The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-26

gatherer despo41s the farm Of the
wretched peasants to pour the revenue
into the Golfers OF the sultan for main
tanning magnifcence whose cost X
$4,000. 900 yearly.
THE SULTAN IN STATE
The most impressive of all the cere-
monies In this palace OF Dolma Baeht-
cheh Is the act OF homage, performed
at daybreak on the beginning of the
great Moslem festivals by the civil,
military and religious officials OF the
empire. The sultan, wearing his sword
and the silk-tasseled crimson fez, but
the plain black frock coat of Europe.
takes his seat upon a wide deep backed
throne. From each arm OF the throne
hangs a broad silk sash Of green and
red. bordered by narrow fringe. The
Sheriff of Mecca. the guardian Of the
sacred Klaaba approaches unattended
The sultan rises and the sheriff slowly
repeats prayer. As soon as the prayer
is finished the great dignttaxies in SOL
emn file are to march. In through the
colonnade on the west.
The civil functionaries first come for
ward, headed by the grand vizier
When opposite the throne the grand
vizier casts himself PROSTATE as IL to
embrace the sultan's feet. In this act
the entire nation, proclaiming its alb
solute submission to Its absolute lord.
After him advance the other cabinet
ministers Each in posture Of pro-
found humility raises his right hand
from the floor to his lips and forehead.
Then shopping he kisses the end of the
sf1ken sash. The sultan remains stand
ing until the homage of the ministers
has been paid. Then he seats himself
once more and the great pashas APP
preach in turn.
High up in tie ambassadors' gallery,
whence a few favored guests look
down. the suppressed excitement of
keen interest is everywhere visible.
The obsequious officials appear awe
stricken and many countenances wear
an expression of terror But the sui
tan's pallid face is as impressive as
marble. Rarely does he address a re-
mark to anyone except the grand viz
Ter, and then his words are cherished
as a most distinguished honor and
handed down like heirlooms in the
family of the recipient.
THE SULTAN'S RESIDENCE.
Dolma Boghtcheh has never been
loved by the present sultan His tastes
are simpler than were characteristic of
his predecessor. and he built Yildfz
Kiosk, or the Palace of the Star, whose
the grove-clad hill which overlooks the
palace of Dolma Bagtncheb. 1t Is a
two-storfed structure of white marble.
The basement contains the rooms of
servants and attendants. In the first
stories are the offices of the marshal OF
the palace. the soldier. Osman Pacha,
whose splendid defense of Plevna
against the Russians made him very
famous. The sultan lives in the sec
ond story, and here the foreign repre-
tatives are formally received. When
an ambassador comes 20 present his
credentials he Is received IN a spacious
apartment fronting the Bosphorus.
The Ottoman ministers OF state are
drawn up in line ON the right of the
sovereign, one hand upon the hilt of
the sword and the other upon the
breast. The envoy stands with his
first dragoman, or interpreter, and hts
suite are behind him.
Short speeches of courtesy are ex-
changed between the sultan and the
ambassador, and the guests are then
entertained with cigarettes and Turk
ish coffee by the Ottoman ministers.
This palace lies in the middle of a
park of 300 acres overlooking the Bos-
phorus The sultan's household is COM
posed Of host of functionaries, from
the grand marshal of the palace down
to the clowns, actors and singers. The
1000 persons who form the sultan's
household are maintained at an annual
cost of s30, 700, 900. In the kitchens of
the household 1900 sheep are supplied
daily. for beef is forbidden in the Mus
sulman diet.
THE ROMANCE OF THE HAREM.
No other Eastern name awakens
such lurid yet confused ideas, such
melange OF imagination and history as
does the word "seraglio." 1t vibrates
with every echo of human experience
and passion. The term seraglao COM
prises both the structures raised by
the sultan and the vast enclosed terri
tory by which they are surrounded.
All the approaches are guarded by sus-
picious soldiery, and II the stranger
fingers to gaze at the high white walls
which surround the inner enclosure of
the imperial harem there breaks upon
his ear the insolent shout of some om-
nipresent sentinel. Once Ii was deem
ed sacrilege, worse than treason, to
turn ones eye in this direction, and
two centuries ago a Venetian was
hanged because from the windows of
his house he had looked toward the
harem walls through a glass. In the
outer seraglio. where the palace and
treasure room are. the visitor may see
a bewildering display of gold and Jew
els and the most sacred treasures of
ble MOSlem Idltn IN COnStantinODle.
Here is the black mantle of cameps
hair that covered the shoulders of the
prophet. Once each year the sultan
comes in solemn state to pay homage
to this mantle He and his escort rev.
entially kiss its hem. Here is the beard
OF the prophet that after his death
was shaver from his chin by his ia
vorite barber. Another sacred relic is
one of the teeth which the prophet
lost at the battle of Ohud, and a lime
stone impression of the prophets foot,
supposed to have been made when he
mounted the magic steed at Borak.
Before the gate OF the harem, whose
close barred windows shut out all pro-
fame gaze and within whose walls no
man but the sultan ever goes, stands a
black eunuch with drawn sword. The
imperial harem has always been an in
stitution completely distinct from the
social body OF which 1t seems to be
the keystone. Tt perpetuate the race
of Osman. the harem Is peopled with
slaves brought from foreign lands. The