Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-27
A GALA DAY.
FRIDAY AS IT is OBSERVED IN
CoNsTANTlNoPLE.
fhe Air Is Filled With Martial Music, Flags
Are Uniurlsd and oaily Dressed Sol
dlsrs Parade The Streets.

Friday is gala day In Constant.
nople. The air is Allied with martial
music, small flags are unfurled and
hung from the windows OF private
dwellings, while larger ones wave
snake7liko from the tops OF the public
buildings. The streets arc filled with
soldiers and gnily-dressed people. IL Is
In fact, half holiday; even the dogs
awake from their legarthy and crowd
In line, full Of expectancy, awaiting the
soldiers parade, for IL Is the day that
the Sultan surrounded By 10000 soldiers,
enters the beautiful white mosque TO
pray. II Is the one great event OF the
week. A handsome building near tho
entrance 10 the mosque is set apart for
the exclusive and gratuitous use Of for
eigners and invited guests. 1t is neces-
Bary before Friday 10 apply for tickets
OF admission at the consuls Office. We
did so and received our passes by calling
for them carly on Friday morning. II
was long drive to the mosque, but an
extremely interesting one. All cab
fares are double for that day. The
streets are moving panorama. All
available places where the soldiers
could bo seen are crowded. Groups Of
Turkish women are tlinldly clinging TO
each other. Arriving at the mosque,
we presented our passes 10 the aid-de-
camp, who was most polite In rcceiv.
ing US, and assigned ~ seats In one OF
tho windows where We had a perfect
view Of the mosque and the diiferont
highways leading thereto. A little
lator we wcro served with refresh
mcnts--tca, coffee, etc. Tho picture
which meets ones eye, looking
from the window, will hang
prominently on momorys wall
forever md forever Rcgi-
ment after regiment marched up and
stationed themselves with lying colora
about the house OF worship, A cloud
OF dust In tho distance. and then little
by little the white horse cavalry Of ono
Thousand came into view, galloped
across the open lots and swung in line
TO the left OF the mosque. From an
other direction came springlng into
sight regiment Of bay horse cavalry
and took their position near the
mosque, and rs the Turkish ZOuayos
passed by we wore reminded OF our
copy OF them in the noted Ellsworth
Zouayes who fought as bravely as ever
Turk did fight! We waited about an
hour at the window before the sultan ar
rived. Every moment WIS interest
ing; carriages continually came rolling
up with the most precious military
freight Who would have thought
that Turkish officers could DO made TO
look so handsOmey Their uniforms
were Of the finest, may of them be-
decked with medals, aud literally
covered with gold lace. 1t was day
Of dress parade, soldier and ofiicorwish-
ing to look their best In honor Of the
sultan. As the time approached for his
arrival, great multltulos were 10. DO
seen In every direction; boys filled the
trees, and the adjoining houses were
alive with people. Near the mosque
the streets were packed with people
standing on tlp-toe, swaying back and
forth like waves Of the sou, Suddenly
great shout Is hoard, like the roar OF
n mighty cannon. II was tho hurrah
of ten thousand soldiers giving the
signal that the sultan Is coming. lilo
soon appears In yellow-whocled low
carriage, drawn by pair OF bays, and
modestly salutes the crowd, while all
uncover their heads, He passes
through the gatos and In company with
officers and high officials entois tho
mosque. Six or eight equipagcs,
driven by spirited horses, entered tho
grounds Of the mosque Just before he
arrived. We learned that these car
riages contained a few Of his wives, who
came out for u drive and TO do honor to
their lord. They could not be- seon as
they remained In their. closed
carriage from which tho
horses were removod) until the
service WAS over. An Is quiet In the
mosque for few moments, then we
hear the chanting Of the prayers, which
drift over to our window for a moment,
aud then ascend, suppose, into heaven.
In about twenty minutes the sultan APP
peared again, whom pair of whlto
horses took the place OF tho bays aud
were attached TO his carriage The
sultan took the lines; cracked tho whip
aud the horses started away on fun
gallop, He touched his foz to the
people, and In moment was out OF
sight The great show was over.
Certainly we foreigners were indebted
TO the Turkish government for tho
politeness and kindness which they
80 graciously extended to uB.-lCun-
stantlnople lotter by Rev. Goo. c. Bart
lett In Now York Church Union.