Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-01-15
SULTAN'S NEW LEAF.
Thomas G. Plat Advises Abdu
Hamid to Take Lessons

Sultan of Turkey, and giving opinions
regarding his maiesty's integrity and up
rightness, the only person who could
throw real light upon the subject is in
New York city, living quietly and keep
ing entirely out of public gaze. This IS
Mrs. Alexander Terrell, wife of Minister
Terrell OF Turkey, and recent returner
from the Orient.
Mrs. Terrell is small, very gentle
woman of much intellectuality-so much
that people wonder what Minister Ter
rell does without her, and as for being
posted upon Turkish matters she is abso-
lutely informed upon them. If she would
talk, much would be known that is now
dark
A friend OF Mrs. Terrell approached
her the other day to ask her what one
new thing she thought would be most
desirable for the Sultan to do, what new
leaf he should turn over for the new
year. But Mrs. Terrell returned a shake
of the head Upon being further
pressed she referred her caller TO i.
Hopl1inson Smith, author and artist, who
was for a long time member Of the
American colony in ConstantinOplc, and
who is Mrs. TerrelPs guardian, as it
were. in America.
Hopkinson Smiths View.
eff Mrs. Terrell were q different sort
of woman" said Mr.. Smith, 81 would
talk. But she isn't. I have just come
back from Washington, whittier ! went
upon a matter closely allied to this, and
during my absence there have been re-
peated calls at my house fo~ Mrs. Terrell,
but my wife and | will not tell where she
is.
THE fact is she is in private hospi
tai at the bedside of Il sick daughter,
and it agitates her to know that Turkey
and Mr.. Terrell are the subjects of
criticism. It makes her sick that there
should be agitation upon a matter i'll
which the principals are blamelesS. In
fact, my acquaintance with her began
through a letter that | wrote to New
York paper defending her husbands poll
cy in Turkey, q pGiicy which I, being
for long time Il member of the colony
there, know to be perfect | could say
a great deal about this, but will not.
about the Sultan's new leaf Now
you are getting down to bathos. l do
not personally think that Abdul Hamid
is in need Of new leaf He is very
nearly perfect as a monarch. | know
him well and | know what l am saying
But if | were compelled to suggest Il
new leaf? Then | would suggest it later
in the season. This is not the time in
Turkey for a new leaf. The Turkish
New Year, the great feast of the year,
comes later than this. Each Turk turns
over a new leaf then. And what should
be Abdul Hamid's new leaf? | don't
know: but if | were he | should find a
way to silence the rumors about me and
to come in closer relations with so good
a man as Minister Terrell That's about
all | can say. But if Mrs. Terrell wants
to write and free her mind upon the sub
ject of the Armenian question she could
make the matter clearer in the minds of
our statesmen than it now is"
Henry Ciews n CanniDaI
Henry Clews, banker and general con
fidant of the affairs of nations, shifted
the air cOntemptuously when asked
about his New Years advice for the
Sultan of Turkey.
IF I were Abdul Hamid." said Mr..
Clews. Il would make the world a pres
ent. | would allow myself TO be carved
up like a New Years turkey That is
the gift l would give Tor the good of
humanity, and the sooner l could give it
the better. If this advice reaches Mr..
Hamid before New Years day | hope he
will act upon it to the extent of appoint
ing the royal carver.
But this is ney year leaf in eX-
tremis. 1t is like telling mortal man
to become a saint straightway. You
know he will not do it. So l have a
[ were he I would gather myself to-
gether 20 make all the nations of the
world q New Year present. [ would
give them my nation. | would say to
England: Here is a slice. Take that
part which will best supply your mar
kets.'
ITO America I would say: Here,
take my commercial products, my
wines. my tobacco. my storage foods,
everything that will bear long transpor-
tation;' and to the rest of the world [
would severally donate the different
ports, where my first manufacturing
work was being carried on, my rugs and
ceramics.
Having been thus generous, / would
say: Gentlemen, turn about is fair
play. | want you to pension me. Give
me my title. my harem, my living in all
perpetuity, and make my race as royal
as the fallen royalty of France and as
highly respected.
Failing to convince Abdul Hamid of
the desira bility of doing this thing, |
would urge this policy of division upon
the nations of the world. This is Min
lister IerrellS duty, and while he delays
he IS open to criticism: If [ were he,
sooner than allow the Sultan to slaugh
ter the white people, Christians, and
even countrymen of mine, | would
slaughter him up as [ cut up my New
Years turkey"
Learn Of Plat.
t. G.. Platt smiled very broadly when
he was asked what he would advise the
Sultan to turn over in the way Of a new
leaf
Cd, you suppose he is going to ask
my advice" snapped he. do you sup
pose that health mean that fellow
is going to ask me what he better do
in the matter of reform this year, to
make his nation more peaceful? Never
No more than | am going to ask him."
Here the smile died away upon Mr..
Platt's face and he wore his goose
look. This is the expression his face
takes when he has made UP his mind
to squelch somebody-to cook their DO
1tlcal goose, so to speak.
Standing near I. G.. Plat was a friend
of hiS-a statesman and an admirer of
Plat. Don't mention my name,' said
he, ''or Platt would kill me. But you
can say for me that | would advise the
Sultan to take lessons in bossism of T.
q. Platt and try to be as successful as
boss as he. That would be my advice
to any man trying to govern a kingdom,
Study Platt's methods as boss If YOU
master them you're all right Think
OF that when you're writing to Hamid''
S. v. Whites Ledger.
S. V. White, whose reputation as
deacon of Wall street and the man of
peace prepared for things pacific, is Ian
gushing for a certain job. 1t is that of
i