New-York tribune., 1899-07-30

Church Of st. Sophia On his way thither he
smote of with his battle axe one Of the heads
Of the twisted serpent column which commem-
grated the defeat OF the other Asiatc power
that had attempted to conquer Europe Then
be entered St Sophia, and said the prayers OF
the Mosem religion. Fourteen months after
the foundations of Roumel Hissar were laid
the Greek empire had given place to the Otto
nan empire, and the crescent Of Mahomet shone
instead Of the cross of the labarum of Con-
stautine.
BEKTASH DERVISHES
About half a mile from the topmost towers is
the small tekeh or monastery Of Bektash der
vshes who hold that neither worship nor the
practice Of good works is necessary for winning
the favor of God. They are an ancient order
sad TO have been founded in 1857 A. D. by
HadU Bektash, a native of Bokhara Hadii
b, ,ktash is also associated with the foundation
Of the corps Of janissaries. When the Sultan
Orkhan led thousand boys before him that he
night bless them and give them name, Hadji
+ ktash flung the sleeve of his robe over the
head Of the leading youth. and said. BE the
name of this new host Yeni Cheri. May God
tie Lord make their faces bright, their arms
Strong, their swords keen. their arrows deadly
and give them the victory" This is the origin
o. the white woollen dervish's cap with the
slceveke pendant behind, which always formed
part of the uniform of the janissaries
Paul Rycaut writing about 1910 says: 'Bel-
ash left it TO the free will Of his disciples either
TO observe the constant hours of prayer or not ;
by which great liberty and RIGHTEOUSNESS is en-
tered amongst the janissaries. who are. soldier
AKe' not oVer-zealous or devou IN their prayers,
little attendant to the Offices of devotion"
The janissares destroyed and dissolved
in 1876 and nowadays the few Bektash der
wishes pass quiet and peaceful existence in
their little tekeh the crest Of the hill. unds-
tuTbed by study or work any quest of moral
ideals.
ROBERT COLLEGE.
In contrast with all these things, and almost
side by side with the great, grim towers of
Roumeli Hissar. are the buildings of Robert
College an American institution which has
exerted a wide and benefcent influence on the
East 1t was founded by Dr. Cyrus Hamn
one Of the most brilliant and versatile Of the
pioneer missionaries to Turkey and by New
York merchant, who gave a large part Of his
fortune for the establishment OF the college
Mr.. Robert whose name il bears. Its position
Is legalized by trade granted 10y His Imperial
Majesty the Sultan.
The large assemblage Of people who met last
commencement day at the college affords some
index as to the estimation in which the college
is held in Constantinope. over a thousand
people present. and among these oscar
s Straus United States Minister to Turkey
who presided the Right Hon Sir Nicholas r.
O'Conor, the British Ambassador; Mr. Riddel
secretary Of the United States Legation; the
Hon. Mr. de Bunsen, c. b. secretary Of the
British Embassy; Mr. Demitrof Diplomatic
Agent Of the Principally Of Bulgaria, former
graduate Of the college; c. NJ Dickinson. United
States Consul General; official representatives
of the Ottoman Ministry of Instruction, of the