The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-27
OUR WANDERING WARDEN.
Bro. AlIaman in COnstantinOple and
SMYRNA Hts Impressions of the
bloody Turk.
The Carolina Odd Fellow.

The Carolina Odd Fellow.
Bevrout, Syria, March 4, 1908.
/ Editor Western Odd Fellow:
had not intended to write you
again until I reached the holy city but
new objects and interests follow 80
closely upon one another in this Eas.
tern country that I will try and tell
you something of the intolerant
Turk. Intellectually he is narrow,
selfish and a coward. He may be
said to be set in his way, for if he is
once a Mohammedan he may travel,
become educated, but no matter where
he goes he is Mohammedan still.
I arrived at Constantinople, the
capital of the Ottoman Empire, on
Friday, February q, and departed
Sunday evening, March r. This is a
city of about one million people, built
in three parts, two in Europe: and one
in Asia. The sea of Marmora, the
i Golden Horn and the Bnsphoros
(which connects the Black Sea with
the sea of Marmora) divides Asia
from Europe. The Golden Horn is
formed by the junction Of two large
rivers which divide the European
portion into two parts. All these
waters are excellent harbors and gives
the city q great water frontage and
makes it, an excellent shipping CEN
ter. It has better natural harbpr
than New York City but the docks
are very crude, ancient affairs. The
town has narrow, crooked, dirty
streets and queer appearance. Mr..
Dicke erson the American consul, met
the ship and showed US every atten-
ton He is a fine gentleman and
thoroughly acquainted with the city
and was of much service. I spent
one entire day carriage driving about
the town. Many mosques are scat
tered over the city. The Mohamme-
dams are very devoted In their wor-
ship. On the night after my arrival
myself and two fellow passengers
hired guide and went to the Mosque
of st. Sophia. We were compelled to
get Turkish fezes and take off our
shoes before we could enter. Then
kneel down near the door, then 60
farther in an kneel again, and 80 on.
Friday is the: Mohammedan's day Of
worship and Christian dogs are not
allowed to enter their worship on Fri
day. There were four or five hum
dred present all chanting weird
song. With their faces turned to.
wards Mecca, they would follow the
motions of the priest. He would bend
partially forward chant some words,
straighten up and again bend farther
forward, and the third time bend and
kiss the carpet.
The great building was dimly light
ed with hundreds of incense lamps.
This mosque was built by Emperor
Justin In sos as a Christian church; ;
afterward taken by Mohammed the
2nd and the crosses and figures Of
Christ that crowned every arch were
chiseled away, as the Mohammedans
will not tolerate the cross. The dome
of this mosque Is los feet in diameter
tnd 1874 feet high, with 40 arcbed win
ings are beautifully frescoed and laid
In gold leaf. 1t Ia a grand building,
the finest Of its time. 1t cost $5 ,000,-
900. There are many Of these mos
CUES with great domes over the city.
The Sultan has one near the palace
Tor his own use as he never goes in
public for fear of losing his head. He
lis 81 years old, has q wives and q
large harem besides. The Turks dare
not speak his name only in a whisper
land then not within one-half mile of
Ibis palace. He deposed his brother
some years ago because he was too
friendly with Christians and now has
him shut up in bis harem on the Asia
side of the city.
Soldiers are everywhere and dogs
by the thousand. The Interpreter Of
the American Consul told me that
there were about one dog to every
five Inhabitants and that not one in q
hundred had all owner. They are q
NANCY, measley, flea-bitten lot Of
yellow ours some with an ear, some
with an eye gone, many minus tail.
They lie around the streets and will
not move. You are. compelled to
they make the town ring with their
lighting, barking and bowling. Every
Turk thinks 1t religions duty to
rob Christian and they do their duty
faithfully. The men are worse than
beasts Of burden. The streets are
alive with men, all wearing red fezes
but it is seldom you gee woman
when you do she Is heavily yelled.
Il Women are no more than slaves
here.
i T also visited the treasury here,
! where are boarded untold millions of
gold, diamonds, emeralds, pearls and
rubies. The sight Is dazzling. There
are pearls by the bushel, diamonds by
the peck, and other precious stones
scattered everywhere. One chair cap
tured from Persia is valued at two
million dollars. 1t is of gold covered
wood inlaid with pearls, diamonds,
rubies, and emeralds as large as chest
nuts. There are precious stones
enough in the crowns of Justine or on
the scabbard and bilt of the sword of
Mohammed the End to make an
American worth millions. Still the
nation is bankrupt. The people are
oppressed and the city poorly lighted.
no sewers, and altogether the fiIthiest
place ever saw. A Jew named Levi
has the largest oriental bazar in the
city. He has in bis employ as an ad-
vertisement Far Away Moses, who
was made famous by being pictured
and described by Mark Twain. He
was Marks guide when he made his
trip here in 1869, from which he
wrote "Innccence Abroad" Far
Away's name is found now in all
guide books. He is an old man now
with white beard and wears a green
fez because he has been to Mecca. I
was introduced to him and found him
very clever.
The Hippodrome, the Genoese Tow
er, the palace of the Sultan's father,
| the summer home of the Sultan. and