The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-22
A VISITOR FROM THE ORIENT.
Iskender Bey, a Turkish Nobleman,
Talks About the Sultan's Subjects.
Christians and Mohammedans in Constanti-
nople-A Naked Saint-The Habits of
the American Minister.

Iskender Bey, a Turkish nobleman, ar
rived in this city yesterday. Interview him.
said Albert Gall, who introduced the Journal re-
porter There was no great difficulty in carry
out the suggestion, as Iskender Bey obey"
corresponds with our ''Sir) speaks seven Ian
guages six more than the reporter, and at the
time of the opening Of the Egyptian troubles
was one of the Sultan's household, occupying
the position of translator of dispatches. He is
6ne-looking man of middle age, and by reason of
his accent would be readily taken for French
man, being of fair complexion.
NO." he aswered in reply to the reporters
question, III am not Mohammedan, but
Christian and though from Constantinople,
am an Armenian by birth. My father was
converted to the Christian faith by the late Rev.
erends Hamln and Goodell, who did noble work
in my country, The reverend gentlemen &C
qured considerable wealth during the Crimean
war-and wealth in my country brings influence
and this money they generously expended af-
forwards in the erection of churches and in
charitable work What do I think of the out
look between England and Russias So far as
war is concerned, it is only delayed not entirely
averted India is near to Russia, and Russia,
wealth there is in that country, for she needs
money badly. Then for Constantinople
member of the Russian embassy said to me more
than once: Constantinople is about ours The
fall of Constantinople into Russian hands would
be menance to every power in Europe. AS to
Turkish Sympathles, of course they are with
England, for though we owe England money
you may be sure we owe Russia no love.
You ask as to Christians in Constantinople.
There are as many Christians as Mohammedans
in that city, and they are seldom interfered
with This is not because of the tolerance of
the Turk, but because the government is weak,
and Christians are protected by the different
embassies, the government being afraid Of for
eign sentiment Whatever suits the English,
French and German dplomates that Turkey
does. The Turks are not a commercial people,
and commerce Is almost wholly in the hands of
Christians. The Turk, however, makes good
soldier, and the only improvement to be
noticed in Turkey is in the army.
Money is not spent in schools, in hospitals, in
improved agricultural implements in things to
benefit the people, but upon the army There
are many foreign officers, and they highly
paid. Valentine Baker, or Baker Pasha, got
f6O0 sterling per month and Kepler Pasha, a
German, f700 sterling per month; besides there
were numerous other officers, English and Ger
man. In addition to this high pay they receive
rations, still further increasing their emouments.
with the exception of the army there is no
improvement in the Turk. If he manufactures
anything tits made as his father and grandfather
mace IL DeIOre HlHl-maQ6 as IL was maze TWO
hundred and five hundred years ago. The mil
itary hospitals of the Turk are poor, while the
hospitals and charitable institutions in Constan-
tinople, German, French and English, are very
good. One military hero came out of the Turko
Russian war, Osman Pasha, the hero of Plevna,
and he has been rewarded with the greatest
prodgality In that war it is known that many
Turkish officers were corrupted by Russian gold.
Kars. which was impregnable. was so taken.
THE Sultan is timid man, living in constant
fear of assassination. He trusts to money to
make and keep those who are near him true to
his person. So he is constantly making large
gifts to those about him. Dynamiteg No he
doesn't fear dynamite. The Turk is not so far
advanced-the dagger, the bullet or poison:
Sultan Abdul AziZ was stabbed with pair of
scissors you remember. At first it was given
.out that he had killed himself, but nobody in Con-
stantinople believed that No Turk ever commits
suicide. That is absolutely true. No matter
how poor he may be, no matter how great his
suffering, he never takes his own life. He is
calm and patient in adversely. He will say,
To-day have only bread, Allah be praised
If he has not so much as bread he bows his head
and murmurs. Kismet-it is fate The Turk
is without system. Constantinople is full of
beggars-you do not know what beggers are in
this country-and yet there is no system
people run at large. If they are
specially whimsical or frantic they speedily
acquired a reputation for sanctity For over
five years there was crazy man bowling
naked and indescribably dirty. He was a saint.
The noble ladies who saw him threw money to
him, and many even went so far as to touch him
and then kiss their fingers to get the benefit of
his supposed sanctity. Finally, complaint came
from the English embassy, and the naked saint
was taken from the Streets and no longer suf
fered to run at large.
~ met General Wallace, the American Minis
ter many times. He was on very good terms
with the Sultan and had good influence for the
Christian people in Constantinople. am sorry
he is not retained there Why is he removeds"
The reporter tried to explain the recall as an
effect of the change of administration but hardly
with full success Iskender Bey wanted to know
what position General Wallace would now have.
When told that he would have nothing but
would be simply an American citizen, he could
not understand it at ALL
''Your minister" he said, was the
most economical in Constantinople. Why
he lived in hotel, while other min
listers lived in palaces. have seen
him many times walking on the streets, while
other ministers always ride in fine coaches with
many attendants. I believe the Prussian min
lister must spend twice as much year as your
President Your minister's plain way of living
did not make good impression. All, ha,' they
would say, you call the American nation rich,
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