The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-25
SULTAN AT HOME,
TURKEYS RULER DIFFERS WlpFl
FROM THE CURRENT CONCEPTION.

FROM THE CURRENT CONCEPTION,
Ills Dress and Habits-The Domestic AZ.
fections Are Very Strons-He Epiovs
a 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 concan.
tlons current in Christian countries.
Mr.. Whitman says:
1 nave often seen it stated in print
that the Sultan of Turkey wears a
habltual expression of melancholv-
IN other words, that his main charac-
terlstlcs are sadness and
Neltner my W experience, nor
the testimony Of others best in a 20.
s.tlon to form a reliable opinion. bear
tins out, although the tragic circnm.
stances under which ne came to the
'nrohe' very much against his will.
may We'll have left their impress on
n1s memory. The Sultan's is an ex-
ceed'nngly sensitive nature. He is a
man e whom the domestic affections
are very strong. Thus a blow, such
as the recent loss of a daughter, might
we'll have had a cruel effect on him
as only those can understand who
have loved and lost children of their
own. But | do not believe that the
eultan's temperament is one of habit
ual melancholy. On the contrary, I
know that his Majesty enjoys a joke
and a laugh as heartily as wei did
Martin Luther, even though it must
De admitted that the nature of some
OF the doughty Reformer's jokes would
scarcely suit the refined taste of the
Callph of the Mohammedans.
Ne, [ repeat, the tale of the Sultan's
habitual melancholy, as distinct from
3 certain grave seriousness. is a myth.
It 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 net
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 stinu-
liant, except an occasional cigarette
and cup of cofee-all this is, the reader
will admit, totally irreconeilable with
the idea that he could possibly be Of a
morbidly nervous disposition. As to
the Sultan's working habits: I 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 couches in the
room in the palace they habitually
work in. Munir Pacha, the imperial
grand master of ceremonies, and n
of the most kindly, distinguished men
it is possible to meet, once said tome:
'"There is one characteristic Of his
Majesty which conveys a constant
lesson to US all: it is his extraordinary
self-control-his impressive calm. It
is almost sublime. No contrariety, no
trial, seems able to ruthe his perfect
self-possession. It 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 a pleasing smile, and an
unusually sympathetic voice, the notes
of which always seem to convey a
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-
lik, when he wears a Turkish generals
uniform, with the star of the Initial
Order in 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, dignifed
way, you cannot resist the impression
Of his picturesque dignity.
On other occasions his dress is SIM
itself, scarcely differing from
that of his secretaries and other Off
cials. He wears a black frock-coat,
cut in Turkish fashion, which just
hides a white waistcoat with a gold
watch-chain. The only other jewelry
is apt to be a plain gold ring on the
little finger of the right hand with a
ruby cut or polished en-
cabochon. It is customary to sit in
the presence of the Sultan after being
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
Efendemizen" master, thy word is
law.
Don't Use Blotting Pads.
Said an official at the general writing
counter in a big postofice: "Be care
full how you use the blotting paper"