Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-03-12
CONSTANTINOPLE.
by the Rev. william w. Taylor.

OF all civilized nations; and those eyes
are cleaning with indignation and at
the same time melting with pity for
the victims Of their barbarity. What
a story could be recited CONSTANT
nople named after it's founder, is also
called Istamboul, the city," as
Athens was "Astu," the city, as If
there was no other in old Greece.
STEAMBOAT stands on the Western or
European side of the Bosphorous,
which means Oxford, like the Uni.
verHity city of England, because it is
bore but milo widc near the entrance
into the sea of Marmora. The Bos-
rhorous Is strait, in no place more
than one mile and half wide, connect
ing the Black sea with Marmora and
for its length Of II miles, dividing
Europe from Asia. The rest of the
dividing line is the Dardanelles, the
ancient Hellespont, another strait, As
miles long and from three to four miles
in width, connecting Marmora with
the Grecian Archipelago the Aegean
sea- The Golden Horn, running west.
ward from the Bosphorous forms the
northern boundary of Constantinople,
proper, and gives safe harbor, capable
of anohoring 200 ships. The position
is to the highest degree, pleasant and
convenient for city. The surround
ing scenery gives il an imposing air; the
brightly flashing waters heaving so. 600
casks give it life. whilst the whole
length of the Bosphorous, on both sides,
by reason of the rocky cliffs, hills and
slopes and wooded plains gives scenery
of marvellous beauty, forming a piano.
rama, the like of which cannot be
found in any other part Of the world
Constantine was not the first to see
the suitableness of this spot for com
manding city. A noted Greek town
had stood here for thousand years
before it was transformed into a new
Rome and made the capital of the
Roman Empire. This was the famous
Byzantium, but the ground was built
over the boundaries enlarged, and the
old houses turned into streets of marble
dwellings,; whilst, in addition to all
the portable monuments from the old
capital, all the great cities of the
world were Gespoiled of their art
treasures to embellish the great me.
tropolis. To give ii the glory of high
rank citizens, tho noble senatorial
families of the eternal city were re.
quired to remove and carry their house
hold effects a thousand miles and there
make new homes. They had to forsake
their old palace dwellings, leave their
private retreats, no longer sit in their
Eden gardens, under the ancestral
trees, gather for family and social en-
tertainment, where from generation to
generation their fathers aud mothers
had walked and ministered. The
clustered memorials of private life are
left behind, nor Kan they longer walk
the old familiar streets. They bid
farewell to forum and capital; they
are never again TO look on the col
liseum, those glorious arches, the
triumphant columns, the temples,
halls, theatres and statues, those
images of beauty, the memorials of
past greatness.
When we consider these radical
movements, the profound effect Of
changing the capital of the world into
different region, so far distant, with
new autocratic Imperialism, the new
rules of palace etiquette and outside
government, especially the suppression
Of pagan rites and tine establishment
of Christianity as the state religion,
We cannot but study the opening Of
the sixth seal, Rev. vi, l2.l7, and
acknowledge the appropriateness of the
symbols; the great oarthouake. tho
darkening of the sky, the departing of
the old heaven. the moving of
mountains and islands out of their
places, ACCOMPANIED with the terrors
and outcries of the people. The effective
design was carried out and on the 18th
of MAY, A, d. 330. the new metropolis.
with imposing ceremonies, was dedi.
Gated to the service of Cbrist JTnon
the death of Thnodosjus the Great. a,
d. 395. the Roman Empire was divided
between his two sons. into the Western
and Eastern Kingdoms. the latter heinz
called the Greek Emnire. The CITY ~
Constantine, defended Inv nrodIpious
walls underwent ri stages and was
thrice taken. The frat capture was
made bv the Crnsaders 4 ID 19o3
and again the second time Inv the
Turks, A. d. ll5a
We are thus brouoht ia tell the glory
of the Ottoman Emnire Mohar.
mechanism came into being under
Mohammed, Who was horn about I,;p
A. ID. '.Thern is onlv one Cod AMI
Mohammed is his pronhet. - gives a
summary Of this RELIGION which. saws
Gibbon. lis made of an eternaI ruin
and a necessary fctinp - and vben we
learn thai Mohammei eonn iaft At ner.
guaeiye measures for sa,@ninorv ar,,,
ment. derlaring tbe sword to be 1bo
key of hoavsn md nroclaimin" the
saving efIiraev of a d,nn nf hIon3 sbnI
in the cause of GA 90 hoId a i,e ep'3 ~
the atrocious doincs Wa arn net yon,
called Ia contemnIste a. tha ba mn, s1 ~
this mower. ME 0tton,an ~ Tnr d''1 All III
not come into act;ve bisto,icaI NJ rot;na
iii 4. ID. lo99 Thoy arc nrnnbotic Siiv
introduced IN tha so,;ni;ng IL tbe s;Yfb
.''''S $3.50 ~ 'HN opbhhiiS VI INV NiA ti