The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-19


gentlemen are embittered rivals and as it
would be inconvenient to cut each others
throat, they compromised upon cutting
those OF their competitors friends. Isseb
is the more cunning and energetic, Tahsin
the diplomat Of the pair. While Isseb paid.
by various terms OF imprisonment. for his
audacity to suggest to the Sultan certain
plans Of his own. the other steadily adj
vances his chances by Hattery and servility.
He Is a fne-looking man. of classic ORR
entail countenance and a full black beard.
He has the reputation OF being as cruel as
a panther and looks it, at times. when he
considers himself unobserved. Isseb is an
Arab. small wiry and as restless as a Gagged
hyena. His reddish brown beard is touched
with gray: he has green eyes and Is an
adept in using them to disguise his
thoughts
Just now It would be advisable to apply
TO Tahsin. for the first secretary is at
present in high favor with his Majesty. who
endowed him with vice regal powers, If not
officially. by silent consent.
at the gate, soldiers, detectives and
servants. They line the stairs leading to
his Excellency's Office. while others guard
the sanctum's door with drawn swords.
the papers intended for his sublime mas
ter's eye: when, or whether, Hamid will
ever see them. Allah alone knowsl There
are three stacks OF them, each document
written on small, narrow pages Of Japan
velium with broad gold border-paper of
lesser quality burst not be placed before
the grand sgnor. The first collection con-
tains not a line that could possibly give Of
Tense to the padisha: Favorable reports of
agents seeking beautiful slaves for the
harem. letters from the Kaiser. epistles
from Turkish ambassadors announcing that
the game OF hoodwinking foreign powers
proceeds merrily. Furthermore. petitions
or promises Of reward advocated by the
first secretary, for his own good. of course.
THE second stack OF letters and docu-
ments Is less pleasant to contemplate; its
political reports do not represent matters In
roseate hue, and here and there a foreign
ambassador uses pretty decided language
which, however, must be endured at this
time to forestall greater trouble. The third
stack is full OF impossible things Tahsin
might lose his Job IL he insisted upon their
favorable consideration. so he marks them
beforehand, giving the Sultan warning not
to tackle them unless he wishes his appetite
upset.
THE LORD COMMANDS"
suddenly messenger from the palace:
Effendimis' (the lord) Commando
"A carriage whisks the first secretary
and his paper treasures to the holiest Of
HOLES. but a few miles OF corridor have yet
70 be passed-guards, servants, secret po-
lice. chamberiains. ferocious dogs In leash
everywhere. At last an adjutant hobs up
who reports that he thinks that Shadow
of God may be staying there and there II
he said positively where the Shadow is
just then he might be asked to accept the
silken cord.
more whispered orders, admonitions not
to incur the displeasure OF his Majesty's
guard dogs-at last the heavy yellow silk
portieres are drawn aside and the pasha
may enter.
HE finds the ruler OF the Ottoman en-
pire and spiritual lord OF all Mohamme-
dams on a couch in half sitting, half lying
position. Some five feet this side of the
Majesty rests cushion on the carpet On
this Tahsin kneels. while the padishas
great dogs walk around him, watching his
every movement. They are trained to spring
at the throat of any person putting hand
into his pocket
''Tahsin places his three stacks of papers,
one on top Of the other, before him; how
he keeps them apart is his own business,
and woe TO him if any preconcerted ar
rangement is discovered.
'As a rule Tahsin need only look at Abdul
Hamid to know what he may expect, but
IL his Majesty Is pleased TO show a sphinx
like aspect. his mode of acknowledging the
pasha's greeting betrays to the latter how
the land lies. II the barometer OF sublime
temper announces 'fine,' Tahsin knows that
the letters, documents and petitions In his
first stack will be graciously received.
while the second may have at least a living
chance to be considered.
THAT being the case, the secretary is
sometimes permitted to report while sitting
on his Launches, but very frequently he
must kneel throughout the interview.
What new trouble Is in store for nv
fathers SOM? asks the Sultan In a bored
and unpleasant tone. Gle appropriates
only about one-half OF the entire Turkish
revenue, and II seems cruel indeed. to
make him work even for half an hour a
day.
''Tahsin takes up the first document or
letter. and either reads 1t or gives an
epitome OF the contents.
"'Oisun,' says the Sultan-'be IL So and
that ends the matter, whereupon Tahsin
places the document to his right and con-
tinues as before. 'Olsun' Is all the Sultan
win say. only occasionally he becomes more
emphatic. using the words, trade bugur-
dunn q give consent.)
"At last the second category Is reached
and more often than not Tahsin Is told in
an angry voice to put some paper to the
Jeff. meaning that some failed to arouse
the SuItan's interest or that consent IL
withheld. At all events. the secretary never
attempts to argue a point. His Majestys
pleasure, once expressed, Is the highest law.
after half an hour. or. on extraordinary
occasions. an hour has been passed in this
wise, the Sultan begins to show signs OF
WEAKNESS and the pasha at once. no matter
how many matters await decision. throws
himself on his face and submits that no
more business OF state claims his sublime
MaJesty's attention. More often, though.
the Sultan himself ends the session by
calling out: 'Yeier brak (enough, let's
have a rest)
INSTANTLY the secretary rings, where
upon two scribes appear, one carrying a
golden basket. the other a black one. The
officials kneel down on the carpet and the
secretary counts out the number OF ac-
cepted and rejected documents