The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-08
SOMETHING DOING WHEN SULTAN PRAYS Tourist Describes Spectacular
 Function of SeIamlik SULTAN LOOKS SCARED Hates to Expose Himself to Danger of Sudden Death, But Dares Not
 Ignore the Precedent Set
 by Forbears.

From the Washington Times.
 There is something doing in Constanti- nople, when the Sultan goes to pray, even though bomb throwing is not listed on the official programme. This spectacu- lar function. known as the Selamlik, which takes place every Friday, the Turk ish Sabbath, in Hamidieh Mosque, Is the only occasion, save once annuaLr ~nen his religion commands him to visit "The Chamber of Noble Garments at the old Seraglio. that Sultan Abdul Hamid II. leaves his palace fortress at Yildiz, and he would be only too glad to eliminate these ventures into the outer world if he dared. This. however, cannot be.
 Every devout Turk is commanded by the koran to perform his devotions each Friday in a public mosque, and the great Padisha, though representing in hls own person the absolute Caliph of the faith, as well as the head of the nation, can least of all men omit this duty of pray ing for the welfare of all his Mussulman subjects. The duty of presiding at this solemn office has been incumbent upon the Sultans ever since the year 1861, when the reigning sovereign, Murad l., found himself unable to give evidence before the Mufti in case where one of his Ia vorites was concerned, because, acoord- ing to the koran, no person can be admit ted to witness in a religious court of Jus- tice who has not joined in common prayer at the mosque. Recognizing the justice of this decision, Murad proceeded to the mosque on the following Friday in great procession of state, and the function has never since been omitted for any reason whatever.
 Coachman Far More Imposing.
 Every eye is fixed on the little, old, round shouldered man who sits on the back seat of a gorgeous phaeton of black and gold, drawn by pair of magnificent white thoroughbreds given him by the Emperor of Austria. Opposite him is the present minister of war, who has taken the place held so long by Osman Pasha, while his faithful coachman on the box presents a far more imposing figure than the great man himself, whose dress like the eunuchs, is somber black, buttoned tight around the throat. Underneath this habit, 1t Is said, he wears coat of finest mail. His fez is scarlet with a heavy black tassel. In the f1eeting glimpse vouchsafed us (for the actual passing takes far less time than the telling) we note with surprise how much older than his pictures he looks Pale emaciated, hollow-eye and with the long, hooked, high bridged Armenian nose, he looks. in- deed, the Sick Man of Europe"
 Not a smile irradiates his pinched fea- lures, while a look of absolute terror in his large eastern eyes, overshadowed with heavy brows emphasizes the fact that he is one of the unhappiest of men, living in constant fear of sudden death. Nor is this to be wondered at when one recalls that out of his twenty-seven predecessors xf Constantinople by Mohammed in 1453 four indeed, have died peacefully. Several have endeavored to save their lives by resign ing, but this has profited them nothing in span of life. His brows, beard and hail are dyed in a deep black. an office he Is said to perform for himself.
 Sultan Gives Salute.
 In response to the obeisance of the Mo- hammedan sightseers, among whom are hundreds of dusty, ragged hodjis from Mecca, who bend in devout attitudes, the Sultan gives the Turkish salute, touching n rapid succession his breast. stomach and head with the open hand. To the diplomats and visitors in the pavilion he simply bows, rolling his head. All about the royal carriage are the Allsanian guards, picturesque figures in their petti- coats of white fustenelo, their gay em- broidered jackets and heavy tasseled fez-
 
 ing with infinite vigor "Hamidieh March;' attendants are springing forward with Persian rugs to spread for his saintly feet, the guards close in about him, and, as we lose sight of him at the door of the mosque, we note the scramble of the port ly pashas, generals and other dignitaries, who evidently believe in the old adage that the devil takes the hindmost."
 Half an hour passes. From the outside we can hear the chanting of the Imams. More tea and coffee is passed to the vis- itors in the pavilion. Then a movement among the soldiers and we crane our necks to lose no bit of the show. A bugle call. Each regiment in turn detaches It. self from the others and in rotation en- ters the gate of the mosque, passing down by the left side under range of windows, where the Sultan stands screened from observation to review them. These troops do not salute, but pass lowly on, forming themselves in two lines, one up and one down the precipitous road on t4e rise of the hill. A score of men break from the yelling fringe of marines and zouaves for another scatter of earth on the fifty yards where the final dash of the impeiNl party Is to take place. Six loose horses led by grooms, the sun playing on their exquisite satiny coats and gorgeous trappings, ap- pear In front of the mosque together with an elegant little victoria, green lined and drawn by span of beautiful white horses that the Sultan may take his choice of transportation methods.
 Looks Insignificant.
 Now, looking very small and insignifi- cant, he appears for moment on the red carpeted steps into the waiting vic- toria, sword in hand. gathers up the reins. takes the whip, gives a smart stroke and Is rapidly whirled from sight, touching his fez to the watching crowd as he passes the pavilion. His sons come running across the courtyard to join the reces- sional. All spring into their saddles save two of them, who are so small that they have to be helped by their grooms, and Burhan-Ed who laughingly returns to the same carriage in which he came. The horses are put to the waiting car riages of the harem, the bands again break out into the Sutans march and the thousands of troops, the bands them- selves, the sacred banners of green in- scribed with texts from the koran, the gaping crowds, the pomp and pageantry melt away and Selamik is ended for an- other week.