St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-05-22
The Grand Vizier.

LHo CcleiHohy VI uumlnB INC new
grand vizier is one Of tho most impress
i've sights imaginable, and as it has
seldom if ever been described an at
tempt to convey some idea Of it may not
be without interest 1t was toward A
o'clock ON Saturday afternoon that the
servants commenced to Garry out from
Djevad Pasha's rooms at the sublime
porte his books, papers, pens and other
private paraphernalia. This was the
first intimation given to the world that
the grand vizier had fallen. Shortly aft
erward troops filed up the hill and lined
both sides Of the road from the landing
stage at Sirkidjy to the doors Of the
porte. The news spread like fire under
wind, and by o'clock all preparations
were completed for the reception Of the
new occupant Of the principal office in
the empire. In the great council cham
Der the scene was unique in its quiet dig
nifty. The room was crowded with all
the high officials present and past, and
though an hour or two previously none
there had even guessed what was about
to happen each one took his place 81
lently and regularly, without confusion
Or mistake, awaiting the advent Of the
still unknown chief.
At the head Of the hall q small vacant
space was left, around which grouped
the present ministers and those who had
previously held portfolios. AS each came
in he paced slowly up the carpet with
one short salute. AS soon as he reached
the end all present returned the teme-
naa with a sweep Of the hand to the
ground, breast and forehead. This
rhythmical greeting, accentuated by the
movement Of scarlet fezes in unison
with open hands, given in silence, and
in the dim, curtained light Of the coun-
Gil chamber, defes adequate description
by the pen.
And then the newcomer returned the
salutes separately, beginning at the left
hand side, round the square Of his col
leagues, subordinates and superiors, and
one more candidate for the vizierate
was effaced, for nobody knew upon
whom the choice Of the sultan had fall
en-. Many names were whispered round,
but as their owners entered the circle of
greeting their chances were seen to be
extinguished. One after another they
followed on, till by process of reduc
ton it became question of only two or
three, all the rest Of Turkey statesmen
and all her greatest pashas having al
ready trodden the carpet and taken their
seats Of expectation. Then from the
windows could be seen a small process
sion winding up the ascent. In front
were two horsemen, he on the left lit
tie man well known to all the watchers
in the chamber, and on the right the
Sheikh III Islam, shining in the sunlight
with his robes of pure white and gold.
In the passing Of breath the name
Of Ketchuk Said futtered round the
room, and few moments later the new
grand vizier. who had already thrice
gone through the same ceremony, was
standing in the center Of the ministerial
group. There he drew from his breast
green silk bag, and extracting from it
the imperial haiti he pressed the parch-
ment to his lips and forehead. The dark
bearded sheikh repeated this homage to
the words Of his imperial master, and
the hiatt was handed to the evrak mu-
diri, or keeper of the archives, who read
aloud that his imperial majesty the sui
tan, knowing the devotion, we'll proved
Of Said Pasha, intrusted to him the
duties of grand vizier, and that, having
full confidence in the piety of the Sheikh
I'll Islam, he prolonged his term Of Of
fee, being anxious in all things for the
best welfare of his people, and might AL
mighty God bless their efforts toward
that end. Then again a wave of sweep
ing hands and bending heads went
round, and the sheikh, in full, deep
tones, offered up prayer for the sultan
and the empire. In moment the coun-
Gil chamber was transformed into holy
place, and the politicians, pashas and
scribes, with upturned palms, seemed
to have forgotten for space the world
and its vanities. 1t would be hard to
imagine anything more striking than
this prayer, amid such surroundings and
on such an occasion.
With it terminated the investiture.
The new grand vizier adjourned to his
room with his ministry for coffee and
a perfunctory cabinet council, and later
On the old and new viziers and min
listers repaired to Yildiz to pay their
first or last respects to their lord. Mean
while another haiti had arrived, chang
ing the occupant Of the western wing of
the porte, for Said Pasha, who has been
minister for foreign affairs for nine
years, was hidden to vacate his famil-
lar chair in favor Of Turkhan Pasha.-
Constantinople Letter.