Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-08-06

sultan's family. and furnished with all
the latest devices for inducing super
fiuous relatives to prematurciy quit the
earth. One of the favorite methods is
| to grind mp fine diamond or two and
| put the dust in the supernnous ones
| food. A bit of glass would serve as Well,
but the dignity of the family must De
maintained, praise be to Allan. Other
methods are far less artistic: the ground
diamonds are reserved for harem favor
ties who are supposed 20 know state Sc
crets. In reality Fatima or Haidee may
know absolutely nothing about state
secrets, but if they are suspected let
them look out for ground diamond en-
trees. Abdul Hamid Khan takes no
risks: he constantly bears in mind that
of the 33 sultans who proceeded him on
the throne of Osman only five died in
their beds. Moreover, his windows look
upon the vast Cheragan palace, where
his immediate predecessor ended his
days; or, rather, where they were ended
for him. Besides, if he makes mis-
take about Fatima or Haidee, he can
always square matters by building fine
mausoleum to the misjudged lady S
memory The traditions Of the Ottoman
dynasty are not reassur,ng to its col
lateral relatives. Any one having the
slightest acquaintance with its history
knows that infanticide has been coun-
tenanced by longstand.lg practice
The succession is vested in the eldest
male of the imperial family. and until
late years all the males OF the house
of Osman other than sons of the sultan
were put to death. While the heir tc
the throne is immured in harem
practically a prisoner, the male chill
. dren of the sisters of the sultan were
murdered. The brotber-inlaw of the
. sultan had no male children. When 9
man married sultara it was under
stood that he Was to kill his own sons
: This state of affairs publicly continued
until recently. The Turks try to con
t ceal the fact that ii was ccuntenancet
by the government. but circumstance
Z arise from time to time which force i
!. upon public notice. Indeed. there is nj
. reason to believe that the frighttul Gus
!, TOM Is not cdTTleu IlllO SlGCt lU-ud.
I within the walls of the YildiZ. TIL
children of Ateya Sultana. sister o
a Abdul Medjid, We're thus slaughtered TO
10 reasons of state. The graves OF tn
n murdered children are in Il "turbeh," O
= mausoleum, in the suburb Of Eyoub, a
e the Golden Horn. The murdered limo
e cents have received fine 5cpulture. TIL
=, sultans make point of doing that wei
They bury their victims in style.
g Abdul Medjid. weak and sclf-indulgen
- and Abdul Aziz, spendthrift and dc
II bauchee, kept up this frightful custom
lie why not their present successor. VIII
has neither the amiable qualities of tn
:. former nor the courage OF the latte
* One of the sultan's titles is "Hunkiar
'e or manslayer. He has other title
4. These are some of them: Father
I'd Sovereigns, Successor of the Prophe
A Pontiff of the Mussulmans, Refuge
=. the World, and Shadow Of God. b
te somehow or other "Hunkiar" is II
ed most taking of the lot. The restle
little birds that skim up and down Il
a. Bosphorus, close to the surface Of Il
n water, and are known 10 the Turks
d, the souls of the lost" must make {
ho "Hunkiar" quite uncomfortable
lie times. The little birds are pointed o
ne by the boatmen as "Hunkidr" victims