Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-02-07
THE sULTAN's TREASURES.
Fortune Kept In Safe Deposit Box at
Stamboul.


| Stamboul.
The sultan's personal adjutant, the
lord Of the treasury, and forty guard
ians," or watchdogs, Of that institution
greeted me when stepped from my
carriage at the entrance Of Topkapu
Serai, Stamboul, writes Miss We're Ca
rewe from Constantinople, to the Kan
sas City Journal. There was a lot Of
talk, then his lordship proceeded to
open the first iron gate. which moved
without a hitch, indicating to every
body's satisfaction that II had not been
tampered with. Neither had any one
toyed with the twelve padlocks out
i side the second door. and half an
hours work sufficed to remove them.
Following the breaking Of the seal on
gate No. 2-three times the key turned
in the intricate lock-Eureka! behold
the holiest Of holies!
Madame Is politely requested By
my sublime masters orders"-every-
body bowed low and struck his breast
TO don these gloves. It's on ac-
count Of the cold prevailing In the un-
used rooms" lied the lord Of the treas
| ury.
A hint to be honest-the nimblest
pick pocket would despair of making
a haul with boxing gloves on. But
there was no occasion for me to get
angry, as his lordship. the adjutant,
and the forty watchdogs, too, had to
encase their hands in the sort Of NIT
tens Jim" Jeffries wore when he
knocked out all American pugilists In
succession.
When all hands were under cover
the lord Of the treasury knocked his
staff three times on the marble floor
and some thirty Of the watchdogs pro-
ceeded to take positions at the various
loors and windows Of the three big
and several small halls, while the 9TH
ers ascended to lookouts in the gal
leries, furnished with mirrors so placed
to allow the inmates to observe both
inmates and officials-almost insulting
precautions, but again my resentment
evaporated when I saw the provoca-
ton.
There in this treasury house bushels
and small measures" Of loose gems.
II the stocks Of all jewelers. Of New
York, Paris and London were COM
bined these gentlemen could not hope
to rival the sultan's collections. And
small wonder. The Tiffanys Of the
world come by their goods honestly,
the sultan's represents the spoils Of
war and peace for half dozen CEN
turtles, which may be one Of the rea-
sons why the padisha's gems are kept
IN open crystal trays, while your
Maiden Lane dealer wraps his in silk
paper
Here Is his majestys collection Of
rubies," said the lord Of the treasury.
And handing me a glittering bowl in
cased In gold, he added: "Our sublime
lord consults the stones daily" II
would seem quite natural for the own
er of such treasures to feast his eyes
upon them. but why consult? The
treasurer OWNED my questioning looks
and explained: "Rubies, madam, dis
cover poisons and correct evils result
ing from mistaken friendship"
From another source learn that the
superstitious ruler of Turkey usually
has a tray Of rubies at his side when
going over the diplomatic correspond
oaao UhtIo rao dipor tho lattaro NJ hia
ambassadors and royal colleagues, he
let's $1,000000 worth Of rubies run
through his hand, and II one OF the
sharp stones prick his finger, woe to
the writer Of the dispatch he Is engag-
ed on at the time. II he Is Turkish
subject his official head is demanded at
once; IL a foreigner his plans and pro-
posals are thwarted at all hazards.
have seen the great pigeon blood
ruby In the cars crown, even touched
it during the coronation festivities),
but no longer regard It as the greatest
In the world. In the sultan's treasure
house I encountered several stones OF
approximately equal size and lustre,
and there must be thousand small
er ones In the three trays wherein that
sort Of jewel Is kept.
While ,rubies, bloodstones, diamonds,
Sapphires and opals surrounded me on
all sides, heaped up like peas In
grocer's show windows, in crystal and
gold trays, the greatest emerald the
| world ever produced Is kept in a glass
case. silver bound and fastened to the
floor by bands Of steel.
This wonderful piece, said to have
| belonged to the Emperor Nero, Is
little less than 10 inches square. Of
beautiful velvety green color and flaw
less. The lord of the treasury told me
that the stone was taken out OF It's
setting, a gold frame with long ham
lie, many centuries ago. and that since
then 1t has been an object Of curiosity
only. L. asked whether this emerald
might be the one used by Nero as
'ong distance glass when viewing the
battles of the gladiators, but his lord
ship did not know. At the end OF the
row devoted to loose gems was shown
n big crystal vessel resembling
punchbowl, which was filled to the brim
with emeralds. "Only a portion OF
them came from South America said
he treasurer. 1.-The greater part was
fshed up in the Sea Of Alexandria"
|
Don't Mix Rum With Fruit.
James, L. Loring of Dallas Centre