Rock Island Argus., 1895-09-03
THE GRAND VIZIER.
HOW HE is SELECTED sY THE sUL-
TAN AND INSTALLED.
One OF the Most Striking Scenes Connected
With the Turkish Court-No One Knows
Who IL to BE Named Until the Last Mo-
mcnt-An Impressive Prayer.

Who IL to BE Named Until the Last Mo-
mcnt-An Impressive Prayer.
The ceremony of manning" the new
grand vizier is one Of the most impress
i've sights imaginable, and as it has
seldom if ever been described an at
tempt to convey some idea of 1t may not
be without interest. 1t was toward
o'clock on Saturday afternoon that the
servants commenced to carry out from
Djcvad 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 hsd fallen. Shortly aft
erward troops filed mp 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
wind, and by o'clock all preparations
were completed for the reception Of the
rev occupant of the principal office in
the empire. In 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 si-
lcntly and regularly, without confusion
or mistake, awaiting the advent Of the
still unknown chief.
At the head of the hall small vacant
space was left. around which grouped
the presen: 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 teIne
Ma a with q sweep Of tho 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-
ell chamber, deties adequate description
by tie 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 cffaced, for nobody knew upon
whom the choice of the sultan had fall
Ell. Many names We're whispered round,
but as their owners entered the circle of
greeting their chances We're seen TO be
cxtinguishcd. One after another they
followed on, till by a process of reduc
ton it became Il question of only two or
three, all the rest Of Turkeys statesmen
and all her greatest pashaS having al
ready troddcn the carpet and taken their
seats Of expectation. Then from the
windows could be seen small process
sion winding up the ascent. In front
were two horsemen, he on the left lit
tic man well known to al the Watchers
in the chamber, and on the right the
Sheikh ul Islam, shining il the sunlight
with his robes Of pure white and gold.
In the passing Of u breath the name
Of Kctchull Said flutterod round the
room, and few moments later the new
grand vizior. who had already thrice
gone through the same ceremony, was
standing in the center Of the ministerial
group. There lie drew from his breast a
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 to
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 viZicr, and that. having
full confidence III the piety of tho Sheikh
| nj Islam, he prolonged his term Of Of
| fec, tcing anxious in all things for the
best welfare of his people, and might AL
mighty God bless their efforts toward
that end. Then again wave of sweep
ing hands and bending heads went
round, and the sheikh. in full, deep
| tones, offered up q prayer for the sultan
and the empire. In IL moment the coun-
Gil chamber was Transformed into holy
| place, and the politicians, pashas and
scribes, with upturned palms, seemed
to have forgotten for snacc the world
and its vanitics. II would be hard to
imagine anything moro striking than
this prayer, amid such surroundings and
on such an occasion.
With it terminated the investiture.
Tho new grand vizier adjourned to his
room with his ministry for coffee and
n perfunctory cabinet council, and later
on the old and new viziers ard min
listers repaired to Yildiz ~ pay their
first or last respects to their lord. Mean
while another hiatt had arrived, chang
ing the occupant of the western wing of
the porte, for Said Pasha, who has been
minister fer foreign affairs for nine
years. was hidden to vacate his famil-
lar chair in favor Of Turkhan Pasha. -
Constantinople Letter.
| Irving and S:oker.
| Not fnany lnn,y how. TINT fnlonfnd