The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-07
A SIGHT OF THE SULTAN
An Imposing scen~-A SickIy Anx'oos
Paced Nfouarch-Tho Harehi.

Faced Monarch-ThS Haren'.
have not yet told you about my see
ing the sultan. II was Friday, the Sab
bath Of the Mohamnedans, the day
when the sultan goes to prayers IN the
mosque We secured team at 1880
and drove toward his palace. 1t was not
decided when he was To 20; il never Is
till few moments before the procession
starts, because he IL i'm fear Of assassina-
ton, and he denies the public all knowl-
edge 50 as 10 prevent any plots. Our
driver was perpleXed where to take Us.
First came horseman mounted on
white charger dashlng down the street
from the palace. and this was hint as to
the mosque SO he turned, but soon re-
turned. and four times changed his di
rection. At last IL was known, and a
position was secured where we, with
other foreigners could get an outlook
upon the imposing scene.
The army of the whole city and 1t Is
several regiments was on duty. 1he
cavalry were drawn up in military array.
Officers with glittering dress. bedecked
with stars, studded with pearls signs of
valor IN the service. darted to and fro on
their stccds. Bands of music flung the
sweetness of their tones to the air
Troop, OF buglers kept the soldiers in line
and time by their blasts Richly capar-
isoncd horses and splendid tunouts with
all the style and wealth of orient and &C
cident were gathered to the scene. The
streets were crowded by the curious
sightseers. Everything that wealth and
rank could do were brought into requisi-
ton to add TO the splendid pageant. At
last. after weary waiting Of an hour,
troops of horses led the advance from the
palace. Then came carriage -magniti-
cent-drawn 10y fawn colorcd steeds, in
which was seated the great head of ihe
Turkish empire. He looked up To the
windows where 1 stood and | caught a
good glimpse of a slender. sickly looking,
anxious worried man. with pale face
and dark beard. ewes and hair His b.
nervous. sickly, restless look inspired IN
Inc feeling Of pity for him. and could
not envy hun with all his power, wealth
and station.
After him came u part Of the harem
drawn in covered carriages. but with
lifted curtains-the women yelled, but
with so thin a lGiuze as not e. conceal
complexion or features, and | saw clearly
the most beautiful face it is ever my
privilege to gait upon. Il was the per
fiction Of nature decloed out IN the per
lection of art One face only was all
wanted 10 look at | had no time for
others. That was of such surprising
lovellness rs TO hold me till % vanished
from my sight ana was gone, leaving
only a vision of earthly beauty that VIII
haunt me forever When this had gone
| caught sight of a girl about 10, decked
out in an apparel that seemed wrought
of gold and having a fair girlish face
which no one could help but love.
| waited an hour for the return, once
more To see the lady. but she came not
that way. The sultan soon returned,
and this time after the troops OF horse
men lac drove span OF milk white
chargers. the most splendid | ever saw.
He was alone IN the carriage, and sur
rounded on either side and behind by
armed horsemen, from thirty 10 fifty,
should think. As he came up over the
hill saw the same anxious face, calling
for pity and not for envy, and he yigor-
ously applied the whip to his prancing
steeds as though anxious to get into his
guided prison where the chance shot of
the assassin could not reach him. -Bos-
ton Traveller