Evening journal., 1895-11-30
The sultan Of turkey.

There Is no living mortal, around whom
centres more interest at the present time
than In the man who rules, or is sup
posed to rule, the Ottoman Empire and
the Mohsmmodan Church throughout the
world Dr.. Cyrus Adler, librarian Of the
Smithsonian Institution, Of Washington
is one Of the highest authorities on
Turkish affairs. As commissioner from
the United States to Turkey and the
Orient on behalf Of the Columbian Ex-
position, he spent portions Of two years
IN Constsntinople During the Summer
Of last year he again vi<lted the Turkish
capital on all Of these occasions he wag
accorded exceptional advantages for
studying Turkey in all It's details. aud
because Of his scientific and literary
standing in this country be mingled In
Constantlnople with persons Of influence
He has therefore learned from persona
observation, and from acquaintance with
many OF those IN Turkish official circles
many facts concerning the sultan, tho
porte and the politics Of Turkey which
should be OF great interest just at this
time.
DR.. Adler in speaking to newspaper
correspondent says "Sultan Abdul
Hamid Khan, who has been seated upon
the Ottoman throne for nearly twenty
years, is to-day man 53 years OLD. DIS
portraits, which we frequently see pub
lished In the papers and mag sz'nes,
would indicate him to be young man
OF about go This youthful appearance
OF bis pictures ls due 70 the fact that for
some reason His Maj jsaty has refused to
have his portrait taken since the tlme Of
his coronation. The most recsntof these
portraits Is, therefore twenty years old !;
at is rumored that Abdupa mothar
wss Christian, and strange to say. an
Armenian, although on becoming one
of the wives OF the sultan's father, she
became a Moslem. His msjesty Is a man
Of medium height, wearing full beard,
although represented In bis portraits
with simply q mous.acho Though
slight lie frame. bic broad shoulders sug-
gest that he still retains couLiderablep
sonai vleor His personality does not
Indicate him to be a man given over to
luxury. but on the other hand, when
appearing In public, he is usually clad In
the modest field uniform Of an infantry
genersls Ypt be 81 a man OF great.
wealth The royal lands are said 70 bo'
very large. and his personal income must
be enormous, II we can judge from tho
number Of palaces to be kspt up
"The manner IN which foreigners
ordinarily see the Sultan is by attending
on Friday-she Mohsmmedan sabbath -
the cerenony Of 'selamlk' OF prsyers.
On this occasion His Majesty comes ont
with his officers TO worship in the
Hamldlah mosque. and can be seen in his
carriage. As he sits in this we soc a
tired looking man, with a very kindly
face. that bore such q cave-worn expires
sion SIS would appeal to ones sympathy.
This was Abdul Hamid Khan. the Sultan
Of the Turks. As be passed tho window
lie bowed TO rs. and later the nid-de.
camp informed us that His Majesty sent
his salutationa Thus ended this odd
reception have been with a number
Of people when received in this peculiar
way. who. though prsjudieed agsinet
Turkey and the Turks. invariably let
their hearts 60 out to this tired looking
personage. undoubtsdly the hardest
worked ruler in the world