The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-10-12

The ceremony OF "naming' the new
grand vizier is one of the most impress
ave sights imaginable, and as it has
seldom if ever been described an at
tempt to convey some idea of it may not
be without interest. 1t was toward 4
O'Clock Oh Saturday afternoon that the
servants commenced to carry out from
Oievad Pasha's rooms at the sublime
porte his books, papers, pens and other
private paraphernalia. This was the
first intimatiOn given to the world that
the grand vizier had fallen. Shortly aft
erward troops filed up the hill and lined
both sides Of the road from the landing
stage at Sirkidjy to the doors of the
porte. The news spread like fire under a
wind, and by 8 O'Clock all preparations
were completed for the reception Of the
new occupant Of the principal office in
the empire. Ia the great council cham
Der the scene was unique in its quiet dig
nifty. The room was crowded with all
the high officials present and past, and
though an hour Or two previously none
there had even guessed what was about
to happen each one took his place 81
}ently and regularly, without confusion
On mistake, awaiting the advent Of the
still unknown chief.
At the head of the hall asmall vacant
space was left, around which grouped
the present ministers and those who had
previously held portfolios. AS each came
IN he paced slowly up the carpet with
one short salute. AS soon as he reached
the end all present returned the teme-
na'a with a sweep of the hand to the
ground, breast and forehead. This
rhythmical greeting, accentuated by the
movement Of scarlet fezes in unison
with open hands, given in silence, and
in the dim, curtained light of the coun-
Gil chamber, defies adequate description
by the pen.
And then the newcomer returned the
salutes separately, beginning at the left
hand side, round the square of his col
leagues, subordinates and superiors, and
one more candidate for the vizierate
was effaced, for nobody knew upon
whom the choice Of the sultan had fall
en-. Many names were whispered round,
but as their owners entered tho circle Of
greeting their chances were seen to be
extinguished. One after another they
followed on, till by q process Of reduo-
tion it became a question Of only two or
three, all the rest Of Turkeys statesmen
and all her greatest pashas having al
ready trodden the carpet and taken their
seats of expectation. Then from the
windows could be 9 q small process
sion winding up the ascent. In front
were two horsemen, he on the left a lit
Sle man we'll known to all the watchers
in the chamber, and on the right the
Sheikh ul Islam, shining in the sunlight
with his robes Of pure white and gold.
In the passing Of a breath the name
vi Ketchuk Said futtered round the
room, and a few moments later the new
grand vizier. who had already thrice
gone through the same ceremony, was
standing in the center Of the ministerial
group. There he drew from his breast q
green silk bag. and extracting from it
the imperial hiatt he pressed the parch.
ment to his lips and forehead. The dark
bearded sheikh repeated this homage tc
the words of his imperial master, and
the hiatt was handed to the evrak mu.
diri, or keeper Of the archives, who read
aloud that his imperial majesty the sui
tan, knowing the devotion, well proved
of Said Pasha, intrusted to him the
duties Of grand vizier. and that, having
full confidence in the piety Of the Sheikl
nj Islam, he prolonged his term of Of
fee, being anxious in all things for thu
best welfare of his people, and might AL
mighty God bless their efforts toward
that end. Then again Il wave Of sweep
ing hands and bending heads wen
round, and the sheikh, in full, deer
tones, offered up a prayer for the sulta,
and the empire. In a moment the coun
ell chamber was transformed into a hol,
place, and the politicians, pashas ant
scribes, with upturned palms, seemed
to have forgotten for a space the worl,
and it's vanities. 1t would be hard t.
imagine anything more striking thai
this prayer, amid such surroundings AM
on such an occasion.
With it terminated the investiture
The new grand vizier adjourned to hi
with his ministry for coffee an,
a perfunctory cabinet council, and late
on the old and new viziers and min
listers repaired to Yildiz to pay thei
first or last respects to their lord. Mean
while another hiatt had arrived, chang
ing the occupant of the western wing O
the porte, for Said Pasha. who has bee,
minister for foreign affairs for min
years, was hidden to vacate his famil
lar chair in favor Of Turkhan Pasha. -
'Constantinople Letter.