Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-10


ties. he had become liberal and no doubt in
time the empire would have been ruled in an
entirely different manner than now or ever be-
fore. The poor fellow taken to his own
beautiful home and there made close pris-
oner. No one since August 81. 1876. has seen
him. Our guide informed us as we passed the
seragliO our way across the Horn to Sou
tart: He IS one great fool He could not reign
for U.s. He STAYS there with his wives" We
asked how many wives he had. 'Ah, no one
knows; too many-too many" meaning of
course. very many. But We thought the too a
good word to use. And now some whisper
ing that he has lately died. within few weeks
II that Is so why has his body not found rest
ing-place in the tomb Of the sultans. amidst the
splendor seen only there? The Turks hate re-
forms, book learning or expansion of the mind
In any way.
THE PRESENT sULTAS's HAREM
stands on a little hill by itself. Building after
building of pure white marble, and nestled
among the little settlement (for his majesty's
family Is a goodly one-weye heard he has 400
wives is a beautiful mosque. where the sultau's
goes daily to say his prayer, excepting on Fri
days. Then he goes TO ST. Sophia, led and fol-
lowed and surrounded by procession akin to
one OF our own attempts at demonstration
when our new President has taken the oath of
office and Is escorted 10 the White House.
WORTHY CAPITAL
The Emperor Constantine knew what he was
about when he changed the name of this city
from Byzantium to Constantinople in his own
honor, for even in his day-AD. 32S-it could
have been naught else than a gorgeous city
worthy indeed of being the capital of the
Roman empire.
As We stood on the deck of the Hungaria
watching all these wonderful, strange and pecu-
harry beautiful buildings We were suddenly at
tackled by mOb-'twas though the flood
gates of humanity had been left open and
Inv I'D
stairs of the ships side and fought FOR Us and
our luggage.
We were bewildered and stupefed and had it
not been for the one eve lamb in that great
crowd OF wolves, who had on his fez printed in
gold letters interpreter i fear our friends
would be of one opinion as to our fates-'.gone
but not forgotten"
don't know how the interpreter felt when
he became aware he the sole guardian of
such helpless creatures, but our feelings were
too deep for utterance. Money in this case
was no object We and our protector travelled
together till we got among Christians The
sultan owes the custom house officers two
years wages and a bit of silver makes a tempt
ing bait. Consequently our luggage was I'M
molested, though 10 held nothing contraband
Out our books. Even guide books are contis-
Gated. though returned to the owners when
they leave the country, If they are willing to
pay for them
Our passports were examined, glance given
70 each owner TO see if nose straight, mouth
ordinary belonged to the holder OF the large
sneet bearing Uncle Sans beautiful eagle i'll
wafer lines Then We were allowed to pass on
Win our guardian angel, the interpreter.
From the highest pinnacle of the seventh
heaven We had been thrown at one bound to
the lowest depths of earthly filth and slime and
dogs.
doors AND FILrH
Slowly our poor forlOrn beast Of horse
pulled our little close dirty carriage ND the
narrow, ill-payed. hIlly streets while men. the
other beasts of burden. were struggling along
Dent nearly double by the weight OF our trunks
which they were taking to our hotel-a long
half mile from the wharf.
1t was dreadful the odors and sights which
greeted our nostrlls and eyes. Whichever way
We turned made US fairly III; and we closed our
eyes, resolved one sense should remain un-
molested for a little while.
And all this looked SO gloriously beautiful
less than an hour ago!
spoke Of the men as beasts Of burden
They are. They carry everything on their
backs and shoulders. Yes, even upright
piano, We saw being borne by one man along
the streets of ScutarL
IN The MOSQUES.
1t is very pretty custom, l think, this leav-
Ing ones shoes covered with the dust of the
street outside the doors OF the mosques, though
in some churches soft over-shoes are provided.
and strangers or natives thus walk on the i'm
maeulately clean straw mating with which the
floors of every place of worship are covered.
whether upstairs or down, and on this mating
she faithful spread their beautiful rugs and
kneel and bow IN prayer for hours at a time
1t would be impossible to fully describe one
OF these beautiful mosques, for while we are
within the walls Of such splendor We are dazed
and speechless-