Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-13

Let us drop in at the Seraglio. The tongue
of Stamboul is thrust into the midst of the
Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of
| Marmora. 1t is an oblong hill crowned with
white walls, domes and minarets, and hedged
about with groves of black, funeral Expresses
Here stands the Seraglio, which was for tif-
teen centuries the abiding place of the Otto
man Emperors. 1t is now used only on
state occasions, and the palace, the courts
| and the innnmerable tenements that cover
the promotory-the ground plan of the Se-
ragllo is nearly three miles in circumference
are battered, dusty and out OF repair. The
Sublime Porte is singularly ugly, and any
thing but sublime The buildings that clus-
ter about the several courts have not, tor the
most part, the slightest pretension to archi-
tectural beauty or even dignity. The second
court is tanked by row OF nine kitchens,
looking very much like nine lime kilns. They
are domed. but without chimneys, So the
smoke passes out through IL hole in the roof
Here the Sultan and his court consumed an
nually 10000 oxen, and there were daily
brought to the table 200 sheep 100 lambs
10 calves; 200 hens, 200 pairs OF pullets, 100
pairs OF pigeons, and so green geese. The
late Sultan, Abdul-Aziz, was accustomed to
feeding his family as bountifully, and still he
was not happy. In the stables by the water
!
and among the cannon that sweep the sea
and the mouth OF the Bosphorus is one huge
| old fellow at whose honrse voice Baylon sur
| rendered to Sultan Murad The chief at
traction of the Seraglo is the treasury. Here.
in chamber by no means large, is gathered
| treasure such one reads of in the tales
| of the genii. The actual value Of
this store OF jewels is almost beyond concep-
ton. Each Sultan seeks to exceed his pre-
| decessor in the richness of his additions to
| the collections, and the result is a dazzling
hut not very expressive array of theatrical
looking properties, that might Just as well be
made of glass or tinsel-the effect upon the
spectator would be as pleasing.
Imagine to yourself'a carpet crusted with
! pearls, many of them as large as sparrow
eggs; throne of gold, frosted with pearls;
draperies for the horses ridden by the Sui
tans, embroidered with pearls and rubies; a
cradle coated with precious stones; inlail
with armor, jewelled helmets, sword hits
one OF these decorated with fifteen diamonds,
each one rs large ms the top of a mans thumb,
coffee trays of ebony, with double row OF
enormous diamonds, set close together; pipe
stems, nargileos, sword belts, caskets and
| bushels of necklaces of the most splendid
description, heaped together in glass show
cases and flashing like fire flies in the dark
| The most costly article III the treasury is a
toilet table, of lapis lazuli and other valuable
material, richly Inlaid with precious stones
of every description. The pillars that sup
port the mirror are set with diamonds; the
stem and claws of the table are covered with
diamonds, emeralds, rubi5s, carbuncles, etc.
along the edge OF the table hangs deep
fringe OF diamonds, with immense solitaire
tassels. The whole is Il gorgeous-bore
AIultitudes of attendants are stationed
through the apartments, and You may be
sure you are never left for u second unob-
served by these watchful guardians of the
treasure house. What relief it is to with
draw into the Kiosk of Bagdad. the private
library of the Sultan, sits within eight walls
that close about you like the exquisite pan.
els of an ivory or tortoise shell fan, under d
dome of rose tint and gold mosaic and shut
ting the doors OF bronze inlaid with pearl
against the world. to think how pleasant d
thing it is to be poor but honest On tbt
shelves of the library there are several codi
ces brought the collection of King Matthias
Corvinus ut Buda, and there are dainty roll.
and folios of parchment laid away, each IL
its separate cnse, and all looking very much
as If they We're not often disturbed. From
the Kiosk OF Bagdad it il pleasant to lool
down into the deep garden of the uouris
sloping to the swift Bosphoius, and to medi
tate on the lights of the harem that have sud
denly gone out forever, quenched in tha
fatal Hood, but, thinking on the stihed crie,
and the slimy shrouds dragged down into
the pitiless deep. 1t is still pleasanter TO ris,
superior to the situation, Tee and custodian
and than Heaven that you are not II girl
t. ". SiOliud il The Sua HuqciSco Gr0Hi
ci.