The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1898-03-31
HON THE SULTAN DIMES.
He Spends More Money on His Tab
than Any Other Man in the World.

Sultan Abdul Hamid's table expenses
are $1,000 a day. For the 800 days last
year he spent $1,962,OOO.
No human being of modern times is
accredited with spending one-fifth of
this enormous amount. 1t does not in
clude grand state dinners or other elab-
crate functions. 1t is simply for His
Majesty's regular every day meals.
A strange feature of the Sultan's din
ing is that no one enjoys the food with
him. He eats alone. Never, upon any
preteXt whatever, does he have a COM
panion at his meals. He does not even
have n dining-rOom, or a dining-hall,
but takes his dinner wherever he may
happen to be. The menials at the dim
ner hour search out His Majesty, and
then in a long procession bring the ban
quet to him, table, trays, dishes and
all.
He may be in the palace. or in the
garden. or any part of his great private
park. 1t makes no difference; he takes
his meal right on the spot. All the
morning the large corps Of imperial
cooks prepare the dinner. AS the noon
hour arrives slaves are sent in various
directions to discover the whereabouts
of His Majesty. Having done this,
they report his exact location TO the
Sultan's Chief Chamberlain, who then
calculates the time required TO trans
port the numerous dishes to lAm with
out their getting cooled.
The chamberlain then stands beside
the chief server and supervises the
transferring of the different kinds Of
food from the kettles into the silver
tureens. These vessels are elaborate.
They consist of many shapes. sizes and
designs, and are beautifully chased and
engraved. They are so constructed that
they can be entirely sealed up, leav-
ing no chance for any one to drop any
thing into the food.
AS fast as each vessel is filled. the
chamberlain seals it and puts on it his
official stamp. This is a guarantee of
its inspection. and that it contains no
poisonous substances. Over each tu-
reen a bell-shaped felt V is clapped
down tightly to retain the warmth,
Over these felt covers magnificent vel
vet covers, embroidered with gold and
silver threads and pearl, coral or tur-
quoise heads. are spread.
The dinner procession. consisting of
over a hundred persons, is then formed.
First come ten slaves, bearing the great
70 IJn T. -, Of ci1vnr nn1 nnph nc fhn
most exquisite table that has ever been
made. The legs and sides are richly
chased, and the top is so highly polish
ed that it looks like a mirror. Then
come a long line Of ~jublakiars, or first
assistants of the chief cook" each bear
ing ON his head a tray, upon which
rests one Of the silver vessels. These
jublakiars are SO perfectly trained in
the art of head balancing that no acct
dents-nOt ever the Earring of a dish
has ever been known. Following come
more slaves, bearing ON their heads an
other course. and after them come still
other detachmentS with other courses.
In the rear follow the slaves who are to
wait on His Majesty.
The procession moves up to where the
Sultan is standing. Two slaves run
forward with q silken rug, which is
spread upon the floor or ground as the
case may be. On this divan is placed,
and the Sultan reclineS. The table is
placed in front of him. and the tureens
are brought up. AS each is set down
the Chamberlain steps forward and
breaks the seal. On each side of him
stands an imperial faster. The Cham
berlain hands a ladleful from each YES
sci first TO one faster and then to the
other. After it has been swallowed the
Chamberlain then takes a spoonful
himself, the Sultan meanwhile watch
ing the operation. Everything being
satisfactory. the kettles one after the
other are arranged before His Majesty,
who III his eye Owe the many viands.
Then he picks and chooses, eating a
piece here and a piece there. a mouthful
Of meat. a spoonful of water ice. a
sweet cake and a tiny fish ball. The
Sultan never uses a plate. He takes
all his food directly from the little sill
YER kettles that are arranged in a cir
Gle around him, rarely yer using a
knife or fork, but a spoon, his bread
and his fingers. which are constantly
wiped by an attendant.-New York
Journal.