Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-25
MIR. HEWITT AND THE SULTAN
Results OF a Fsmeus visit-ffow Little
Boys Mishsp Led to Lsns Taih with Alb

announced that the sultan han presented
Mr.. Hewitt with several costly carpets,
swords, and other expressions OF royAl
Goodwill. They have not been received
by him a. yet, blit undoubted viii arrive
In due time. For more than one reason
Mr.. Hewitt must be glad that Congress ha.
adjourned, for none more thankful, per-
haps. than that these presents did not
reach him, while tho watchiul eyes
OF such pstriot as " ltlchelieu ROBIN
son could have caught sight OF them.
What IL Richelieu" should haye de-
msnded that the fine old Smyrna rug, which
l. sure TO be among the collection. be hum
behind the Speakers chair, in plain yiewoi
The whole House and the people assembled
in the galleries, and then delivered one OF
hiI characteristic speeches bemo1nlng the
decadence Of republican virtue, and ended
BY introducing resolution calling for IN
formation from the Secretary OF State con-
corning this reasonable Transaction. what
IL. intoxicated by his own eloquence.
he had demanded that that genial old
gentleman, Mr.. Hewitt, should kneel
down there and then. in front Of the Speil'
or, and with the eyes OF an awestruck press
upon him, commit political hlrikari. 40 10
speak. with the very sword he had VEN
ItlTeU 10 NIftUl ~ tit uhiluN Va ihI Dult&us
Let Mr.. Hewitt congratulate himself on his
escape. without any further moraiizng
on my p.rt, permit me simply TO record
here the strange manner in which he made
the ACQUAINTANCE OF the Sultan. IL reads
like tale from the ARABIAN Nights" but
1t IL true. jpSe diIit and who would
doubt Mr. Hewltt's word?
Dir. Hewitt found himself, together with
his family, one fine day last autumn. IN
COnstantinople. Having explored the Eu-
ropean quarter he directed his steps to-
ward St. Sophia's, where he was met by
crowd Of people waiting to see the com.
mander OF the faithful on his way to the
mosque TO offer his daily prayers. The
heat was oppressive. and in company with
his little son Mr.. Hewitt sought the shade
Of a guard-house near by. The exposure
had proved too much, however, for the
boy, and before long he faint
ed, as the ladies would saw. dead
away. Willing hands carried him
into the guard-house, where rest, and
what seemed more important just then,
something 10 eat, soon restored him. When
he opened his eyes he found himself in the
company OF two lads OF about his own age
who seemed TO take great interest in him,
and soon became very friendly. They were
accompanied by gentleman, TO whom the
officers IN the room seemed 10 pay muked
deierenee. As soon Is they had made sure
the little sufferer was out OF danger they
took their departure; not, however. with
out first inquiring the name aud residence
OF their newly-found friend.
The next day Mr.. Hewitt was aStoni'hed
to find himself waited upon by an officer,
evidently OF high rank, who begged to be
informed how the little hoy was getting
along. The Sultan, one OF whose aids-de-
camp he represented himself to be, hid
commanded him, he said, TO make the in
Quiry. His Majesty, he also added, would
be pleased to receive the American gentle
man in audience at any time that might suit
the convenience OF the latter.
AR. Hewitt rubbed his eyes in astonish-
ment. Was he dreaming? Had he been
reading OF tho good HarOunal-fa>chin, or
had worthy successor OF that great caliph
arisen, who spent bis days IN going about
town looking after little boys that take 1t
into their heads to faint, No. here was the
sld-de-camp, in fez and gold lace and sabre.
before him. In the street below was tho
carriage which had brought him. In the
door stood the obSequious servant who bad
shown the visitor upstairs, and in his own
hand Mr.. Hewitt held the card OF sO-and-so
pashs. MIR. Hewitt has forgotten his name,
but he vas quite certsin that he was $. least
pasha. Having made sure that he was
awake. Nr. Hewitt informed the abide
camp that he would give himself the plea
sure OF call upon the grand Turk on the
following day at such and such an hour.
The afternoon was spent by Mr.. Hewitt
In Illuminating and cOuiectures W 20 the
object OF Abdul Hamid's desire 10 see him.
Did the Sultan wish to consult HIM about a
proposed revision OF the Turkish tariff
Did he intend. perhaps, to make him his
grand vizior, or did he desire only to be
enlightened a. to the mysteries OF glue or
American caucusl After a sleepless night
spent in idle speculation OF this sort, and
tho study, ut intervals, OF his Turkish
pocket dictionary, which he had taken the
preczution to place under his pillow before
retiring, the representative OF the Tenth
New York district presented himself Mt he
appointed hour before the sublime Porte.
Ills visit seemed 10 have been looked for
and preparations made to receive him.
Passing through suite OF respondent
apartments, be was finally ushered by the
chief eunuch into the presence OF the com
mander OF the faithful himself. With the
same scli-possessiOn which he would have
displayed had he been called upon at that
moment TO address a meeting OF the
county Democracy, Mr.. Hewitt advanced,
and in simple republican fashion shook
the band Of the master OF over forty mil
lion.Mussulmans. My Turkish is little
rusty, and, moreover, am given TO Under
stand that the Turkish gentleman whom
you employ in your composing-rOomi is Just
now spending his vacation in his native
country, else would have ventured to re-
produce here faithfully and with the great
est accuracy in the Turkish yernacullr the
conversation which ensued. Suffice 1t to
soy that after having proved his mastery OF
the language Mr.. Hewitt drifted from
Turkish into French, and finally from
French into English. In the latter Ian
guage, am bound TO say, the greater part
OF the conversation was carried on by Mr..
Hewitt with great fluency snd by his
Majesty with the aid OF m interpreter.
The Sultan explained that the little boys
when Mr.. IIewitt's son had met in the
guard-house on the preceding day were his
children. and that they had told him all
about the fainting incident. Hence the In
curry he had ventured to make through one
OF his aids-de-camp. | am not at liberty
TO divulge all the topics touched
upon in the course OF the interview,
though I am not violating any conf
dence in saying that Abdul Hamid seemed
deeply impressed with an exposition OF the
political institutions OF this country, a. I'M
folded 10 him by bis visitor. The caucus,
the platform, the convention, were things
be had never heard OF. 1t was the caucus
more than any other OF the characterize
cally American institutions which be
seemed to admire most. Well.lniormed
dplomstists are said to have declared the
late fall OF the minister TO have been due
10 a caucus held in the sersglio inmediate-
~ after Mr.. Hewitts departure. But this
is neither here nor there.
The conversation toward MS close turned
TO lighter subjects, his Majesty incidentally
remarking that he was very fond OF smok-
ing Virginia tobacco. " But 1t is SO very
difficult TO procure il here" he added with
a sigh. al shall be delighted" promptly
replied Mr.. Hewitt, "to your Majesty
some OF our best when | return home"
and taking on. his notebook he made a
proper memorandum OF the promise Just
made. In doing so he used the indellbe
pencil which he wears suspended from
his waich-guard. His Majesty looked upon
the process with Interest. He had never
seen an indelibls pencil before. When
Mr.. Hewitt showed him tina: by wettlng
the tips OF his fingers and passing them
over the handwriting the latter could no,
be effaced, his Majesty's delight knew no
bounds. lie insisted upon doing II oil him
self. For half an hour or more he amused
himself by scribbling on scrap OF paper
with aAnvaNtnO affpTwar0 lnH