New-York tribune., 1880-02-15
had hia private clock which ceased to tick when MS
heart stopped beating.

had his private clock which ceased to tick when MS
heart stopped beating.
TOYS OF PRICELESS VALUE
Among the articles IN this Imperial treasure
house hre many which must be regarded simply as
toys OF such is tea-set of tortoise-shell as thin
as paper Another toy is a lady's parasol OF wnlte
silk cxquisitcly embroidered with gold. the stan OF
which single branch of coral SO long and true ann
well adapted to its purpose that one might search
wears and fail to find Its like. There are also very
many fans of varying degrees of splendor. Another
one of the toys is figure of Sultan seated on his
throne under golden canopy ribbed with alternate
rubies and emeralds. The whole structure is, per-
haps six inches high. The body of the figure is a
single hinge pearl the lower exlreml.ies ore carved
from blne turquoise, ard the turban is solid
mass of diamonds. There Is literally no end 10 tne
maiycls of this place. After every concelYaDle use
has been made of Jewels the surplus, unn9uhtend,
stones are gathered by handfuls INTO crystal bowls
at one end of the cabipets in the second room. nc
spoils of all the Empires which preceded the Otto
man Empire are heaped mp in these 40 dingy stone
rooms Ia the old Seraglio at Constantnople.
Itrequires some time fully realize the enormous
wealth of this treasure house. But slowly one be-
comes convinced that tho'e treasures can only De
the accumulation of centuries, and represonl the
heritage of the Ottomans from all their predeces-
eors Once assured Of this, the traveller WI mad n
guards of the place. They stand, dressed IN spotess
black broadccth four or FIVE feet apart. IN line
along the cabinets perfectly motlonieSs' Ana tneV
are solemn OF cOuntenance. as II standing by tne
catafaQuC Of some deceased monarch lying III slAte
for the homage of his subjects.
! first visited this place shortly after the iate war
with Russia. The Turkish Government was ia
sore straits for the means of daily existence. ine
Sultan had Just sent his gold ana silver pidte
10 the mint to be coined in order to buy up the ue-
preGated paper currency. The people OF Wuuio
districts were at the verge of starvation because te
$50 600 900 Of paper money in circulation hau Ost
its purchasing power. was naturally lncreauloIiss y
as 10 the reality of what had seen III these JeWeis
were real their value must be sufficient 10
nav of the dishOn0red bonds OF Turkey. IL ulu Dot
srem reasonable that the Turkish GOYernment
could have passed through such straits those TO
which it had been reduced by the war Withoui
having recourse 20 their treasurc-hOuSe Multl-
tndes of articles IL those rooms have an immense
antique and artls ic value entirely aside from the
intrinsic value. Al r. .to
Impcriai ottoman Bank. and he replied that the
Jewels were uncucStiOnably genuine. lie said Ihat
during tie var the Turks borrowed T3OOoO,OUO
from the Bank. The loan was to be secured by
pledge OF Jewels from this tTrasnie-hOuse, ana the
Rank officials were told TO help themselves from ITS
riches They selected enough OF the jewels 10 guar
antee them amply against loss. These Jewels were
packed in thrce small boxes and removed TO Inc
vaults of the Bank. But their removal sit no gap
H. the great accumulation. Afterward l asked a
Turk why the Governments did not sell rms treasure
and be al ease. Sell IL T. said the Turk " why,
il IL the treasure Of all the Sultaus. Ii cannot be
sold.'
So there is this treasure-house to-day-a grand
relic of ancient spendor-in the hands OF the
broken ruined remnant of the honse oi OSlnan.
terrible temptation at times to the worn man who
wears tn sacred Sword of Turkey. But he clingS
to Il through all his adversely, for 4 IS the only
relic left TO he Empire of the glory OF It's past