The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-17
ABDUL HAMID.

must always be a figure pregnant with
 work shortly to appear in an English translation is from the pen of M. | Georges Dorrys, and is clear and ap- parently authentic account of the life and reign of the only manorch il Flu rope powerful enough to successfully withstand the march of civilization in his own dominions, whose temporal au-
 thority is without limit, and whose spir'' itual sway exceeds perhaps that of any priest on earth. Turkey and its ruler
 have so long presented a vexed pro-
 blem, the issues of which are of such
 moment to Europe, that nearer &C.,
 quaintance with the vie intime Of the
 sovereign cannot fail to be welcome and
 instructive. To western eyes the Orient
 has ever appeared shrouded in veil of
 mystery and romance, which, though
 impeding clearer vision, greatly en-
 hances the fascination. The torttlrcus
 is it possible for us to entirely fathom
 ways of the east are not our ways. nor
 the workings of the Oriental mind;
 therefore such an insight as M. Dorrys
 
 ing, for it helps us to lift the veil lit-
 tie and to pierce the gloom with our
 own eyes.
 The ordinary daily life of the Sultan
 seems to be comparatively "egular.
 Rising at 4:3O, or, at latest five, every
 morning, his entire day is spent ill a
 ceaseless round of occupations. That
 these bear little on state affairs is proved by the fact that current matters often drag along for months. and even years, in spite of the tireless activity of
 the master mind In fact most of Ab- dul Hamid's time is spent in his study, absorbed in the perusal of reports sellt
 by his spies from every quarter of the globe; for, as it has been truly re- marked, the Sultan's subjects may be divided into two broad classes-namely, the spies and the spied upon. Very op. posite traits in this strange character are Abdul Hamid's extreme credulity and his overwhelming suspicion and distrust. In proof of the former it Is told that all his drinking water must he brought from Kiat hane because years ago the Bohemian Aaftal prophesied he should reign on condition that he drank no other. On a second occasion he met a wandering gipsy in his park at Kia- thane, and asked her to tell him his for tune. Oddly enough. she predicted his accession to the throne, foretellirg the tragic circumstance by which it would be attended, as well as long reign, wars, etc., concluding with tho omin- ous words, Your death will be caused by an illness coming from outside"
 Like all desnots, the Padshah has horror of death, and consequently dreads illness especially anything of contagious nature. Cholera and the plage have found him a determined en- emy, and if Constantinople of to-day boasts a perfect system of sanitation and advanced colleges for the study of bacteriology, 1t owes them to the cyp- sys warning. His majesty himself is no mean chemist, having devoted good deal of time to the study of medicine, for, like the wise and farseeing mon- arch he is, he fully realizes the heneilt of being able personally to analyze such drinks as may appear suspicious. Moreover, he doctors his own ailments, and has done SO since the physician who formerly enjoyed his confidence became old and fell into disgrace
 The Sultan's accomplishments are many and varied in character. He is an excellent shot, performing fea;s with the pistol that show him to be a marksman of no ordinary skill. When he was fond of riding and of l boating on the lake near the palace, but, thinking these amusements dan- ln oh Then, too, he is an astrologist: he can | mould, and even paint, A clever car penter, in his youth he carved with his [ own hands the woodwork of an apart nent in his kiosk at Kiathane, the sur veyal oe which now causes him a le- sitimate feeling of pride AS to his rnu- sical attainments. Ee can strum few tunes on the piano, his tastes inclining toward light airs, such as abound in 1T Trovatore' and La Stella Ar lente" Classical music he termed ugly" after listening to the rendering if a masterpiece. Frugality and ex- reme simplicity mark his preference in ood, although the imperial meals ale erved with a pomp and ceremonial ht- ing an important state function. Ab- lul Hamid is temperate and suspicious lis private kitchen is a veritable for ress, consisting of a small chamber,
 it uated to the right of the great en- rance, and is guarded by barred win lows and an ormor plated door. The ook officiates under the ever-w5 lchful ye of the Kelardjhi Bachi, one of the most weighty functionaries in Yi!diz, or the health, the very life even, of The is at his mercy. When ooked each dish If fastened with red wax, bearing the official seal of the lelardjhi, and remains dramatically losed until the seals are broken in che i ultan's own presence His majesty5 fe Is passed in long series Of elaho- , ate precautions. One of his most ruitful sources of terror is the dark , ess. Each night sees him a prey to , his horror although every room and ( orridor of his kiosk, even to the fur I nest alley of the immense park, night f 7. witnesses the miracle of fiat lux, the , riIliancy of the illuminations .ivaling I aylight itself. Sometimes the silence I f a sleeping world will madden him, i nd he orders the band to strike up, or t the Imperial Guard to i