The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-24
A TROUBLED TURK.
The Escapade of an Oriental. Beauty
Raises the Sultanic Wrath,
And He Issues Orders Likely TO
Cause a Harem Rebellion
General News FRONT
Across the Seas.

LONDON, lee a Tho widest excitement
prevails in Constantinople, and palace and
diplomatic circles have sustained a shock un-
equaled since the tragic death Of Sultan
Abdul AZiZ The present monarch, who has
been pictured as an uncommonly mild-man
nered Turk, is beside himself with rage, and
Stamboul trembles at the echoes Of his
anger The cause Of all this commotion,
which has turned the queen of the Bosphorus
as completely topsy turay as it could
be if the victorious Mahdi were at
her gates, is simply pretty widow.
One year ago she was the young bride
Of KAHN Bey, who had been first secretary
of the palace but was then cut of Office and
living in palace opposite Scutari, sur
rounded by every luxury that wealth could
provide including a harem of which
the heroine OF the present escapade
was the acknowledged queen. KAHN
was gathered to his fathers Some
months past, and his widow
has since made the most of the comparative
freedom which Mussulman practice has lately
accorded to her condition. Daring the sum
mer she was frequently found at Buyuk-
Dere-Bebek, the sweet waters, and the other
romantic re oyts in the vicinity of the
capital. Many foreigners who have seen
her at these wetering-places have
declared that she is the love,iest
woman in Europe. She had worshipeis
by the score, and she did not keep all of them
Mt the safe distance which Moslem law en-
joins One, handsome young attache of
the Belgian embassy, who is said to bear the
title of an ancient baronetcy, pressed his
suit with determination aud success. The
G&shing diplomat soon won the widows
heart, but race aud religion were apparently
insuperable Obstacles to their marriage.
Finally the barons ardor and the woman's
wit suggested an e!opement, and So it has
come to pass that Stamojul is horTi-
fled by the unprecedented scandal Of
wealthy and lovely daughter of
the true faith" levanting with dog Of
an inflel" As nearly as can be ascer-
tanned the lady fed with her lover to Paris,
whore she adjurel the Moslem creed, EN-
braced Catholicism, and was duly married to
her lover. At all events, they are safely out
of the reach OF the scan1alzod sultan, and il
is well, for her at least, that she is away, or
even her dainty neck might feel the pressure
OF bowstring.
brought to believe that she had escaped from
ConStantinopla, and police and palace guards
have secured tse city in search OF the
fugitives. During the hunt the police
arrested the handsome young wife of
DR.. Henry, Fteach physician, and
the authorities insisted that she was the
culprit for whom they We're seeking. DR..
Henry was in terrible distress, and appealed
to the French ambassador, but it was not
until strong diplomatic pressure had been
brought to bear upon the sultan that
the unfortunate lady was released. The
commander of the faithful is row
venting his wrath upon the remaining daugh-
tiers Of Islam by issuing strict edcts that
the law as laid down in the koran regarding
the sec!usion and yelling of women shall be
vigorously enforced, and that all violation,
thereof stall be punished with the baGbGrous
penalties enforced in the days of the prophet.
The unhappy husbands Of the derelict
lights of the harem, who have been
sadly neglectfnl of the k0ran's commands
in this respect, are i'll despair. Every man Of
them knows that hs may be made shorter by
head if he fails to enforce the SlIltan's de
crees, and he also knows full well that he can
not enforce them without harem rebellion
compared with whicA'a peaceful death might
by luxury