New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-23
THE SULTAN AT PRAYERS.
HIS ANNUAL VISIT IN FAST MONTH TO THE
OLD SERAGLIO PALACE

IRON n g KEoCIAR ctRRysroSDENr or THr rRrRUSE.,
CoEstantinoplc. May 90.
Perhaps at no point docs the Sultan of Turkey
come nearer to his people than when he leads the
faithful in the religious ohservnnces OF Islam. lie
does this every Friday, when he goes to one Of his
favorte mosques for prayers in the congregation.
But especially does he come upon the level Of the
common worshippcr when he goes TO the Treasury
of the old SeragliO Palace to pay veneraton to the
relics of the Prophet there preserved.
The relics of the Prophet kept in the Seraclio
are simple and thus appeal strongly to the magin'-
ton There is a common mantle or wrap which
the Prophet used 10 wear and one of his shoes and
a few hairs of his beard The worn surface OF the
gnrment brings near to the faithful the man OF
action to whom it belonged and the frugal HE OF
it's great owner is recalled by the painness OF Its
texture while its suggestion of his small care Tor
earthly splendor Is heightened by the magnlhcence
Of the costly shawls in which it is wrapper. 10
the solid stone building, but one story hiSh' III
which the relics kept, the Sultan goes M noon
on the 18th day Of Ramazan attended by the
higher civil and religious functonaries OF the Em-
pre- and there he performs his devotions alone IN
the presence of the vivid reminders OF the founder
Of his rgOn, showing by his sottened bearing That
they take the great monarchs thoughts TO one
whom he deems greater than himself Here ~
least the Sultan takes the second place. ana rs Ne
prays he is lost to all matters but his human nc"l
Of the Divine aid. BY virtue of his office he Is
the head of the Moslcm religious system. " The
Shadow of Cod upon earth But in such rcli-
cious ceremony the people feel that they sec him
for the time like any one OF the poorest OF Them
selves, standing as a simple servant, humble anu
suppant before the Most High God.
The members OF his brilliant suite also say their
prayers in the presence OF the relics though not all
NAV come so near ms their chief may do. But later
when with his own hands tho Sultan has unfoldcd
the costly wrappngs OF the relics he distributes 10
those who stand at n distance handKerchleis
blessed through contact with his hands, fresh from
the touch of holy things. Every one who has seen
the Sultan of Turkey thus supplying the spiritual
needs OF his people frels that the strange deuoc-
racy Of the Mosem system still survives, and goes
away more devoted in loyalty than ever for time
at least to the sovereign who is not ashamed u
be mere man in the presence Of God.
The procession from the Palace TO the Seragho
on that day il one of interest rather than OF sPcn
dor. The route is the longest one ever traverScd
in these days by the Imperial Court. From Iildiz
Palace on the lights above Bcshiktash' down the
hill 20 the :oad which leads along the shore OF the
Bosphorus 10 Gaata Bridge, and then across To
old STEAMBOAT and through its tortuous streets TO
the Scragllo Park everything is prepared before
bend for the scrutiny OF Majesty. Old walls are
touched up and newly whitcwaShcd, unsightly
vacant spots are fenced and screened, the terrible
cobblrStUncs OF the pavemcntS and even the rough
flooring Of the bridges are not forgotten IN the
general renovation Of the scamy side of the city.
For days before the Day OF the Holy Mantle
hundreds OF workmcn from the Navy Yard the
bridge being a floating one is reckOn"I 10 belong
70 the Ottoman Navy have been plugging the
gaming cracks Of the flooring 50 that il Will hold
sand, and the morning OF the great day the
whole line Of march Is coated with six inches OF
clean srnd which is wrttcd and rolled 50 rs to
rfnrl u smooth, hard surface for the wheels of
the ChariUtS Of the mighty. Along The whole
.outn the troops OF the garrison Of Constantinopc
are arranged in endless lines OF sturdy, muscular
men Along the whole route also motley
mul,tudes Of the population stand pressing az
closely as prudence will allow upon the heels OF
the troops The population observes, Of course,
the devices usrd for covering up what is unscemly
or incouvrnlcnt. but LAYS no blame for their TEN.
porary and dclI,vc character upon their ruler
Such things are but the clumsy handwork OF
>nhor,linatrs, too completely OF piece with their
achievements in more important matters 10 excite
:cmarrS, or 20 be deemed other than natural and
necessary.
From 10 to !? the carriages OF the grandcCs OF
tho court and Of the great harCmS are rolling in
separate group, over the abnomally smooth
ropl toward the Serago. Between the groups
Of official earnings, hacks full of tourists or carts
bearing the rrosnir frciChtagc Of the everyday
life of tie city al the way POrtcrS from In"
Custom House bear mighty loads on the ra"k-sHd-
dies strapped their Bonded backs, picking their
way between the lines Of troops and foot-pisS'n-
GERS train Of donkcys stolidly push through
Il, q, lao.
with which they IRE loaded like battering-rams
against the masses OF humanity. Upon this div er
slicd scene suddenly enters mounted herald, op
messed with tho magnitude Of his Office and sends
the por,crs with their loads into the thickcSt
throny Of APPALLED, sghtsccrS and by dint Of blows
and curses imnrtully bestowed on the beasts and
their driy crs hc huldlcs the donliCyS and their tim
Der, into u side street. The soldiers spring to
arms the patient people crane their ncCks and tho
great shining mass Of one OF the Court carriages is
seen swiftly approaching from the direction of
Galnta.
Men assume IN aspect Of awe stricken solrmnity.
the soldiers present arms, and the carriage with
It's black faced Outriders, goes by. general re-
nxntion OF nervous tension marks the discovery
that the carriage contains, not the Sultan. but
the Sultan's mother. When the long array OF tho
ladies Of her suite has passed the porters, thu
donkcyS and the people generally have the right
Of way again Many begin to wonder il the Sui
tan has not concluded AZ the last moment TO 60 the
Srraglio by boat. and lpol; suspicionsly of over
fine waters Of tie hnrbOr in the direction OF tho
rnacc Finally, however patience brings ITS r.
ward Herald after herald comes gallOping inrl-
ously 10 clear the way and 10 dress back the lines
of rooIS until they hay" compressed the spectators
Ike snrdn'S ug,ninS' the wnll. Then another gut
trring Court carriulr sweeps by. drawn by four