The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-24

sultan once more before he left Constan-
tinople. The days passed. but no message
came from the palace. At last the day
before the sailing came. when he was
to be entertained at a farewell dinner bv
the United States consul general. This
day had been looked forward to with
uepldation, for an invitation from the sui
tan no matter at what late hour, takes
precedence over every other
me sultan's postponement of audiences
ana invitations to foreign diplomatists
from caprice or force of circumstances
mas become notorious, and heretofore
these representatives have been unable to
90 anything but accommodate them
serves TO his varying moods or plans
many journey has been deferred or a
Whole series OF engagements broken by a
minister or ambassador in order to con-
form TO an imperial request or postpone
ment or an engagement at the palace
w nen the present English amba ssador ar
rived IN Constantinople his reception bv
the sultan, at which he was to present
ms credentials of office. was deferred so
OFTEN as to become historic. After the first
engagement had been made for an audi-
ence at the palace invitations were issued
by the ambassador for a large reception
at the embassy. The audience was post
poned, and postponement of the recen-
llon followed, as an ambassador could not
De expected to entertain officially until
A
Tor an audience was set, and another date
FOR reception at the embassy substituted
AGAIN the audience was deferred and
new invitations for the reception sent
out, but this time for a remote date. The
audiences continued to be put off how
ever until the date for the reception
again drew near, when, in desperation and
irritation, the invitations were allowed TO
stand. In spite of precedent, the recep-
tlon took place without further cancella-
ions, and the English colony and asso-
clate dlplomatists had the rare opportuni-
~ OF forestalling the sultan.
Ihe day before Minister Terrell's depart
ure from Constantinople a messenger
from the palace brought him an invitation
TO dine there on the following evening.
NOW 1t remained to be seen what this
American representative would do Would
ne remain over another week for the next
steamer and accept this late hospitality?
would ne have the hardihood to decline
an imperial invitation? The good favor
which Mr.. Terrell had enjoyed at the paI-
ace would naturally seem to incline him
10 consideration of the sultan's request.
Inc messenger, however, returned with
the most unusual and probably 'unprece-
uented ansWer-regrets. The answer vas
couched IN the most delicate terms posi-
ple' stating that unalterable arrange
mentS Tor this journey, made it impossib]a
to defer 1t, much as 1t panied the minister
not to be able to be again received by his
majesty.
That evening, at the farewell dinner at
the Pera Palace hotel, the dragoman
from the legation entered the room with a
message from the palace, again asking if
1t would not be possible to dine the next
evening with the sultan. Another regret.
with elaboration of the urgency of DEPART
ure on the morrow was returned. and
then the guests fell to specializing upon
the probable surprise this answer would
produce at the palace, which was perhaps
having its first experience with a man
VINO wanted to go home more than to dine
with the sultan.
Early next morning a third messenger
arrived at the United States legation ask
ing II the minister would come that morn
ing to the palace and be received in private
audience. This invitation was gladly ac-
cepted, and on arriving there Mr.. Terrell
was told IN the ante-chamber that he had
spoken OF his departure as being on We'd
hesday' the day following. which Mr. Ter
rel thought might have possibly been true
although the date given was the 18th.
Whlch was Tuesday. There was margin
at least. for mistakes on both sides.
Mr.. Terrell was received most graciouslv
oy the sultan, who made no asIusion
Whatever to the exchange of Invitations
ana regrets, but sustained an animated
conversation of more than an hour in
Whlch ne manifested unwonted exuberance
OF spirits Things in general have been
gong the sultans way of late. leaving
most of the fret and worry to ambassa-
doris OF the powers. 1t is a matter of no
Ilttle satisfaction to Mr., TerreIPs friends
that the United States minister at this
last moment of his stay in the Ottoman
consideration 4@l