New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
FEARS AND PRECAUTIONS.

The Sultan's accomplishments many and
varied in character He is ar excellent shot,
performing feats with the pistol that show him
10 be marksman Of no ordinary skill When
younger he was fond OF riding and of boating
on the lake near the palace. but thinking these
amusements dangerous. he prudently abandoned
them. Then. too, he * an astrologist; he can
mould, and even paint \ clever carpenter, in
his youth he carved with his own hands the
woodwork of an apartment IN his kiosk at
Kiathane. the surVeyal OF which now causes him
a legitimate feeling Of pride As Ia his musical
piano his tastes inclining toward light airs.
such as abound in III TroVatore' and La Stella
Ardente" Classical music he termed ugly,
after listening To the rendering OF master
piece Frugaliiy and extreme simplicity mark
his preference in food. although the imperial
meals served with a pomp and ceremonial
fitting an important State function. Abdul
Hamid is temperate and suspicious. His private
kitchen is a vcritab!e fortress consisting of Il
small chamber situated to the right Of the great
entrance. and is guarded by barred windows
and an arnor plated door The cook ofiicates
under the everwatchful eye OF the keiardjhi
Bachi, one Of the most Weehty funciionarles IN
Yidz. for the health. the very life even. OF the
Padishah is at his mercy. When cooked each
dish is fastened with red wax. bearing the oih-
cial sea- OF the kelardjh. and remains her
meticay closed until the seals are broken IN
the Sulfan's own presence. His rnajcsty's life
: passed in a long series Of elaborate precau-
tions. One Of his most fruitful sources Of terror
is the darkness Each night sees him prey 10
this horror, although every room and corridor or
his kiosk even 10 the furthest alley or the
immense park. nightly Witnesses the miracle or
lux the br llansN OF the lllufnlndtlOflS
ling daylight itself Sometimes the silence or "A
sleeping world viii madden him. and he orders
the band to strike up. or commands the I'M
perial Guard march up and down in front or
The PAVILION. that the sound of their measured
tramD may calm his nerves. He retires very
late so as to escape sleep as much as possible
His foster brother. plain. pale faced little man,
whose duty II is read him to sleep, resembles
him so remarkably that il is whispered he
personates him State occasions when his
majesty is indisposed Abdul Hamid's literary
nredilectiOnS are certainly most in favor of thoSe
renorts which are continually pouring IN to HIM,
on All subjects and persons, from his spies. AZ
ter these ne prefers literature of the nleio-
dramatic school. Particularly pleasing to him
are books by authors like Xavier de Montepin,
which deal in greWsOme murders. detective my y
teries forgeries. cutrages substitution of Wits,
revenge violence and vice; in fact, everything
tending 10 show human nature in ITS worst
form Among more serious works OF philosophy
and politics his ma jesty admireS 'Ihe fflhce'
by Macchiavelli. taking this work of the floreh-
tine historian as his wade mecum ana GUIDE
VERY MUCH LADIES MAN
After this insight into his character can 1t be
wondered at that prisoners coming up Tor Juds-
ment meet but scant mercy? These unfcrtu-
mates are privately examined at Yildiz. Abdul
Hamid being hidden witness OF the proceed
ings Much is said and talked about the haren
system in Turkey. AS matter OF fact. now
ever only a few wealthy mobiles can afford TO
Indulge in so costly a luxury. The Sultan, be-
ing untrammelled by a Parliament to revise HIS