Morning journal and courier., 1891-10-21
Abdul Hanfd.

\
 The sultan is now about fifty years of age, of tall figure, although rather stoop- ing from the shoulders. His movements
 are nervous and abrupt. The complexion
 is bilious, and his face is covered by 6
 beard of intense blsckness; the nose large,
 nothing cruel or ferocious in the eIpres- sion of the eye, which is only restless and searching, full of anxiety and suspicion Such is the aspect presented by the sultan | as sovereign. Those who have been ad- Yildiz Kiosk describe him as courteous, though reserved, in manners; speaking slowly and deliberately, and in an exceed ingly low tone, in harmony with the si- fence of the place, where the walls are all covered with tapestry of richest fabric, and carpet into which the feet sink by reason of its excessive thickness, preclu- ding the possibility of any sound reachin q the apartments from without. They say that he possesses in an eminent degree that charm of easy acquisition peculiar to sovereigns-the faculty of assuming inter est in the intimate existence of his visitor
 and will inquire in soft and tender voice IoE ucHs OI tue NlIe aIu NOut1tQl family, which charms the listener into belief of the sincerity of the inquirer. No greater contrast can be imagined than that which exists between the sultan and his brother autocrat, the emperor of Russia. They are the only two omnipotent sovereigns left in Europe; the one hard and infiexible as bar of iron, the other supple and easy to bend as willow wand. It is quite a mistake to fancy that Abdul Hamid passes his life in voluptuous idleness behind the closed lattices of the Yildiz Kiosk. On the contrary, his time is spent in the study of all the questions of the day, and in all those relating to state government they say he is proficient. His principal recrea- tion is the study of astronomy, and he often passes the greater portion of the night in the observatory, constructed un- der his supervision, at Yildiz.
 His only intimate friend. Osman Pasha. declares that Abdul Hamid is impressed with the idea that to him have been con- fided by Allah the keys of Europe, and his nervous temperament leads him to feel most acutely the responsibility of the charge. No man works harder than he. He rises with the dawn and takes but few hours sleep, sometimes with pen in hand writing the whole night. He studies ev- cry question" " says Osman Pashs, knows aAA ooSuh S'NA Ataue which concerns his business, and ever since the affairs of the Turkish provinces have occupied the foreground he signs ev- cry document presented to him, from the appointment of governor to the nomi- nation of the lowest office of the palace" "Of all the difficulties the sultan has to overcome" adds 0sman Pasha, "that of maintaining strtct political neutrality has been the greatest" Refuting all accu- sation of partislity, whether for English, French or German policy, the sultan re- maine Turk and Ottoman to the backbone. and the acute politicians of every country stand ready prepared to meet this trait in his character in view of the troubles now brewing in the east, of which none can fail to perceive the symptoms. He is per suaded that the Turkish soldier. is the best in the world, the most enduring under priyation, the most amenable 10 discipline, the most ready to die in defence of his creed. "To the soldier has Allah assigned the task of defending ths country; to me the task of restoring its ancient glory" Such is the account given by a French off cial admitted to the intimacy of an indi- vidusl high in office. It is worth record ing as forewarning of the part that Ad
 dull Hamid will be called upon to play in the troubles fast gathering about him and, indeed, around us all for the matter of that.