Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-22
The Sultan of Turkey.


day upon which falls the GID annivers-
arv of his birth but it is very doubtful
If there is very extensive celebration
of the event. for the sultan isn't much
of a hand for publicity. Recent events
in that part of the world have put him
in the glare of the lime light, a posi-
ton which it is certain he does not en-
iov although it is notorious that he is
40 afraid of the dark as little child.
For wears this ruler, probably the most
hated of all the unhappy persons who
occupy thrones, has been practically a
prisoner in his palace just outside the
gates of Constantinople. His charac-
fer and hos position make him a most
interesting parsonage, and although it
means death for one of his subjects to
in giving US some good gimpses of his
personality and his manner of life If
the Sultan has any good points or has
ever done anything for the welfare of
| Turkey, it has escaped the notice of
these writer's.
Although he passes his ed milestone,
today. there is every reason to believe
he feels much older. He is the saith
sovereign of his line and since 1876 has
occupied the throne which his father
and older brother had occupied before
him. According to the law of the
Turkish succession, the heir to the
Turkish throne is not the eldest son of
the sultan, but the eldest living male
relative. Although the present sultan
has five sons, their chances for ascend
ing the throne are rather remote since
the sultan has also five brothers. Abb
dull Hamid, of course, has plenty of
wives. probably three or four hundred.
/ The harem in Turkey is state institu-
ton. the sultans having long ago ceased
to contract regular marriages. The
sultan's wives, however, do not resem-
BILE much their limitations on the comic
opera stage. They wear Paris millin-
cry, and European Creations" They
live just like any other royal family,
except that they are not allowed to
receive company nor to enter society.
When they go abroad they must of
course wear wells. The apartments of
the harem are equipped with European
/ xlo I, ;,,
French style, the women for the most
part talk French, and read French
novels All children born in the harem
whether of free women or slaves, are
legitimate, and of equal lineage.
AS is we'll known, the sultan himself
is afraid of the dark, ana his life seems
to be one long nightmare. He sleeps
only two or three hours out of the
twenty four. and always must be ''read
to sleep" or lulled by the soothing
strains of music. He sleeps in a de-
tached chamber, which is surrounded
by corridors on all four sides. Senti-
nels pace the corridors during the sleep
ing hours of the sultan and in addi-
ton, an officer sits at each corner of
the corridor where he can see both
ways. The sultan is afraid of every
thing. He is especially superstitious
concerning all innovations. He will not
nor electric cars anywhere in Turkey
An Inconsistency is seen, however, in
the fact that he has a telegraph opera
tor in his own private office to receive
messages from his own special detec-
tives scattered throughout the country
The sultan has good reason to be
afraid. Some horrible conspiracies
against his life have been disclosed.
For example there was the famous
football conspiracy. One Rechad Bey,
Il young man who had been educated
abroad, brought home with him in 1901
the game of football. He organized a
football organization, among his fell
lows, and these We're accustomed to
practice in a vacant lot behind young
Rechad Bey's house. AS w. f. Curtis,
the well known foreign correspondent,
tells the story, the young man was ar
rested in the middle of the night The
sultan's detectives alleged to have made
the most alarming discoveries. In the
club house, had been found several
footballs, a lot of jerseys and the col
ors of the club, also mysterious looking
shin guards, nose protectors, elbow
pads and other football paraphernalia
sufficiently familiar to football players,
but not to the gentlemen of Turkey,
who acted as the sultans detectives.
To complete the damning evidence, the
. name of the elastic bomb was
learned to be the same as that used by
the Turks for cannon ball. The foot
balls We're promptly submerged in wa
ter to prevent their explosion. and the