Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-01-29
THE SREik-UL-iSLAM.
u Lcok at tho Great and Unknown Man
Wko is the Boss Moslem.

=
wkc rs the Boss NIoslem.
During the German Emperor's stay
the great majority of Turks here showed
themselves to be progressive by well
coming him warmly. There were some
however, who regarded his presence
with aversion. They were the thor
oughly orthodox Turks, who have an
unspeakable hatred of every thing for
eign. At the head of these fanatics
stands the Sheik-u1-Islam, the highest
priest of the Moslem world.
This Sheik-ul-Islam refused to pay
homage to the German Emperor. He
could not even be induced to call upon
him- Sheik-ul Islams name is Omer
Lufti, and he is Turk of the old stripe,
fanatical and bitterly orthodox, yet
withal very learned man. He was re-
minded in vain by his friends that hos
pitality is a duty, according to the
Tzrkish religion, and that the Koran
avs: "The guest is sent by God"
The Sheik-ul-Islam (Omer Lufti) forth
fed his position against this verse with
other Koran verses and kept carefully
away from all celebrations in honor of
Tire German Emperor. Diogenes, too,
when Alexander the Great came to
Athens, did not wish to see the great
sovereign, and when Alexander COM
nanded him to ask for grace-orders, of
course, did not exist in those days-the
sage answered: 1.-The one thing l ask
OF you is that you get out of my light"
Another Diogenes lived in modern times,
the tiler of Amiens, who, during Ma
poleOn's entry, hammered away on his
roof. The Sheik-ul-Islam is not so wise
and gruff as Diogenes, nor so Industrious
and Indifferent as the tiler of Amiens
He deserves, however, some little at
tention.
The present Sheik-ul-Islam, Omer
Lufti, is great, lank man with repel-
ent, parchment-colored face. Every
line of his face is terribly earnest. No
enc ever saw him laugh. In the hamlet
of Djurmlidjia he owns little cottage
with only three rooms, where he form
er1y lived with coal-black female
slave, whom he married as soon as she
became mother.
Some years ago he was made Hukuk
Reisi, that is, president of the Civil
Court of Scutari. He was famous for his
love for animals, and was wont to keep
and pet all sorts of sheep, goats, hens
and asses. Suddenly the unaccountable
disfavor of the Sultan fell upon him,
and he was banished from Constantine
pie. He was soon recalled, and was
made Grand Judge in STEAMBOAT. A short
time ago he was raised to the highest
ecclesiastical dignity in Turkey-he be-
came Sheik-ul-Islam. The Sultan gave
him magnificent palace, liz which he
and his coal-black wife and his colored
children now live.
This man remained true to his tradi-
tons in ignoring the German Emperor.
His action was much discussed, especial
Iy In view of the fact that he called upon
the Shah of Persia during his last visit
here. Omer Lufti, however, is unfort-
unately one of the many. Turkish
fanaticism possesses the clergy here
almost completely. They have been
visit. Terrible, fateful days these,
according to the Turkish newspapers.
The Sultan, representative of the
Prophet went out to meet giaour, and
even rode in carriage with o woman, the
Empress. 'StupendouS SIM" moan the
faithful. That means the end of the
world. Hence earthquakes, hence con-
fagrations.
Heaven itself spoke. Saturday, Sun
day and Monday of the Emperor's visit
were foggy and there was a breeze.
Nature was appalled, at the unheard-of
event; the wind was still for astonish-
ment; the sun and moon had hidden
themselves so as not to see the awful
sight, say the faithful. Then it rained.
Mature wept," is the orthodox inter-
probation of it. A strong north wind
blew on the day of the Emperor's de-
parture. cit was devil sprung from
hell to drive out the giaour."
Such IS the train of thought followed
by the orthodox Turks; such the fan
tastic superstiticns with which the be-
hevers at large are entertained; and the
signal for all this came from the Sheik-
ul-Islam, Omer Lufti, the highest
priest of the Moslem world.
Hnopole Cor. Vienna Tageblatt.
~