Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-05-23
From "ConstantinoPle," BY Edmunc
de Amicis.
LIVING CONSTANTINOPLE.

To see the population of Constantine
pie II is well to go upon the floating
bridge, about one quarter OF mile in
length, which extends from the most
advanced point of Galata to the oppo-
site shore Of the Golden Horn, facing
the great mosque of the Sultana Valide.
Both shores are European territory; but
the bridge may be said TO Connect Asia
to Europe, because in Stamboul there is
nothing European save the ground, and
even the Christian suburbs that crown
il are Of Asiatic character and color.
The Golden Horn, which has the look
OF river, separates two worlds, like the
ocean. The news of events in Europe
which circulates in Galata and Pera
clearly and minutely, and much discus
sed, arrives on the other shore confused
and garbled, like a distant echo; the
fame OF great men and great things in
the west is stopped by that narrow wa
ter as by an insuperable barrier, and
over that bridge, where every day a
hundred thousand people pass, not one
idea passes in ten years.
Standing there one can see all Con-
stantinople 60 by in an hour. What
ever can be imagined that is most ex-
travagant in type, costume and social
class may there be seen within the space
of 90 PAGES and 10 minutes time. Be-
hind a throng of Turkish .porters who
pass running, and bending under eficf-
nous burdens, advances q sedan chair,
inlaid with Ivory and mother-of-pearI,
and bearing an Armenian lady; and at
either side Of IL BedouIn wrapped in a
white mantle and Turk in muslin tur-
ban and a sky-blue caftan, beside whom
canters a young Greek gentleman fol-
lowed by his dragoman in embroidered
vest, and Dervise with his tall conical
hat and tunic of camei's hair, who makes
way for the carriage of a European am
bassador, preceded by his running foot
man in gorgeous livery. All this is
only seen in a glimpse, and the next
moment you find yourself in the midst
of a crowd of Persians, in pyramidal
bonnets of Astrakan fur, who are fol-
lowed by a Hebrew in a long yellow
coat, open at the sides; frowsy-headed
Gypsy woman with her child in bag
at her back; a Catholic priest with bre-
wary and staff; while in the midst Of a
confused throng OF Greeks, Turks and
Armenians comes a big geunuch on horse
back, crying out, "Larya" (make way y
and preceding a Turkish carriage,
painted with flowers and birds, and
filled with the ladies' of harem, dressed
in green and violet, and wrapped in
large white wells; behind a sister OF
charity from the hospital at Pera, an
African slave carrying a monkey, and
a professional story-teller in a necro-
mancer's habit, and what is quite natu-
raj, but appears strange to the new
comer, all these diverse people pass
each other without look, like a crowd
in London; and not single countenance
wears a smile. The Albanian, in his
white petticoat, and with pistols in hrs
sash, beside the Tartar. dressed IN sheep
skins; the Turk, astride of his capari-
soned ass, threads pompously two long
strings Of camels; behind an adjutant OF
an imperial prince, mounted upon bis
Arab steed. clatters cart filed with all
the odd domestic rubbish of Turkish
household; the Mohammedan woman
afoot, the veiled slave woman, the
Greek with her red cau and her hair
on her shoulders, the Maltese hooded
in her black faldetta, the Hebrew wo-
man dressed in the antique costume ol
India, the negress wrapped in a many
colored shawl from Cairo, the Armenian
from Trebizond, all veiled in black like
a funeral spparition are seen in a single
fl. as if placed there on purpose to be
contrasted with each other.
1t is a changing mosaic of races and
religions that is composed and scattered
continually with rapidIty that the eve
can scarcely follow. II is amusing tc
look only at the passing feet and see al
the foot coverings in the world 90 BY
from that of Adam up to the late fash
ion in Partisan bools--yellow Turkist
babouches. red Armenian, blue Greel
and black Jewish shoes; sandals, grea
boots from Turkestan, Albanian CATERS
low-cut slippers, leg pieces Of many
colors, belonging to horsemen from Asia
Minor, gold embroidered shoes, Span
ish alPorgatos. shoes OF satin, Of twine
OF rags, of wood, so many that while
you look at one you catch . glimpse o