The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18
PALACES OF THE SULTANS.
FAST AND PRESENT RESIDENCES
OF TURKISH EMPERORS.
Openes ns . Favor 60 the DELEGATES OF the
1nternntiona Congress OF ByEiene-Ke-
~rreshments Served In Turkish style.


From the Philadelphia Dagv Evening telegraph.
CoSsTANTtNoPLE, Oct. 27.-As delegates o
the International Congress Of Hygiene we re
ceived several favors at the hands of the Sultan
For instance. his Majesty graciously placed a
our disposal two lieutenants attached TO his per
con, so that we might visit the Seraglio. This Il
q privilege which the ordinary tourist does MOI
enjoy. unless he is prepared TO expend a large
sum of money. First a special order or trade
must he obtained from the Sultan himself; thcr
IL is necessary to give from SIS to $40 in pres.
ents to the servants OF the palace.
To navigators. the Scragiio Point Is a familinr
term. On the stamDoul side Of Constantinople
the land juts out and forms a prOmontOry, with
the Golden Horn to tho left, the Sea of Marmora
to the right, the entrance of the Bosporus,
Galnta, and the lights OF Pera in front. Behind
the point is the site Of the Acropolis Of Byzan-
tium. and on the Marmora shore the light
house that indicates the approach TO the port
The Scraglio. being on the summit Of the
promontory. commands a magnificent view
of all the surroundings and Is swept by pure
sea breezes. II | were Sultan. 1 must say /
think l would like living on this historical
spot close to the Ministries and the business
of Government. 1t was the principal residence
of the Sultans up to the beginning of this CEN
fury. Then Mohsmmed H., the Reformer,
among other changes. removed TO the other side
Of the Golden Horn, to the European side, and
lived in the palace of Cheragan. When the
beautiful white palace, the Dolmabaghcheh was
built on the shores OF the Bosporus. the old
Seraglio was abandoned as a residence of tho
widows OF former Sultans and their servants.
But, in spite of the beauty and the comforts, Of
such a palace rs the granddaughter. II has but
little or no historical interest, nor does its style
s Sp ssGh at Wss,sr suggest ss, sn5 S9Vyi es,nsn e me,S put th as
building TO the far East.
The general effect OF the Dolmabaghcheh is
certainly. most beautiful, principally in conse-
quence OF the exquisite contrast OF its pure white
stone walls rising up from the dark blue waters
Of the Bosporus toward the lighter blue of the
heavens. The marble entertainments and the
marble steps reaching down to the water. and
the light crafts darling past in all directions,
but, nevertheless, the Dolmabaghcleh is quitea
modern structure; built by the, sultan Abdul
sion than taste. In the interior, mirrors. chan
deliers, brilliantly painted ceilings, stained glass,
and, in fact, all that %glitters that is rich and
striking TO the eye. have been lavishly employed.
The Throne Room Is one Of the largest halls OF
THIS description in Europe.
In spite Of its vast dimensions. its luxurious
decorations, and its beauty the Dolmabaghcheh
and Abdul All. But the latter Sultan. eyvi.
IDENTITY rot satisfied with this residence. CON
structed the Palace OF Gheraean on tho spot
raelio OF STEAMBOAT. This palace is built almost
exclusively Of marble, and is likewise on the
away from the town. Smaller in size. IL is dec
GRATED in a equally lavish style, and now serves
80 ~ VI "a N--ullhl lluTdu ' -, VIC, /
on the ground OF i'll health, was not allowed to
reign. The actual sultan, Abdul lIamid II,
thrown over the main road. connects the two
residences: but that OF the, Sultan Abdul
fildiz Kiosk Is surrounded by a large park aud
Lofty walls: The palace itself is small, though
Ministers, the Foreign Ambassadors, and even
entsrtains them at his table; But. II small, the
s n,1dis kiS'k i, Is ii tbSn up ". With With much nsYan more ss slS,
the views from the windows are most beautiful,
The park Is admirably laid out, and the harem
is appropriately placed in the centre of q flower
garden. There is also, as the most modern of all
innovations, a court theatre. In a word. the
the most artistic of the imperial palaces.
ny selecting this place as his usual residence.
fined taste than his predecessors. Close to his
residence the Sultan has built u small but very
Jami. 1t is TO this mosque that the Sultan usu.
ally proceeds for the weekly CEREMONY of the
large barracks. where several thousands of the
best troops In Europe are stationed under the
Plevna; Here on these heights, close TO the jew
ish and Armenian quarter of Orta-Keni. well
away from the noise, turmoil, and unwhole-
the chief Of tn" Mohammcdan religion and the
sultan OF the Ottoman empire, 1t is appalling
erection. the tact, tho ability, OF this one man.
a single hllunder on his part might suffice TO re-
INTO a war TINT would Surpass by its extent and 4
Is horrors all that has ever occurred lcfore.
" -, ~, u'NHh lHhT'h 'IlNt " III FI'tlhl anu
% as to witness the sclqmlik, / could not but be
powerful monarch. | could understand the 4
enthusiasm of the wild, peculiar whoop and I
he. ,nSt mosque ss9 ,to' @a sH hs a ao ne at P onss t6 on h Po way yb to !
heir sovereign On him all their worldly in 5
igion that taught them to hope for happiness in q
N after life. So long as this faith endures It is
he successor of the Prophet who must continue q
TO return TO the first residence of the sultans. 4
! Is a. the seraglto that are kept the mantle of ]
taff. sword, and bow, the swords OF The first I
hree khalifs, and other mementos of a glori- @
'us past. But these relics are too sacred To be O
Ramazan, The Sultan visits the SeragIio, G
n on Temple Bar in days of yore, the heads OF {
raitors used TO be affixed on spikes. The Sui l.
''r0phet's mantle, as emblematIc of the fact I
he Is the Prophets successor. This is a h
Geremonyi and helps to strengthen the ]
me ban.iih Hlnayan gate gives access to the J.
lans tree of the Jan.ssaries. This tree, though I
ow but a wreck. still maintains its formidable 4
own is due to its history. 1t was under lis broad A
Dliage that the Janlssaries used to meet, talk, b
hey should address 10 The sultan. and these Ia
emands were almost commands. But when II
ma msl y the Snltans recovered their independence 4
M destroyed the power of the Janissarics. the r.
among them were executed by hanging IL
the branches OF this self-same tree. a
We entered the private part of the SeraGlio by il
he middle gate with its two doors and two m
lwers, between which was the Chamber of Ex- al
eutlOn' where the. heads OF Ministers, who had h
lcufred the displeasure of the sultans, were OF
.iliniiy removed immediately after the dis II
raced Minister had his last audience with the p
ultan; There were hut a few steps from the N
ouneil Chamber 20 the Chamber OF Execution. is
! those days the fruits of office were on
~ all sweet. BY this gate there rs vi
so the mounting stone, and no one =
Ut the sultan was allowed 10 pass tits In
one on horseback. There is a low gallery dl
lth marble columns round the court, and here n.
lder small domes, with holes in the centre 10 !,
.rnlt the escape OF smoke, were situated eight f.
A fabulous amount Of Cooking was al
me for the Sultan, the chief Sultana, the Other ND
lltanas, The commandment the Gale. the Minis iii
r. OF the DlNan, the pages, the officers, and the bl
illous servants anu attendants. IL is raid that Of
70 meat or AS many as 10000 oxen was cooked 10
re IN the course OF a year., not to mention IN
leep, poultry, dc. .,
From the middle gate we proceeded TO the IN
ate or Felicity, where white eunuchs, ii not in
,oh, suhfu. are Still present. Here we fC