Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-17
CONSTANTINOPlE,
Striats Of Dardanelles and Bosphorus
The Sea of Observation-Disclosures
and Skull OF Alexander the Great
Letter Number 81.

Row.. Italy. March %,

ROME, Italy, March %, 1900.
When / as a school boy located the
Straits of Dardanelles and Bosphorus
and the Sea of Marmora | did not
comprehend their size, and from their
appearance on the map under esti-
mated them. 1t took our vessel from
daybreak till 4 p. M, nearly twelve
hours. to pass through the Darda
nelles and the Sea of Marmora. Tur
key is very particular with foreign
ers and we were obliged to obtain
our permits at the entrance of the
Dardanelles and TO receive on board
pilot who would guide our vessel
for Us through Turkish waters.
As it was Sunday our services oc-
CURED during the passage through
the strait Rev c. W. Minor of
Georgia conducted it, Rev. Mr..
Carhart Of New York preached the
sermon. Constantinople is the most
attractive city as II presents its APP
pearance from the vess that we
have seen on the whole journey. But
that view is the best one that it is
possible to obtain. We anchored in
the entrance of the Bosphorus, and
on hills all about US on every side
was city scenery set and shaped so
that it is most pleasing. At our left
and just opposite to US was the
Kings Palace stretching along the
waters edge nearly one-third of a
mile. But it is no longer used as
royal residence, and on yonder hill
to our front and left was the present
royal mansion in plain view. On
other heights were imposing build
! ings of the Russian embassy, the
German and others with flags flying
from their roofs. At our left and
rear was STEAMBOAT, or the old
city, separated from the new
Pera by the Golden Horn, river
like bay extending four miles
inland, and so named because
il reflects the golden rays of the set
ting sun, and also, as it is said, be
cause it is the cornucopla into which
flows the wealth of the world. AT
our rear is the Seraglio Point, which
contains the Kings Treasury, the
most valuable collection of relics in
the world. On our right Is the
Scutari, which stretched along the
shore, and the whole gave the APP
pearance of our lying in circular
lake, with beautiful city structures
adjoining the hills and valleys, that
nature had seemed to fix splendidly
for that purpose. If Constantinople
were only as beautiful internally as
externally, and if all her people were
as beautiful in character as her ex-
ternal beauty, it would be very
heaven. But her conditions render
il far from being true.
When we arrived, and before the
vessel stopped, two sacks of mail
were put aboard, and placed in the
hands of committee appointed for
its distribution. They assorted it
alphabetically, and then admitted
the passengers to look over it, each
to hunt out his own mail. A greater
scramble | have never seen, and it
soon became SO mixed that none could
succeed in obtaining their mail, and
they were obliged to call all to halt,
in their crowded efforts, and the
names were called out one by one.
To receive letter, open the seal that
holds its secret. and let it reveal it,
has a charm in it that a healthy
person has no inclination to resist.
There was more OF interest at Con
-stuNtinople than l had expected, but
it must be mentioned briefly. The
museum presented many things taken
by DR.. Schlieman from ancient Troy,
whose site we had passed. There
were also splendid specimens of As
syrian tablets, or ancient letters,
sent by what kind of postal regula
tionS | do not know. \ splendid
sarcophagus of Alexander the Great
is also here, and we We're shown the
skull of that conqueror, and the skulls
of the three dogs that were placed
with him in the tomb. The Fountain
is n remarkable outlet of marvellous
cisterns, constructed here as no.
where else. The Mosque of St. So
phia is large, but not beautiful The
places from which Mohammedans
have torn the crosses and ornaments
of the Christian Sophia show plainly.
On the one column we saw the
hand print of Mohammed
III, and on the other
the scar made by his sword. Both
are up too high tor n human on horse
back To reach, but we We're told that
he rode over piles of human beings
lying in slaughter. At the Hippo |
drome we looked upon the scene laid |
in Ben Hur, and saw the column |
OF the three serpentS, that once |
served for the Delphic oracle. From |
the Tower of Galata, one has an ex-
tended view of the city. The tower |
Is unique in its structure, having |
walls within which are tie stairways |
leading to its top. The Sultan 5 |
Treasury is thought to be the most |
valuable collection in the world |
There is the golden throne of beaten |
gold eucrusted with a vast number of |
precious stones, captured from one
of the ShahS of Persia. Another, TO /
me more beautiful because of its sym
metry, is inlaid with numerous fig-
ureS of mother OF pearl and large |
numbers of precious stones. Then |
there are gold coins and plate, and
stones. We saw one small carved
image Of beautiful pearl appear
ance for which an English gentleman
has offered SO, 600 without avail. On
learning this gave up all intentions
of purchasing the museum and taking
it 10 Richmond. This reminds me
that we felt the authority of the Sui
tan. We had obtained special per-
to see the Treasury But we
waited and waited for it 10 be opened.
When at length file of soldiers
stretched across the entrance, and