The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-09-03

gree Of safety enjoyed by Englishme,
in Turkey. and in particular desired
him to tell me how it came about that
his representations were more regard
ed than the representations made b!
ambassadors from other countries
which appeared very plainly the cose.
"The Turks" said Sir Thomas Roe
"have respected England since l5SS
In 1887 England humiliated herself
by asking these people to aid her 10
repelling invasion. The Turk. who is
nothing II not selfish. of course re
fused, and ElIzabeth's ENJOYS succeed
ed only in impressing the Porte with
an idea Of England's impotency. But
when In 1888 England single-handed
scattered and destroyed the whole
might Of Spain. it was noted here. as
indeed 1t was throughout the world,
that the islanders of Northern Europe
are not only keen in trade. but quick
to avenge and formidable in fight. &c,
customed withal to speak the truth
and stand for their rights against
whatever odds. Your Turk. say,
noted these things, and the benefit to
Englishmen has been that to this day
their ships ride In the Bosphorus as
securely as in their own narrow seas.
That It is not SO with the ships Of
weaker States you yourself can Wit.
ness"
For many days continued to reside
In the house of Sir Thomas Roe. not
going abroad further than the bound
aries Of the garden which encompassed
1t. My host was delightful compan
ion, as full Of informa tion as IN egg is
of meat. yet withal singularly modest
In his manner Of imparting 1t. BY
his advice I not only delayed my de-
parture for Venice. but refrained from
walking about the city. and I was the
more content to follow his counsel
when considered the pain which In
telligence Of the ill-fated Orio Malipie-
tro and her passengers would inhict
on Signor SImona. and so rested my.
self, filling my mind from the rich
stores Of knowledge possessed by my
host, and making under his able guild
ance rapid progress toward mastery
OF the Turkish tongue.
But the time soon came when
could no longer suppress my desire to
explore the streets of Constantinople.
and observe the manners and customs
Of the people. and intimated as much
to my host in the choicest Turkish ]
could command. Ny host no further
opposed my desire. but merely ADVISED
me to adopt the dress OF a Turk. and
never to stir abroad unless accompa.
MED by at least two stout slaves;
suggestions which very willingly
adopted. though at first found the
loose flowing garments OF the Otto
mans excessively inconvenient. and
could not then have believed that l
should for twenty-eight years clothe
myself In no other way.
The health Of Sir Thomas Roe was
not robust, and 1t was always his Gus
tom after a spell Of sickness to talk OF
his return to England. change which
he contemplated with pleasure. He
had no regular assistance in the du'
ties of his office. which ut times
pressed heavily upon him. 30 that
when I volunteered to assist In the
preparation II his dispatches to King
James my offer was gratefully ac-
cepted. And thus the winter OF 1622
passed away. the spring Of 1923 ad-
vanced and still my daily life remained
unaltered, but had meanwhile nc.
auired the language Of the Turks. and
that, too. with little trouble. for 1t pre-
sents but few difficulties to an earnest
student. In June, 1923. intelligence
reached Sir Thomas Roe. In answer to
inquiries which he had Instituted at
my instigation. that Signor Pietro 81
mona was dead. that the good old
Venetian merchant had died In the
belief that all who sailed from Venice
in the Orio Malipietro had perished.
There remained nothing now to attract
me to that city. and abandoning my
intention to revisit 1t. l continued 10
live with Sir Thomas Roe.
To be continued.