The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-02-28
THE SULTAN AT HOME.
TURKEYS RULER DIFFERS WIpEl. Y
FROM THE CURRENT CONCEPTION.

N.
His Dress and Habits-The Domestic AZ
fections Are Very Strong-He ErJoys
Joke-Conveys an Impression of
Picturesque Dignity.
Sidney Whitman, F. r. G. S.. has
written for Harper's Monthly an init
mate view of Turkish life in the high
circles of Constantinople, exposing
misrepresentation and false concep-
lions current in Christian countries.
Mr.. Whitman says:
L have often seen it stated in print
that the Sultan of Turkey wears n
habitual expression of melancholy
In other words, that his main charac-
teristics are sadness and nervousness.
Neither my own experience, nor
the testimony of others best in po-
s;tion to form n reliable opinion, bear
this out, although the tragic circum-
stances under which he came to the
throne, very much against his will.
may well have left their impress on
his memory. The Sultan's is an ex-
ceedingly sensitive nature. He is n
man in whom the domestic affections
are very strong. Thus blow, such
as the recent loss of daughter, might
well have had cruel effect on him
as only those can understand who
have loved au1 lost children OF their
own. But / do not believe that the
Sultan's temperament is one of habit
nal melancholy. On the contrary, |
know that his Majesty enjoys a joke
and laugh rs heartily as ever did
Martin Luther, even though it must
be admitted that the nature of some
of the doughty Reformer's Jokes would
scarcely suit the refined taste of the
Caliph of the Mohammedans.
No, | repeat, the tale of the Sultan s
habltual melancholy, as distinct from
certain grave seriousness, is myth.
1t would, indeed, be nothing to be
wondered at if he were occasionally in
a serious mood. There are monarchs
besides the Sultan whose humor is not
always couleur de rose. "Uneasy lies
the head that wears a crown" is not a
Mohammedan proverb. But the Sui
tan's now universally admitted strength
OF purpose; his truly phenomenal
powers OF work; his extreme abstin-
ence from every form of nervous stimu-
liant, except an occasional cigarette
and cup of coffee-all this is, the reader
will admit, totally irreconcilable with
the idea that he could possibly be OF
morbidly nervous disposition. AS to
the Sultan's working habits: 1 have
known him to be at work at five in the
morning, and keep a whole staff of
secretaries going at that hour who had
slept overnight on touches in the
rooms in tho palace they habitually
work in. Munir Pacha, the imperial
grand master of ceremonies, and one
of the most kindly, distinguished men
1t Is possible to meet, once said to me :
There is one characteristic of his
Majesty which conveys a constant
lesson to us all: it is his extraordinary
se!f-control-his impressive calm. it
IS almost sublime. No contrariety, no
trial, seems able to ruffie his perfect
self-possessioD. 1t is truly marvellous. ."
The prepossessing impression which
the Sultan Is universally admitted to
produce on those who are privileged
to come into contact with him is doubt
less In part due to that charm of man
ner, that quiet dignity so free from
angular self-assertion, which is more
or less Characteristic of all well-bred
Turks. But in his case it is supple
mented by pleasing smile, and an
unusually sympathetic voice, the notes
of which always seem to convey
pleasant impression, even to the
stranger who is unable to understand
what his Majesty has said until it is
translated by the interpreter. The
Sultan usually gives audiences on Fri
day after the ceremony of the Selam-
Xix, when he wears Turkish generals
uniform, with the star of the Initial
Order i'll brilliants hung from his neck.
AS he sits in front of you, with his
hands resting on the hilt of his sword
before him, and you watch him speak
to Munir Pacha in his quiet, dignified
way, you cannot resist the impression
of his picturesque dignity.
On other occasions his dress is sim
plicity itself, scarcely differing from
that of his secretaries and other off
Gals. He wears n black frock-coat
cut in Turkish fashion, which Just
hides n white waistcoat with gold
watch-chain. The only other iewelry
is apt to be a plain gold ring on the
little finger of the right hand with n
fair-sized ruby cut or polished EN-
cabochon. 1t is customary to sit in
the presence of the Sultan after being
requested to do so, but the native
born Turk will only just sit on the
very edge of the little gilt chair. and
fold his arms across his chest, waiting
for the Sultan to address him, and
then mutter in reply, while bending
low and touching chest, lips and fore
head with the right hand, "Firman
Effendemizen" master, thy word is
law