The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12
Lbdul Hands Peri ous Ride.


his faithful poAple. and, TO MS surp',Se'
| Vac reached his palace again unframed.
Many were the devices adopted TO Keep
HE outward and homeward route mys-
ferv Many miles OF wretchedly paved
streets we're carefully covered with sand'
and their sidewalks planted WIN couples
of soldiers I'm new fezzes and green gloves
at nfty PAGES intervals. Recently re-
haired pwers had been reopened. because
IS was believed dynamite had been placed
in them: Gs,ata Bridge had boauoao oil
marines under every span and guard on
each pontoon: 500 Armenians were march,
ed on 20 prison. while their employers
wondered what had become OF them.
Every ground and first floor window on
tho line Of route was ordered TO be closed,
and the pavcments were allowed TO be oc-
cupied only by women and children on one
eide and Selected" crowd of males on
tho other. while every street abutting on
the road taken was effectually bl--ked
by cavalry half an hour before the pro
cession passed. As for the bridge usual
ly the favoritc position for sightseers.
not a soul was allowed on e. and the
whole Of the BOsphorus traffic was dis
located by the steamers crowded with
suburban residents being kept fully an
hour without being allowed TO discharge
their passengers.
But the one precaution which no one cx-
pected really made all the others super
fluous. Tho procession is usually headed
by the carriages Of the Sultana Valide and
Of what are politely styled the ladies' OF
the harem, the Sultan himself coming
last. A sudden rush OF cavalry closed
carriage drawn By four white horses
driving past as only a fire engine dashes
along a London street. aud followed at
the same breakneck pace by n posse Of
cavalry. then more carriages one OF them
open, with the Surans eldest son. and
then. before the bystanders quite realized
what had happened, they saw the ladies'
and the Sultana Nalide, who had beez
adroily shunted to the position always
occupied by Abdul Hamid. valnly trying
to keep pace with the stampede in front
Of them.
Yes; he had passed. and no one had seen
him. He must have been buried in the
cushions Of the first carriage. for his little
son, Prince Burhaneddin, was at one
window; and back to the horses too an
yious and excited even TO return the
greetings OF the few who recognized him.
sat poor old Chat Osman Pasha. once
tho hero Of Pevna, now nothing but a
creature OF the Sultan. Here and there
the school children broke out into a dis
cordant hymn" generally too late for
the monarch TO hear, for he had circum-
vented tho imaginary plotters by starting
from the palace one hour earlier than
usual. He had hardly arrived al the
old Seraglio. where the functions
Of kissing the Prophets mantle
Is performed, when a slight shock Of
earthquake was felt. but the general and
greater terror Of his enforced exposure
to the raze OF his loving subjects doubt.
less overwhelmed the horror Of that por-
tent.
The greatest surprise 81 all was vet 20
come. on these visits IL Is always the
custom Tor the Sultan to remain az STAN
pom for the 'iftar," as the meal is called.
winch is taken at sunset when the DAVIS
last ceases. But that necessitiates re-
turning by lamDlight. This was not TO
be thought OF, so he decided early I'm the
day 10 return by steamer. The immortal
yacht was in readiness for him at a point
near the S&aglio, and. while the crowds
We're sun waiting 10 see him pass. he
slipped home unobserved at ; O'clock.
Inc motley crowd Of carriages returned
out without the chief actor. and by the
soldiers had cleared off. leaving no trace
OF the days event bat tho sand IN which
all the tramway lines had been buried for
miles OF road which ne never intended ~
use. SO Abdu Hamid has oscaned tho
Dangers real or Imaginary. Of the visit 10
Stamboui. But he has sunk lower sim
IN the estimation Of HIS own people. Old
Iurk and young Turk alike now despise
MN even more than before-the ruse Of
placing the Sultana Valide I'm what no
neieved TO he. a position OF peril win not
pass unnoticed.
What Of the future7 An Influential
Iurk has Just said TO me: Sultan7 We
nave no real Sultan. Nelidof is our
sultan; and MaSimof is his Grand VIZ
Ter. "-London Chronicle.