The Portland daily press., 1897-10-15

Character-Hls Love OF Gold and Be
lief in Its Potency-Artistic Bribery of
Ambassadors and Others-The Dream
of His Life.
Somebody who conceals his identity,
but claims to have. had special sources of
information at Constatninople, gives in
the Revue des Revues a curious picture of
the Sultan, his aspirations. land the means
by which he is able toIplay the European
powers against one another while he
works his will. The writer refers to the
story that Abdul Hamid is really the son
of an Armen ian, clockmaker in the Bazaar
at Constantinople, and cites in proof of
1T his features, which are those of an Ar
men1an artisan in the Bazaar, his fondness
Tor making locks, and his hatred of Ar
menians. He considers the matter i'm
portant as having influenced the Sultan's
bent of mind. Before he became Sultan
he lived the life of 1nisanthrope and was
passionately fond of music, of the lives
OF the great caliphs, aud of the novels of
Eugene Sue, Ponson du Terrail, and
Gaboriau, the last of whom remains his
favorite author. The net result Of all these
influences was dreamer living in world
more or less unreal and aiming to carry
out great projects. He will show ex-
traordinary and detailed industry for a
eri cd, and will then have fit of pros
tration that may last two or three days,
during which he is silent, moody and
irritable.
To carry out his plans he believes first
of all in gold. ~ buy souls like mer-
chandise,' he is fond of saying. Not.
withstanding the financial troubles of
Turkey, the Sultan's purse is always
overfiowing. He takes what he wants of
the State revenues. Then he has at his
disposal the imperial treasury, which con-
tains the jewels gathered by line of
Sultans who have. ransacked the East for
it's wonders. 1t WAS from this treasure
that Abdul Hamid took the necklace
which he be slowed upon the German
Empress at the same time that William
II carried away from Constantinople
thirty trunks filled with presents valued
at 3,000,0 900 francs. In the third place he
has gathered by means known to despots
a private fortune which is said to make
him the richest sovereign of Europe next
fortune receives his closest attention. He
has been saving money since his youth.
dis brother Murad spent money lavishly.
The two brothers detested one another.
Murad had Moliere's "Harpagon''' trans
lated and presented under the title of
"Hamid the Miser." One of Abdul
Hands first acts, after coming to the
throne, was to order the destruction of
the theatre, Stambours only playhouse,
where the piece was played.
But Abdul HaInid shows skill in his
buying of souls: the thing is done with a
cunning that conceals the brutality of the
transaction. He is above all things
theatrical in such matters. The visitor
is amazed at the luxury he sees about
him. He passes through beautiful gar
dens and pavilions, through lines of fierce
looking Albanians, and, in hall dazzling
with gold, appears suddenly, amid all
this splendor, man of slight figure
dressed all in black, with pale face. a
beard dyed brown, and eyes that tell
nothing The contrast never fails to
make a deep impression. Pierre Lott
almost tainted when Abdul Hamid passed
the ribbon of an order about his neck,
| and the sensations of most of those priv
| LEGGED to have an audience with the Sui
| tan are as intense. Furthermore, the
Sultan studies his visitors and prepares
for them. Before receiving William II he
had the life of Frederick the Great read to
him. He showers golden snuff boxes set
with diamonds, even purses of gold, and
other costly gifts upon those whose good
will he would gain, and he does 1t in
| such way that the impression made by
the gift seems less vivid than that Of the
sentiments he expressed with eloquence
and knowledge. His tact is perfect. The
wife of a foreign Ambassador gives this
account of visit to the harem:
The Sultan received us and made apollo
gies because his wife was indisp osed and
could not see us. He presented to US his
two daughters, oaressing their beautiful
hair as he did SO. He spoke to us of our
families and of his own and said that his
principal care was the education of his
and seventeen young Circassian girls of
great beauty played upon stringed instru-
| nents.
&c I had them learn the 'Marseillaise'
in your honor" he said with smile, and
all the time he did not cease referring to
his sick wife with touching sweetness
and sadness. The next morning mag
niicent spaniel was sent to us. My sister
then remembered that among thousand
trifles she had mentioned that she was
fond of dogs.
His delicate attentions are not reserved
to strangers; he Is also prodigal of them
to his favorites. One of them lost q
wife; the Sultan sent him a band of
musicians to distract his melancholy.
Another was widower; the Sultan gave
him a Circassian from his harem. A
third has collection of watches; the
Sultan sent to Geneva for splendid time
| pieces to add to it. To others he gives
birds, dishes from his own table, consult
| ing the tastes of each.
But he is not always gracious. His ex-
plosions of rage are said to be fr1ghtful to
behold. After witnessing one OF them
Artinn Pasha was Frustrated fol. five
months with palpitation of the heart.
Another of his Ministers died in the car
riage that was taking him home after a
| stormy scene with Abdul Hamid, liter
ally crushed by his wrath. In brief,
Abdul Hamid is made up of extremes
He is audacious and a coward, dreamer
and a man of business, miser and a
prodigal, tactful and brutal, loving
father and a sanguinary monster. In a
single day he condemned q nation to be
butchered, signed a decree regarding de-