The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-02
The Place Where Abdul Hamid
i'll. Hides in Fear.
A PRISON IN A BEAUTIFUL SPOT
The Turkish sultan Lives Amid All
the Worlds Injuries. but Sell
dom Ventures Forth.
New York Tires.

al water. poisoning flowers. and singing
birds: and here alomst as closely confined
as the Prisoner Of chilIon'' lives pallid.
dark-eyed man, the occupant OF the throne
OF Constantine. the absolute sovereign or
one Of the vastesr empires Of the world.
the head OF the religion Of the Arabian
prophet and the exponent OF one or the
greatest plague spots on the face OF Chris
tendon.
Here beats the heart OF Tslamisnn, whose
throbs are felt 10 the remotest extremity
OF great empire: and here lies city
within city, guarded by an army whose
vigilance Is never relaxed. and peopled by
horde OF prisoners, slaves ana mercs-
naries, euuuchs, courtiers and guards, who
outwardly yield the most abject devotion,
but before whom the wretched monarch,
Hamid IL, trembles for his own life and
the lives of his sickly. coloriess children
To Yiliz Kiosk, the former home or the
mother of Sultan Abdul Mejid. came its
present princely occupant TO escape the
haunting memories connected with mag
nificent Dolna Bagtche, which. although
the most superb palace in the world, Is
filled, for Hamid III. with gruesome recol-
lections of the soriid. wretched caprices
that marked the life and the tragic dis
posal and death of his predecessor, Inflated
Abdul Aziz, "the lover of gold
The park surrounding YildiZ is very
beautiful, and around IL is a high wall.
from which magnificent view may be OBJ
tanned Of the Bosporus, winding its way in
and out amid the gray and pink marble
kiosks that line it's shores on either side,
while beyond. the Asiatic hills rise In bill
lows Of green, till snow-capped Olympus
fades in the distance.
Magnificence of the Palace.
The interior of the palace is fitted up
with elegance and taste. II Is not crowded
with ornament. but there are priceless
and magnificent rugs and carpets, some
few pictures and portraits. which are an
innovation in Turkish furnishing. as the
Koran forbids the painting OF pictures, a
few beautiful vases, and great chandeliers
OF crystal Here the sultan entertained
the German emperor and empress. but did
not dare accompany his royal guests to
any spot outside of Yildiz. He supplied
them with all luxurious means for making
excursions. but he did not vary from his
ordinary daily routine.
Abdul Hamid usually dimes alone. the
only exception being when one Of his
nephews or sickly sons is accorded an in
vTtation TO join him. His food is principal
ty egetables-brought to him closely sealed
In silver saucepans. The water which he
drinks is brought to Yildiz in casks. care
fully closed. that nothing may be dropped
In. for the Commander of the Faithful has
a great dread of being poisoned.
In the daily routine of his palace life he
Is very systematic. Six days in the week
he gives himself to reading dispatches.
debating Others attending to his manifold
duties as the head of Islam. and ponder
ing over the stupendous game of chess,
wherein as vet he holds his own against
the combined powers. Then the sultan Is
a pious man, and with all his duties. he
prays according TO Mohammedan usage
five times day. In Ramazan he keeps
the accustomed fascinating until sun
down-to take the olive and cup of coffee,
that is a prelude 10 the feast and revelry OF
the night.
Near the palace are the buildings in
which the sultan's secretarial stan, the
high court officials, the imperial aides de
camp, and others have their offices. In the
immediate vicinity are the barracks, where
a large force of soldiery. under the COM
mand of Ghazi Osman Pasha. the hero OF
Plevna. are always kept to guard the ap-
proaches to the palace Here, too, are the
imperial stables. which house 5000 horses
belonging TO the guard. 100 OF the finest
Arabian steeds for the sultan's own use,
and the small army Of 800 stahlemen. The
royal carriages. 800 in number, are here
also. gay with their white and scarlet silk
cushions, their gold and silver trimmings.
but their imperial owner never rides in
them save on Fridays, when he is obliged
by his religion to go to the mosque, and
once annually. when his religion also COM
mands him TO visit the Chamber OF No
bic Garments" in old seraglio.
The Sulta1's Fear of Assassination.
For this sultan. who possesses absolute
power over millions of beings inhabiting
his provinces In Asia. Europe and Africa.
Is not even his own master. The Sultan
Abdul Hamid III. is morbid on the subject
of assassination. Former sultans attended
the Ahmed Mosque in STEAMBOAT. Abdul
Harnid fears to go so far. He prays ex-
clusively in the mosque built by himself
close 10 the principal entrance TO his pail
ace grounds, and called for himself Ham
edieh Jami"
Doubtless he would prefer TO omit even
this brief Journey from his citadel were it
not that every Turk is recommended by the
Koran to perform his devotons every FRI
day in mosque, and the great Padisha--
head of the nation-can least Of all men
omit that duty. Sickness, even, would be
no excuse. for Mamoud l.. son Of Mus
tapha, died between the gates Of the serag-
Ito while returning from one of these de-
votionals, TO which he had been dragged
while hardly able TO retain his seat in the
saddle, and rouged 10 conceal the deadly
pailor of approaching dissolution.
There Is no excuse for the sultan's omit
ting this duty. nor vet the ancient and SOL
emn custom OF going each year. In the mid
die OF Ramazin. TO the mosque in the old
seraglio. where the most precious relies Of
Islam are jealousy guarded in strong
boxes. which the sultan must open Then
he must bring forth the time-worn relics
the prophets mantle, now reduced 10 but
a little patch: some hairs from his heard,
a tooth that he lost N the battle OF Beder
slipper belonging TO him, and found 50
lately as 1871 BY a Kurdish chief at Dear
helzir; a piece OF calcareous stone. bearing
the imprint of his foot. made as he leaped
10 his saddle. and the Sanjak Sheriff. the
terrible battle flag OF the Mohammedans-
and having kissed them and exhibited them
70 his court, he restores them 70 their box,
seals them. and hurries with what haste he
may TO return to the solitudes or his pal
ace.
on these occasions. to BE sure, he Is at
tended by l2oG0 OF his best troops strong.
muscular fellows. equipped with the latest
warlike weapons. who array themselves
on both sides Of the road leading from the
uaiace TO the mosque. He is driven by his
own faithful coachuan, All Bey. IN a car
rage drawn BY two magnificent white
Arabs In close attendance upon his au-
gust person is Osman Pasha, ana ab0ut ms
carriage are HIS body guards, mounted on
Arabian steeds and attired in the most
gorgeous Of European uniforms, whiIe the
Imam OF the Padishas. dressed IN howiag
robe and green turtan, hand OF learned
Ulemahs OF Arabia and Syria some OF the
favorfse wives. closely secluded in their
carriages. and attended by the eainuchs:
the grand vizier, the Shelk ui Islam the
generals Of his army, respenaeht IN UNI
forms; ministers OF state. officers, secre-
tarfes and dignitaries without NUMBER. a
moving mass o. gAttering grandeur al
tend his progress. Other regiments are
stationed az Intervals along the FoAa' ana
hands OF students. some az whom nave been
80 recently by the sultan's order huFied