;au, C,..;