Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-13
HEIRS TO THE SULTANATE.
Something About the Brothers OF Abdul
Hamid, who Are "PrIsoners" of state.

Sultan Abd-ul-Hamid H. has four living
brothers, and not one only, says writer
in the Westminster Gazette. These
princes are the deposed and insane Sultan
Murad ", who is his majesty's senior by
four years; Rechad Effendi mot Raschd.
which is another and distinct name), the
heir-apparent and two much younger
brothers-Wared-di Effcndi and Suleiman
lcffendi. Prince Selm-or, as the Turks
say, Sclim Sultan-is the present Sultans
eldest son, but he stands no chance OF
succeeding TO the throne until all his
uncles and the three sons of his eldest UNI
Gle Murad V. are dead because the success
sion in the ottoman Imperial family
passes to the eldest survivor, and not from
father TO son as with other European and
, Eastern dynasties. Should Rechad sue
coed on his death the crown does not go
to his children, but to his next brother.
If War-od-din Effendi be dead. Suleiman
will succeed, and If he has shuified off his
mortal coil, the sceptrc then falls TO the
eldest son of Murad ". and so on from
brother to brother in that branch oil the
! family until there are no more OF them
left; then, and then only, will Selim sultan
and his brothers have chance IN lot
MGR times matters were considerably sim
plhed by a general massacre, on the ac-
cesson of a Sultan, of all the males VINO
stood in the way of his direct issue w men
you visit the Tubeh. or tombs OF the I'M
perial family, which surround the seven
imperial mosques you may observe that
certain of the cofiins-some of them of
mere infants-have the turbans afhXed 10
their heads slightly inclined TO the leit'
! This means that the body beneath IS that
1 of a prince who died violent dedth-Was
murdered. ~
The following description of Prince
Rechadi Che actual heir-apparenp was
given me by DR. -, his physician: nc
! is about so years of age, tall and well-pro-
portioned, but inclined to stoop. MS
features are regular; his nose IKE tnat oi
Abd-ul-Hamid, is rather Semitic IN shape'
hooked, eyes blue, hair and beard hghtr req
His manners are very gracious ana easy
and he Is exceeding generous and KIND
He Is probably not as intelligent as MS
brother, Abd-ul-Hamid, but he is nothing
like so nervous, although obliged TO hVe
a sequestrated existence. in obedience "
the absurd regulations and TRADITIONS OF
the Ottoman court, and he is fairiy wen
informed as to what Is taking place II,
Furope and France. He Is not at all
fanatical. but sincerely religious. lie mas
two wives, both highly educated ladies'
who speak French German ana EhghsH.
They are we'll born, being the daughters Oh
distinguished pashas, and have had Tore
ign governesses. They dress in the mouse
like French women. His highness mas
several children, of whom three are boys
Rechad plays very well indeed on 'he
piano and is a great admirer OF classical
music like Sultan Abd-ul-Aziz he Is Il
rood draughtsman, and sketches very
nicely. / have seen some of his drawihss'
and they really have considerable merit
being much above the average OF amateur
performances Ahmed Pasha (Chekir, or
Sugar Pasha, as he is called on account OF
his very agreeable manners) showed me-
when | was in Constantinople very cur
ions collection of sketches by Abd-ul-AZil'
mostly caricatures. of exceptional excel
lence.
The brothers of Sultan Abd-ul-Hamid are
dressed as Emendi, or gentlemen; but as
Kind of concession to the 'Almanach de
Gotha." and to modern ideas, they are IN
variably styled by European dipiomausts
in theNLevantine papers Imperial hieHhesS,
| was surprised that Rechad Is capita
farmer taking practical interest," III h,s
farm UP the Bosphorus, which he visits
daily, his only relaxation III lie oi
stupendous monotony. When he drives
out It is invariably in closed brougham
escorted and surrounded by at least
dozen armed horsemen. All VISITORS, ever
his medical man, are searched on entering
the Cheragan palace, where he RESIDES d;
n kind of State prisoner, Tor pook am
papers, which are taken from them ahe
only returned when they leave the place
Thus Is an intelligent and well-intentiohe'
prince kept in utter ignorance OF thos'
very things which he ought to be pest ac
uuainted with in order to qualify himseil
to occupy the throne should he be destined
TO ascend its weary steps.