Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06
AMONG THE MOSLEMS.
Pen Pictures of Constantinople by
DR.. White, of McKeesport.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE BAIRAM.
Gorgeous Display Made Upon the Sultan's
Visit to the Mosque.
SHEKELS FOR A GLIMPSE OF A HAREM

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE D1sPArcH.1
CoNsTANTINoPLE, June 8.-The Mo-
hammedan period Of six weeks fasting,
called the Ramazau, is followed at its close
by three days of feasting and general jolli-
fcation, called the Bairam, during which
time little is thought of but pleasure, and
Constsntinople, the center of the Moslem
world, INDUCES In regular revel. Every
body is upon the streets; the gardens, drives
and cafes are crowded; the pleasure steam
ers and c1Aquese upon the Bosporus over
laden and the Turk indulges in his favorite
drink of mastic more than is his wont, for
have found that the Mohammedans are an
unusually temperate people.
When the steamer which had borne me
sa ely from Athens anchored off the Golden
Horn and found all the shipping in the
harbor gaily decorated, I learned with
pleasure that I had been fortunate enough
to arrive in Constantinople on the first day
of the Bairam. The Sultan that morning.
as is the annual custom, held grand re-
ception at the Yildiz Palace. All the
great functionaries of the Ottoman Empire
were there to testify their loyalty by kissing
his garment. The venerable Osman Pacha,
the defender of Plevna, was master OF cere-
monies. A luncheon was served to the
diplomatic corps; and the representatives
OF the Circassian province, as is also the
yearly custom, presented His Majesty with
an acquisition to his harem in the person of
the most beautiful maiden to be found in
the province by the government officials.
| The family of the damsel thus chosen con-
siders it high honor, but how the young
lady thus introduced to a household num-
bering already over $780, and welded to an
infrm man OF near 80, regards the matter,
let those who may, tell.
THE EVERY DAY CAPITAL.
Such was the Sultan's celebration Of the
Bairam. The throngs upon the streets have
noticeably diminished since the season of
festivity, and one can the better judge what
kind OF place the Turkish capital really is.
| Having ;ormed an idea of the city from
newspaper letters, the writers of which seem
| not to have seen beyond its dogs and crooked
streets, must say have been agreeably
disappointed. 1t is true, the streets are
crooked, but not nearly so crooked or dirty
as in other Eastern cities. And the dogsl
1t is certainly true they are very objection
able feature, and most absurd one. They
are umbered by the tens'of thousands, and
that they can serve any good purpose is
hardly possible. The sacred bull OF Burmah
is not treated with more consideration than
are they.
| But there is much Of beauty and interest
to offset all this At every turn some strik-
ing scene confronts you; some picturesque
old corner of Byzantium time; the crested
minarets of some domed mosque rising
above cypress grove, or perchance
stately palace amidst terraced gardens, with
distant view of the Bosporus. of that noble
stream whose beauty no pen can describe.
Nature has been lavish of her gifts in the
short valley of Turkeys famed river, and
art has placed many diamonds in natures
setting, in the beautiful villas, terraces and
| palaces which line its banks. To see it once
is to have it photographed on the brain
| forever.
THEY SPEAK WITH THEIR EYES. d..
| Every visitor here is struck during his
| first stroll or two at the absence of Turkish
women upon the streets. The red fez of the
Turk is plentiful enough and a constant
| stream of ladies dressed in the most fashion
able attire flows past him. He might easily
fancy himself in Paris or Vienna. Occss-
ionally hiseye will meet pair of large, spark
ling, speaking eyes, looking at him above
the white silk veil which hides the face of
the fair occupant of a passing carriage.
| What does it mean? 1t means that he is In
Pera, where all the fashionable hotels are,
and which is practically the European quar-
ter of the city.
But let him seek the Galatea bridge and
cross over to Stamboul and he will find mat
ters reversed. There he may study the
Turkish female character, through white
veil, to his hearts content He will find
them there of all ages and conditions, alike
only in their evident appreciation of the
notice of strangers, and their faculty of let
ting the eyes do the work of the tongue. In
m nd 0f ef fka
| tlnople Is synonymous with the grossest i'm
morality. But think it is an unjust and
erroneous opinion. Certainly it is bad
| enough, but that it exceeds in wickedness
| several of the European capitals, or, for that
matter, some OF our own larger cities, I do
not believe. The plurality of wives is of
| course common.
THE MoHAMMEDAN SUNDAYS.
| Friday is the Mohammedan Sunday, and
consequently an interesting day 70 visitors
here. Every Friday morning about 10
| o'clock streams of people and lines OF car
rlages may be seen making their way out
the Rue de Pera in the direction of the
Yildiz Palace. All the citizens who can
conveniently will be found in the throng,
and every visitor, without exception, for to
miss the sight of the Sultan going
in state to the mosque would rank as a
tourist. The Yildiz Palace is beautifully
situated in the suburbs of the city, on a
gently sloping hill overlooking the Bosporus.
| The Imperial Mosque is close by. Com
mandiBg good view of both, a large es-
planade, capable of holding thousand car
riages, is reserved for the visiting public.
! 1t is beautiful morning; cool in spite of
| the bright sunshine. We are earlv-our
carriage being fourth to arrive and takes
position quite near the palace gate. Car
riage after carriage follows, and in an in
credibly short time the vast inclosure is
| filled and down the hill road are to be seen
! the disappointed late comers Every now
| and again from out the green-hedged road
on the other side of the palace appears the
| carriage o. some member OF the diplomatic
| corps, resplendent in uniform, with liyeried
dragoman on the box. The carriage STONED:
he enters pavilion on the right, reserved
for him and his colleagues.
FINEST CAVALRY IN THE WORLD.
| Now we hear the sound of approaching
horsemen, and coming up road in our
rear we see the Imperial Ottoman Guard.
acknowledged to be the finest body of cayal-
| nv in the world. In umber they are an
| even thousand, mounted on magnificent
white and spotted Arabian horses; of SOL
dierly bearing; picked men all rom the
Soudan to the Caucasian. Their uniform
is of dark green; each carries a triangular
red guidon; their gold cartridge boxes
gIisten in the sun, and the red guidons seem
to form canopy over all. They range them
selves in line right in front of us, stretching
SO far down the hill that the flag OF the last
horseman seems to be dipping in the Bos-
porus. Such magnificent spectacle has so
engaged our attention that we have almost
| failed to notice that infantry regiments and
! Zuaye corps have been getting into position
on and about the road TO the Mosque and
almost at the same moment the entire mill
tary force in the city-some 6,o00-is massed
about the palaces.
Promptly at noon time the Sultan in the
state carriage, with Osman Pasha at his
side. and preceded by about 20 pashas and
followed by another score on foot, their
gaudy uniforms and decorations glistening
in the sunlight, appears One tremendous
cheer. which is taken up all along the line,