The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-11
II. SUI
TAN OF TURKEY.
TRANSLATED for the Times by Blythe w.
Rranchl

@@''~a - - - NtAhaA lAd dlu
he has always excited TO the highest de-
gree the curiosity OF the public. He re-
sembles In nothing his predecessors. He
Is unlixe them in private as well as in
political life.
Formerly the palace Of the Sultan was
a place Of idleness and luxury. essential
ly oriental in character. Affairs OF State
were rarely considered In the palace.
The usine u of the empire was transact
ed entirely at Sublime Porte. The great
Council of State was summoned 10 the
palace on rare occasions.
Under the reign of Abdul Hamid the
palace has become the center OF the
government, has been transformed into
a modern State Department. The palace
has wires to the Central Telegraph Sta
ton. 50 that governors OF provinces,
commanders Of army corps. Turkish am
bassadors abroad can communicate at
once with the Sultan. Occasionally the
Sultan issues telegraphic instruction d-
rect from Yildiz, without waiting TO
send them through the Sublime Porte.
In case OF serious matters, the Sultan
Is at once informed, day or night. II a
great fire breaks out at night. the Sultan
rises at once and places himself at the
windows Of the palace whence he can
see all the Bosphorus and the greater
part OF the city. He watches the pro-
gress Of the fire with powerful field
glasses. and from time to time sends
orders to the Chief of the Fire Depart
ment. He never leaves his post until
the fire Is under control. More than
once he has watched all night.
Unfortunately. great fires In constanti-
nople are only too common. 1t Is easy TO
understand from what I have written
that a SttIfan uhn EopEa GO 1n1QfAftCH-
bly,. who recognizes so fully his duty
To his country has little time or inclina-
ton for the so-called pleasures Of the
palace. But Abdul Hamid is not an as
celtic. II has been said that he uses or
all things. but abuses nothing. Perhaps
thar is the secret OF his splendid health.
During the seventeen years he has
reigned he has never been i'll or even
seriously i~ndisposed. His doctor recently
remarked that his presence at the PAL
ace was quite unnecessary.
To see the Sultan one would not sup
pose him TO possess such strength Of con-
stitutiOn. In appearance he IS small
thin. and has a tired, weary look, Dut
he Is wiry and his muscles are like steel
As a young man he amused himself IN
feats Of strength and he worked much IN
hard woods. There is now in the palace
a great workshop which the Sultan ire
quently visits and where clever artisans
make beautiful cabinets after designs
drawn by the Sultan himself.
abdul Ham.d has the conviction mat
he will reign forty years. He says that
II IS a strong, clear ~presentiment' ana
he speaks Of II freely 20 the few people
whom he receives into his intimacy.
Abdul Hamid is horribly afraid OF
.t.f.-. l.rxfeb onep nrC1fCtPd that
the Sultan would die Of tlis fearful dis
ease. Blessed be the name OF this good
dervish. Without knowing IT and prooa-
ably without desiring it he has rendered
a great service to humanity. 1hanks 10
him. hundreds Of thousands have been
preserved from the plague. FOR some
wears cholera has regularly visited some
mart OF Europe; several times IL mas
knoc,.ad at the very gates OF Constantine
rle Tho severe orders and regulations
issued By the Sultan have kept ~ OUT
If the CITY. and not only Constantinopie
hut Thracla and the other European
provinces OF Turkey have been spareu'
Last year Constantinopie was not 80 TOT
tunate, but the fault was not the ""i-
tan's. Adjacent counties were hot 80
vigorous in their efforts 70 stamp vut ~ :
disease. and the Sultan was hlilseii
| hammered DN TIC N''H
national Sanitary Council
The sobriety Of the sultan Is Teil-
known. He rises early and takes ms iru'
o., breakfast in the Harem. lie tnei
goes IA his study. The work OF a Sui'
"a, is little like that OF other rulers
lie does not seat himself at a desk an,
raod ar write or dictate. ComiottaDiS
seated I'm a large armchair or hai -
o,suf,g on a sofa he commands, ah'
49, commands are sacred laws. \ COM
naa,d NJ the Padishah. an irade' car
49, bc opposed. No minister Woulo
- dsra 10 make the slightest observe"
,;on IN the sovereign. We read requehe
10 in the papers that by Hdue =
- cut.an such and such measures nav
been taken, or certain railroad s'an'
conceded. lido - an,
viii explain what an trade IS "h
how promulgated. Every hioFh'"s tm''
first secretary Of the palace ac'u'
cureva pasha comes TO the Sui.a" w"
no leaves the harem and reaas mS ISpoI
ne nosha enters the audience cham
'r;tb slow measured steps ana alte
rnatinp the usual salutetion, stahus a
. distance and awaits the order 10 oe
to his report. This report contain
o~orvtbine. IL Is a complete su00i"e
ovooee ~ all matter under consldera'ro
a. the various departments, ana WIN.
n-,st recaive the imperial apprOpdlioh "
fore they can be conciuusu' culto
~ The secretary reads, the Sulti
- a little sign Of approval: the lrau'
The Secretary notes the approval VI ~
sovereign. and the necessary iotn n
ties are completed in the proper 'spa.
msnt. Now and then the oui'an ,"o.
rupts Sureya pasha. to deinahu au
Information regarding the m"
hand. If the explanation IS not on
satisfactory he orders tnS na~,nl
no examined into again, and reporte"
pe Iangth one should not cor
srnnd tho trade with the firman. II
Grman Is a document issued direct lrol
a. nalace and bears at the top the l''
ora or monogram of the sultan
Another secretary comes aiterWa''
= padisheh with all kilograms
,,onortance received during the night q,
morris matters OF general interest II
c,Ison summons his ministers 10 the pa
ace and issues his orders 10 tneih
nerson. In his presence there u no ~
rersatlon. no discussion. Ihe "nn
renlv briefly 10 the queslloHs ao"eu
the sovereign. II the minister a
thing important 10 say IL liz rnn
~ .be necessity for n action
! ~raL. ,im,dly and in few WORDS
ss,tafive official has no chance Oh :
vancement in Turkey. The sultan hes
presjdes over the Council OF Mn n1s
which is sometimes heid IN ,ns paa :
The ministers deliberate aIons ss,o
, sultan remains In an ~ h,1 he =,
,ch them and hear them 100 ire
hahind the screen placed before sas
Of os"' Communication. During the s eS !,