The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
A STUDY OF THE SULTAN.
TIE GREAT ASSASSIN as 4 DREAM
Err ARTISTIC BRIBER,

SomcDOuy VINO cOnccalS his Identity, buo
claims TO have had special sources of informa-
ton at Constantinoplc. gives in tho Rcrue dee
Rcrucs a curious picture of the Sultan. his as
p%irations, and tho means by which he is able 10
play tho European powers against one another
while he works his will. Tho writer refers 10
the story that Abdul Hamid is really the SON
Of an Armenian clockmaker in the Bazaar al
Constantinoplc. and cites in proof of 1t his fea-
lures, which are those of an Armenian artisan
In tho Bazaar, his fondncss for making locks,
and his hatred of .Armenians. He considers
tho matter important as having influenced the
Sultan's bent of mind. Before lie became Sui.
tan he lived the life of n misanthrope and was
passionatcly fond OF music, OF the lives of the
great caliphs, and OF the novels of Eugene Sue,
Ponson du Tcrrail. and Gaboriau. the last Of
whom remains his favorite author. ThoSnet
result of all these influences was a dreamer liv-
ing in IA world more or less unreal and aiming
to carry out great projects. He will show ex-
traordinary and detailed industry for a period,
and will then have q 1t OF prostration that may
last two or three days, during which he is 81
lent, moody and irritable.
To carry out his plans he believes first OF all
in gold. II buy souls like merchandise" he 10
fond Of saying. Notwithstanding tho flnan-
cial troubles of Turkey, tho Sultan's purse 10
always overlooking. He takes what he wants
of the state revenues. Then he has at his
oispoSoi tht iihItIlul tlthShlt, "nitH COutdilb
the jewels gathered by a line OF Sultans who
have. ransackcd the East for its wonders. 10
was from this treasure that Abdul Hamid took
the necklace which he bestowed upon the Ger.
man Empress at the same time that William
ii. carried away from Constantinople thirty
trunks filed with presents valued at 5000. 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 sover-
| aiu,, pf En- .nnn n<t a., tho f.nr Tho ,.a
ment of this fortune receives his closest atten-
ton. He has been saving money since his
youth. His brother Murad spent money Law.
ishly. The two brothers dctested one another.
Murad had Molierc's "Harpagon'' translated
and presented under the title of ''Hamid the
Miser." One of ABDUL Hands first acts, after
coming tosthe throne, was to order the destruc.
ton of the theatre, Stamboul's only play.
house, where the piece was played.
But Abdul Hamid shows skill in his buying Of
souls; the thing is done with II 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
dcns and paviliDns, through lines OF tierce-look.
ing Albanians, and, in u hall dazzling with gold,
man Of slight figure dressed all IN black, with a
pale face, a beard dyed brown. and eyes that
"a deep impression. Pierre Lott almost faint
ed when Abdul Hamid passed the ribbon Of an
%oss o OF those ms pr hSfk: dha to have hns se am aSdiene CO
with the Sultan are as intense. Furthermore, the
S Sefare S Taeaiyi MS william WilIiam and # S DseB Bas fb for li them oi
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
docs it in such a way that the impression made
sentiments he expressed with eloquence and
knowledge, His tact is perfect. The wife of
a foreign Ambassador gives this account of a
visit to the harcm:
The Sultan received us and made apologies
because his wife was indisposed and could not
SEQ us. He presented to us his two daughters,
caressing their beautiful hair as ne did SO. He
spoke to us OF our families and of his own and
said that his principal care was the education
Of his children. A curtain was drawn aside
beauty played Upon stringcd instruments.
II had themslearn the "Marscillaise" in your
he sid n as cease ss,s T Etter' 4 sni to his sn sit aI' w shs Mi9S
touching sweetness ana sadness. The next
% MSFn sisIer " th mns remsm be spdn That w amo ssHt a Il tho 1s:
sand triiles sho had mentioned that she was
strangers; he is also prodigal of them to his
favorites. One OF them lost a wife; the Sultan
melancholy. Another was a widower; the sui.
tan gave him a Circassian from his harem. \
sent to Geneva for splendid timepieces to add
70 it. To others he gives birds. dishes from
his own table, consulting the tastes OF each.
But he is not always gracious: His cxplo-
sions of rage are said 10 be %frightful TO behold.
was prostratcd for five months with paipitation
Of the heart. Another OF his Ministers died in
s stor@ Marriages aeen sh" wi TsS H lIbSdimff f Ham hGn'f ii a5rsT a
crushed by his wrath. In brief. Abdul Hauid
Is made up OF extremes. He is audacio"S and
miser and a %prodigal, tactful and brutal, II low
ing father and a sanguinary monster. In a
single day he condemned a nation to be
butchercd, signed 4 decree regarding lecora-
tions for some ladies, and speculatcd in stocks,
all with tho same equanimit3 Gladstone calls
him the Great Assassin and NJ. lIanOtauN has
written ofthe whitcncss OF his small hands,
which might cause envy TO 4 woman.
The :Ambns, adors at Constantinople are
simply instrg run Tor him to p, nR9En. io
upon the great powers by danglins projects be-
fore their eyes rs a nursc amll.cs u child with
toys. Besides" asks the writer. what fear
or respect can be inspired in Abdul IIamid by
men who receive from him prcsnnis Of horses
plaques enriched with diamonds for them
selves. their wives. childrcn, relations, and rela.
Gonstantinoplc are the most honest :9iks in the
world. They are not obliged 70 exhibit toward
gifts Offered with eYIqHi ne dslirary the cold
lion offered by Abdul Ilnn!d with the remark
hat such things were. not worn IN England. tnt
TO his .Asia;ic way o. thinking the sultan mono
the less classes them viii, those OF whom he
says, I buy their souls like mcrcinndisc'
pertincnco and contempt which he has uttered
about all, the diplomatisls who, have passed
Piayt5ings Of a man VIII" manages like 50 many
puppets, jealous ~ one another; surrounded by
spies, DOilStlTk OF petty NlrluTlts. lItNc llup
lent by their voiuptu0us life In parks confs-
Gated FROM Armcnians,, dazzled by the state
which. surrounds them, ~flattcred by The respect
that Is shown in n court that is the lot to
which are condemned the grave Ambassadors
who are thought by, public opinion in Europe to
be protecting the Christians. Their only fTnc-
tion in Constnntinoplc is TO watch one another.
Their influence upon the Sultan is null"
Abdul Hamid's great idea, according To this
writer, is to rccons,itute the Mussulman em-
pre- as 1t was organized by the Caliph Omar.
There would he two classes, the true believers.
who would constitute the Government. and
the common herd, whose duty would he 10 toll
, lever would be "A soldier. So Abdul liamid
butchers, cXilcs. aud corrupts: arrests all
progress and industrial Development: gives
excessive attention to the army; dreams amid
the memories of Plcvna, the Armenian massa'
ere, and the victories of Edhcm Pasha, Of he
ing a victorious Caliph, and weeps with JOY 40
tho news that !hc M9hammcdGns o; itomH8y
. have Illuminated their houses in his honor.
The final effect OF Abdul llamid = policy seems
clear enough 10 the writer. Al TnrI cy. is di,.
organized and corrupted; nothing Remains hnp