Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-26

He Diets, Behaves Himself and Tries TO Re-
come Man OF the World Generally.

He Diets, Behaves Himself and Tries to Re-
come Man OF the World Generally.
The Sultan of Turkey lives and thinks pretty
much after the fashion Of other high European
sovereigns, SAYS the New York S,a. He rises
very early and takes a cold bath. something
unknown TO Turkish sultans before his day.
Az $50 O'Clock he enters his study and sits
down between two mountains Of paper;
one, all Turkish newspapers and transla-
tions from foreign newspapers; the other.
documents of state. BY his side sits his
secretary. Sureys Pasha, with whose aid he
goes through all the dailies and clippings and
reports. Every state paper is read carefully by
tho sultan himself, who boasts that he has
never affixed his name to a document that he
had not first read through. After having dis
posed Of both patches Of pai,er the sultan
lunches, plainly and without wine. When the
sultan is alone the table service is china; when
guests are present 1t is gold. After luncheon
the sultan usually drives or takes gymnastic ex-
ercise Upon his return from his recreation
he again retires to his study and works till ali
the tasks of the day have been performed.
The home life of the sultan strangely diff
ferent from the prevalent ideas of il. Accord
ing TO Vambery. the Hungarian traveller, who
has recently returned ID his home from a long
visit at the Turkish court the harem has ceased
sovereign wholiyes with and loves his one chosen
wife as would any other European sovereign.
HIS affection for This chosen wife Is SO strong
that during her recent Illness he ate and slept
little and was by her side almost all his leisure
time. His daughter. Maine sultana. has been
educated In oil European accomplishments and
is pianist of rare talents and rema kable eae-
cution. As an Islamite the sultan. OF course
allows that female slaves are presented TO him.
but he does not take them into his family in
any way, in fact, never KEGS their faces. Abdul
Hamid Ill Is a believing nuslsm, Nemberry
says, yet never forgets that he rules over
Greeks and Armenians as well over Moham-
medans. Not only the clergy If his own creed.
but also the Greek and Armenian patriarchs
are frequently recipients OF his presents. The
sultan is tar from being an orthodox Moham-
meGan. for he encourages the fine arts. has
founded a museum containing statues. TO look
at which. according TO the Koran, Is n deadly
sin. and has laid the basis OF the education of
i lTkiSh Homen for which. too. his creed lin L.
no Endorsement. Besides the business of live
politics plans for the ntroduI rion of a consti-
tuition III his empire occupy much of the sui
tan S attention. He feels an OBJ cation to 10
tins for his people, yet fears they are not ripe
for It.
in Europe the ground YVES prepared for
constitutions BY centuries of liberal govern
ments." he said to Nambery. Now -. come 10
ask me 20 transplant this western grow ia TO the
stony soil of Asiatic life. Let me first reno. 2
the thistles and stones let me turn and water
the soil. for we have rain here. and then
viii transplant the western product Won
wish. Believe me. no one would be better
pleased than with the success of the expert
ment" Such is the sultan, says Vambcry.
painted without prejudice.