New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
ABDUL HAMID.
THE SULTAN OF TURKEY IN PRIVATE
LIFE.
From The Pail Mall Gazette.

From The Pail Mall Gazette.
Abdul Hamid. Sultan of Turkey must always
pe figure pregnant with interest for the world
at large. a work shortly to appear in an
English translation is from the pen of NJ
Georges Dorrls, and is a clear and apparently
authentic account of the life and reign Of the
Only monarch IN Europe powerful enough to
successfully Withstand the march of cvza-
non IN hls own dominions whose temporal au-
thonty is without limit, and whose spiritual
sway exceeds, perhaps. that of any priest
earth Turkey and its ruler have so long pre-
sented a VeNed problem, the issues of which are
or such moment TO Europe. that a nearer
quaintanCe with the vie intime of the sovereign
cannot fail TO be welcome and instructive To
Western eyes the Orient has ever appeared
Snrouded IN a veil of mystery and romance
which. though impeding a clearer vision. greatly
enhances the fascination. The tortuous ways of
the EAST are not our ways nor is il possible
lor us 10 entirely fathom the workings of the
Oriental mind; therefore such an insight NJ.
iporrys gives us becomes all the more interest
ing. for il helps lift the veil a little and to
pierce the gloom with our own eyes.
The ordinary daily life OF the Sultan seems TO
he comparatively regular. Rising at 4:.1O. at
latest - every morning. his entire day is spent
IN a ceaseless round of occupations. That these
bear little on state affairs is proved 10y the fact
that current matters often drag along for
months, and even years, in spite of the trelcss
activity of the master mind. In fact. most of
Abdul Hands time is spent in his study, alb
sorbed in the perusa of reports sent by his
spies from every quarter of the globe; for,
IL has been truly remG ried. the Sultan's sub
9ects may be divided into two broad classes
poSlte traits in this strange character are Abdul
Hands extreme credutY and his oVerwhelm-
ing suspicion and distrust. In proof of the
former, II is told that all his drinking water
,seCst be brought from kiathare. because Years
ago thu Bohemian Aaital prophesied he should
reign on condition that he drank other. on
second occasion he met a wandering gypsy in his
park at kiathane. and asked her 10 tell him his
fortune. Oddly enough. she predicted his ac-
cession TO the throne. foreteing the tragic cir
cumstance by which il would be attended as
well as long reign. wars etc. concluding with
the ominous words, Your death viii be caused
by an illness coming from outside"
Like all despots, the Padishah has n horror of
death, and consequently breads illness. espe-
cially any ming of a contagious nature Cholera
and the plague have found him a determined
enemy. and if Constantinope OF to-day boasts
perfect system OF sanitation and advanced
colleges for the study of bacteriology. il owes
them to the gypsy's warning. His majesty him
self is no mean chemist. having devoted a good
deal of time TO the study OF medicine. for. like
the wise and faTSeeing monarch he l.. ne fully
realizes the benefit of being able personally to
analyze such drinks as may appear suspicious
Moreover he doctors his own ailments. and has
done since the physician who formerly en-
joyed his confidence became old and fell into
disgrace.