The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-19
one of the Turkish governors expresses
the hope that it would be completed in
six or seven years.
Z. So =

one of the Turkish governors expresses,
the nope that it would be completed in
SIX or seven years.
I. i. !.
Constantine built "a magnificent
constructed, it being his purpose to
surpass any house of worship. that man
had reared. It is in the form Of a.
Greek cross and was originally rich
IN mosaics, some of which still remain.
|;Ihe dome is one, of the largest in the
world. This cathedral, called st. So
pha. fell into the hands of the Moham-
and Is now used as mosque. When
hope Of successful resistance was gone
the Christians Of Constantinople crowd
ed into the cathedral-some have estl-
mated the number as high as 100000,
put that seems hardly ble-pray-
tlng that the church at least might be
spared; pt but tbs leader Of the Turks rode
fstrikding one Of the pillars with his his
prophet" Then Saa f dHnSnau slaughter
So cruel and so bloody that the Chris
tlans never recall the day without in
dulglng the hope that the building
may thoe w dbay aS t tb hf Rh e @
I ~
founder.
C?onstantinople is full Of mosques,
their cir, minarets rising above all other
buildings, but none Of them possess
for either Christian; or. Moslem the i'm
portance that attaches to st. Sophia:
| The modern mosques lack the stateh-
ness OF Constantine s building and are
as some Of the mosques Of India.
| There is one, however, near the up
| per end of the Golden Horn, which is
regarded by the Turks as especially
sacred because it is the burial place
of the first Mohammedan "a standard.
bearer Of Mohammed) who ATTEMPTED
the capture Of Constantinople. Each
upon his reign, and Christians are not
permitted to use the street leading to
the mosque: The sultan visits St.
Sophia once a year, but he is in such
fear Of assassination that he usually
has a street cleared. for his passage
and then quietly goes by water to
! elude the crowd.
The first settlement at Constantine
Pile, or at Byzantium, as it was original
ly called in honor Of it's founder, was
made at what is now known as Seraglic
point, an elevation which extends into
| the Bosphorus between the Sea Of
Marmora and the Golden Horn. It com
mands the best view Of any place il
the city. The historian, Bancroft, visi
ted this spot and was so impressed by
the magnifcence of the panorama
spread out before him that he stood
gazing at it for an hour. This was thu
site selected for the royal, palace, .ant
the kings, emperors and sultans livet
here until recent years, but it is so ex
posed to the attack OF any hostile fee
that the sultan 8 palace has as a matte
Of precaution been removed to the hill
back Of Galata, and Seraglio point il
now sort of curiosity shop. It il
visited with difficulty, permission hav
ing to be obtained from the sultan him
self upon application of the diplomat
Representative of the nation to whicl
the visitor belongs. BY the courtes,
of our legation we obtained permi
and found it full of: $$interest. One 0
: the buildings contains =. very oil
library, another isIla reproduction of
Persian summer house which, forme
} sultan having admired il, ;" his chic
!. eunuch had removedS.to Constantinopl
without his masters knowledge.
The most important building on tn
| Point, however, is the treasury, wher
: the crown Jewels, ornamental arms, roy
al gifts and the robes of former sultan
; are kept. It would require more Sspac
) that that allotted to a dozen articles t
, describe even the more important piece
| Of this collection. Ore room contain