New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-04-08
urz TEE SULTAN.
ex-governor Stanford. Of California sna
the euler Of Turkey

Following is the acc cunt OF an 1ntei-
esting chapter of Governor Stan1ords
"reminiscences of his travels abroad, as
It fell from his own lips:
'By appointment we went one morn
ing to the old palacein which the crown
Jewels are kept, having as our es-
cort, Pangeria Bey, one OF the
Snltan,s aides-de-camp and a man OF
superior intelligence. On reaching
the building we were received Dy sonio
twenty-five or thirty officers IN glltterlng
uniforms, who formed two lines through
which we passed to the door OF the treas
ure chambers. This door, which was
solid bit of wood, had two locks, winch
we're sealed with wax. Two officials ap-
peared upon the scene, broke the seals
with certain formalities, threw open the
door, and acted as our guides 1t seems
impossible for me to give you an ade-
uuate idea of the immense wealth stored
in those three or four chambers. In them
are the gems collected during centuries
past by rulers of despotic power, and
these precious stones represent money
value that is extraordinary, although the
amount can not even be conjectured, as
no one has ever set a price no each sepa-
rate gem. It IS safe to say, however,
that this collection is far more valuable
than that celebrated one in the Green
Vaults of Dresden; while the latter IS
estimated to be worth some $50, OO0,0O
Under glass cases, which are ranged
around the walls and through the center
of the rooms, are basins filled with
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls and
other precious stones, both cut and
uncut. Cimeters, daggers, pistols, rifles,
shields and other weapons OF many
curious shape are to be found here, the
handles and scabbards of each OF them
studded with jewels that represent
fortune. Ornamented in like fashion,
we find saddles and saddle cloths, tur-
bans, robes of state, carpets, velvet,
silk and satin canopies, pipes, and
Heaven knows what else. Here are
wax figures of all the Sultans who have
reigned, and each of these figures is
decked with gems that would have ran
somed king in the olden days. Here
is the gorgeous throne Of the Caliph,
Haroun ell Rescued, more brilliant and
costly than anything we dreamed of
while reading the arabian Nights"
Numberless other things there are OF
precious worth, and after glanclng them
over person can only wonder how
Jewels retain their high standard of
value while so many of them ore known
to exist IN a single place. When we
passed from the treasurer chambers the
outer door was again doubly locked and
sealed, according to the form prescribed
by law, and after coffee had been served
we drove back to our quarters, dazZled
by what we had seen.
"The day before the one appointed
for our leaving iConstantinople, 1 was
much surprised at receiving through
court official an invitation for the fol- 4
lowing afternoon to private aulienceS
with the Sultan, during which he
material developments of Turkey.
While approaching the honor con-
ferred, I was embarrassed by the con-
siderable delay that its acceptance
would necessitate, and tried to explain
that fact as politely as possible. The
officer said the matter could easily be
accommodated by delaying the Austria
mail steamer for day, and this was
done by the steamship company in COM
pliance with request from the Court.
At 2 o'clock on the appointed day
reached the palace in company with
General Wallace and Pangeria Bey, and
we were at once ushered into q private
audience chamber where the Sultan
was seated, with several officials stand
ing around him. After exchanging
bows, he motioned Gen. Wallace and
myself to seats that were placed in front
of him, and then at once commenced to
question me through an interpreter, as
he either is not or seems not to be
acquainted with either English or
French. There was nothing remarka-
BILE about the room, except, perhaps,
the fact that it was furnished in French
style, nor was there much of Oriental
splendor in the dress of the Sultan
He wore blue undress uniform of Eu-
ropean cut, the only traces of Eastern
costume being a plain fez, and mag
nifcently mounted cimeter. He ap-
peared to be rather slight man, some
thirty-fve years Of age, with an intelli-
I CAAe%o -
id character, should Judge, and de-
cidedlv Jewish cast of features.
"He first Intercepted me at some
length and in manner that showed he
had already studied the question. upon
the political ana material situation in
America, and then questioned me close
~ as to the ACCESSIBILITY of building a
railway from Constantinople to the head
of the Persian Gulf. His questions were
to the point, while my answers were nee
essarily somewhat longer, as they had
to be of an explanatory nature, and at
the close of the audience he asked me to
embody them in letter, that he might
have them at hand for more careful
consideration.
During the audience, the BLACKLIST of
black coffee and the mildest of cigaret-
ties were handed around, and at its close
tbe Sultan shook hands with Gen.
Wallace and myself and wished me a
prosperous journey. We then backed
out of the room, in orthodox fashion.