The Penn's Grove record., 1896-05-01
TURKISH ~oFFIcIALooM.

-" A"ersen He'"ter~
WIN 'ho rohee:
II. Hopkinson Smith contributes to
tue century a paper entitled "A Person
ally Conducted Arrest In Constanti-
nopie," giving bis experiences with the
police In that city. He was personally
eonducted' by a dragoman OF the Min
ister OF Police to see that ne did not
sKetch any forbidden scenes- But ne
to eiude the vigilance OF the
Official on several occasions. as some Of
his Illustrations Will show or his In
terview with the Minister OF Police, MI.
smith writes:
AT the n OF a Night OF wooden steps
crowded with soldiers, a long, wide han,
ana a dingy room, l found the chler
dragoman OF the Minister OF Police
not a dragoman after the order OF cas-
inir, u a dragoman who spoke seven
languages and had the manner OF a
diplomat.
In Constantinople there are OF course
hragomans ana dragomans. Each m
passy mas n as an interpreter. Many
OF them are OF high rank, the German
dragomnn being a count. Ihese men,
as transiators' are ~intrusted' of course,
with secrets OF great moment. EVERY
a a dragoman, VINO uans-
lntes the Jargon OF the East-Arapic'
turkish. d Greek, bulgarian pa
tois, ana the ike-into lnteillgent ENG
hsh, french, or n so mas
every high native omcial Win OF
little 10 DO with the various nationah
Ties that make up the ottoma empire
n Its neighbors. There are, TOO the
odern guides called 'dragomans, VINO
interpret In many tongues, and VINO lie
In al.
When appealed to, this high-caste
dragoman OF b minister said evasiveiy
that he believed he remembered Casi-
mir-he was not sure. 1t was nee
essary, however. for me, before ap-
preaching his Exceliency, to be armed
with a passport and a letter from my
consul youching Tor my standing n
integrity. Something might then be
done. although the prospect was not
cheering; still, with a wave OF his hand
and a profound bow, he would do his
utmost.
1 instantly produced my passport
Always wore 1t in my inside pocket.
! over my heart-and at once called his
attention to the cabalistic signature OF
the official who nae vised 1t on the n
Of my arrival-three wiggles and a dot
a sign bearing a strong resem-
blance to an angleworm writhihs ID
great agony.
The next day-there is o the silght'
est hurry In h East handed In my
second document emoiazoned on tne
seal with the arms OF my country ana
certifying 70 my peacerui ana non-revo'
iutionary character my Dlameiess me-
and h harmless nature OF my calling.
Seated at a common folding desk 1T
tered with papers, py sec
retaries and officers, a a man perhaps
fifty years o. age, with calm, resointe.
ciear-cut q ana an eye thai could
hayedrawn the secrets from the sphinx
He was neatly dressed In dark clothes
with plain black necktie The only
spots OF color about him were a specR
or RED Sn his buttonhole Inc the YER
million Zen that crowned his wel-mod'
eled bead. In bis hand he held the con
suIa leteee ana my passport and visit
ing GARD. Sor an instant ne bored me
full 61 aoIesy and the with a satisfied
glance anotioned me to a e Casimir,
who bad preceded me was bent double
In profound obeisance. his head almost
on the floor. I returned his Excellency'a
glance az fearlessiy as could, and sat
down 10 look him over. At this instant
a clerk entered with some papers and
advanced rapidly toward his desk. The
interruption evidently was inoppor'
tune, for the same eye that had compre'
hended my entirety shot an angry look
at the intruder, who stopped, wavered,
and then. shr1veling up like q burned
leaf, glided back out Of the o MOI
word was spoken by either. Tn
power Of the eye had been enough.
When I crossed the Galata bridge the
following morning I was attended by