The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-10-29
A GORGEOUS AFFAIR.
How the Sultan of Turkey Attends ReEs
ious Services.

no" the sultan OF turkey AttouuB heEks
ious Services.
Good Mohammedans 60 daily Is
mosque, and repeat with great fervor
and undoubted faith those prayers
which are to entitle them to a place in
paradise. Others, not unlike some
Christians, render their tribute to the
Creator less frequently. At the mosques
of Saint Sophia, Solyman the Mag
nificent, Mohammed Ali, and a hundred
others in Constantinople, visitors can
see the faithful turn their faces to
Mecca, and PROSTATE themselves with
an abandon the sincerity of which can
not be questioned. On certain days
the singing dervishes perform their
peculiar rites, and on others the dancing
dervishes exhaust themselves at their
extraordinary devotions. But it is
on Friday, the Mohammedan Sunday,
that the foreigners interest is especial
ly aroused, for On that day the Sultan
goes publicly to mosque, the only oc-
casion during the week when he shows
himself to the people he rules.
1t is an affair of 10 little Importance.
The people r convinced that their
Sultan is still alive, and his Majesty nc
doubt c~ongratulates himself that such
is the case. 1t seems beyond doubt that
the Sultan is in constant fear of assas-
sination. He certainly never appears
in public except On Friday, and this he
is in a manner obliged to do. He occu-
pies a palace on the European side of
the Bosporus, while the more magnifi-
cent mosques are all in Stamboul. Once
a year he worships at Saint Sophia, but
at no other time does be cross the Golden
Horn. The very choice of a mosque
for his Friday devotions is not men
toned by him until the moment before
leaving the palace. The civic and mill
| tary dignitaries who are to be present,
the troops who are to guard him, the
populace who flock to see him, all wait
patiently for his mosque to be an
nounced.
Close to the palace of Dolma Baghcha,
whose steps are washed by the waters
of the Bosporus, is a little mosque
much liked by the Sultan. Not many
Fridays since there were gathered in
this vicinity the officials of CONSTANT
lnople. Troops were massed in all
directions along the roads, carriages
stood about, and the people encom-
;passed all. 1t was near the accustomed
hour of service, and no word had yet
been received of the Sultan's intention.
The weather was warm, and this
mosque was delightfully."- situated. There
i seemed to be a settled conviction that
the Sultan would prefer it to all others.
Troops and officers already stood at
ease awaiting an expression of his
wishes. but with an air of having d.
vined in advance the royal pleasure.
] A messenger from a battlefield
bringing news of victory or defeat
would have caused no greater commo-
ton than did the orderly who dashed
up and announced: ''Bechiktach."
Like a flash the columns of infantry
were away at double time; squadrons
of cavalry dashed off at a gallop; Off
Gals on horseback and in carriages
rode madly away; the people plunged
and surged in the real.
To Bechiktach, a mile away, the
ascent was steep and the roads rough.
A general officer was dismounted in the
rush, and the loss of a carriage wheel
sent the Minister of Marine sprawling
to the ground. There was but one pre-
vailing thought-to reach the indicated
place and be ready properly to receive
the Sultan. Troops were marched and
countermarched until every approach
to the mosque was guarded.
At the entrance bodies of infantry
and cavalry were drawn up in imposing
array. The crowd was relegated to a
little bluff near by, and in a twinkling ev.
erything was in apparent order. Gravel
and dirt were shoveled into every little
irregularity of the road, which was
then carefully sprinkled. The Sultan
must neither be jolted nor annoyed by
the dust. The scene was a curious one
On one side were soldiers from the Sou.
dan district of Egypt, on the other were
Albians in dresses like p%etticoats. Far.
Their down were cavalry with horses all
of iron gray, and next to these detach.
ments of sailors from the Turkish ma.
rine. There were bands of music al
frequent intervals. and everywhere off
GERS in glittering uniforms. Lines oil
carriages were on the bluff, and squaliG
beggars surrounding them. The mosque
itself was a wretched little building
without a dome, but with one pitifu
minaret at the corner-a most uniting
place, one would say, for a Sultan t6
select as his place of worship.
The first of the royal family to arrive
were the mother and the favorite wife
of the Sultan. The whole line of troop.
saluted them as they were driven into
the Enclosure. From their closed car
riages, from which the horses were de
tached, these two ladies were to have
the only opportunity granted then
during the week of looking upon hi
Highness.
Next came carriages with the sons o
the Sultan in military uniforms. On,
little fellow of fifteen. with the rank O
p~ost-captain, acknowledged salutes ant
Salams with all the nOnchalance ant
dignity of a veteran.
On either side of the entrance officer
stood in line. The master of ceremo
MES was anxious that everything shoult
present a military and pleasing effect
A portly Admiral was pushed back
and a gray-haired Field Marshal wa
pulled forward, while a barrel-shapeC
dignitary was unceremoniously bali
ished to the rear.
The sound of distant cheering pu
every one on the alert. The Sultal
was coming. Preceded by an armed
escort. he rolled along in a handsom,
open carriage. The driver was brillian
J in blue and gold; the footman was n,
less gorgeous in gold and scarlet. TIL
Sultan lay back or the cushions ant
languidly returned the salutes
The troops presented arms, ant
the officials salamed to the ground
To the rulerof Turkey it seemed a bore
His black hair intensified the natura
pallor of his face, which failed to shoy
any appreciation of the station he wa
called upon to fill. At the door of tn
mosque he alighted. and entered to VOL
ship alone. For a half-hour every on
stood listlessly about. Then the Sulta
reappeared, and indicated the route b
which he would return. Soldiers an
courtiers were again marshalled int
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