Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-04-12


with not so much circumstance that
the forgettal thereof shall embarrass
thee on another occasion. In this lies
the whole art Of lying" Thus admon-
ished, and with an overpowering sense
Of my newly acquired dignity. I set
out for Trebizond accompanied by a
numerous retinue.
TIE city and province over which !
was appointed to rule had been de-
plorably Ill governed from time I'M
memorial. The people had been har.
ried and plundered by an unhroken
succession of incompetent despots,
and no mans life or property was Sc
cure. Before set foot in Trebizond
l had resolved to use the unlimited
powers entrusted to me in reforming
any abuses which l might find pre-
vailing there. Having taken up my
abode in an ancient castle which faced
the sea and stood just within the city
walls, addressed the chief men of the
city who had gathered to receive me,
and occasioned them much consterpa.
ton by announcing my Intention Of liv
ing as simply and frugally as possible,
Of administering impartial justice be-
tween man and man irrespective OF
rank, office, or wealth, and of my will
ingness to hear personally all cases in
which suitors for justice could show
reasonable cause for appeal against
the judgment of the cadis. "The au
thority," l said, delegated to me by
the Commander of the Faithful, to
inflict death on any inhabltant of this
province who shall incur my displeas.
ure, l will never exercise except to
punish the evil doer whose deeds In
the judgment of men shall merit that
penalty. The annual tribute of Trebi-
zond fixed by the Sultan's advisers Is
a heavy one-heavier, fear, than you
can pay without hardship. Neverthe-
less, it must be paid. punctually and
fully; but l hope by the laws l will
enact and the impartiality Of my rule
soon to tighten your burdens. to which
end will direct all the energy of my
nature, confident of success If only
your present protestations Of loyalty
be sincere"
The domestic establishment of my
predecessor (who-marvellous In a
Turkish pasha!-had died q natural
death) was large, expensive, and most
ly useless; so deemed it fitting sub
ject for first experiment with my re-
forming hand. l reduced 1t four
fifths, and reconstructed the remainder
on a system which had devised my
self-abolished the office of purse.
bearer, personally controlled the treas
ury, and kept sleepless eye on ac-
counts rendered to me by my suborLl-
mates. Verify the ways of reformers
are hard, and the opposition of those
whom 1t Is sought to benefit is too
great to measure. At first my rule was
as unpopular with the people as that
of any Of my predecessors had been.
which is saying much; but lived 1t
down, and in few years converted
hatred into tolerance. which yet later
was changed to esteem when 1t was
seen and felt that scrupulously ad-
hered to my original declaration.
Trebizond prospered enormously under
my rule, and in ten years had become
one Of the wealthiest and most peace
full vilayets in the empire. whereas
before it had been one of 1he poorest
and most turbulent. Mahpeiker's S
Grand Vizier, who, true to the tradi-
tons of his race ana office, had fixed
the tribute of Trebizond at ten times
as much as had ever before been
wrung from that province, was as
founded to see from me the sum he
had demanded. and was at a stand
to know how had accomplished sue ,
a wonderful feat. In his dilemma the
Vizier reSorted to the Court AstrOloger
from whom, after narating the cir.
cumstances, he asked for enlighten.
ment. After practicing divers fooler-
les with an astrolobe the astrolOger
Informed the Vizier that the Beardlcss
Pasha of Trebizond had discovered q
gold mine, and announcement which
so powerfully excited the cupidity OF
the Vizier that he undertook a journey
to Trebizond to see whether 1t was
really so or not. With great difficulty
l proved to this vile wretch that his
credulity had been abused-that my
success was due merely to my acting
directly contrary to his advice; and
he returned to ConstantinOple, disap,
pointed and disconnected. But during
his absence from the capital faction
had been formed against him, his
peculations had been exposed, and in
passage leading to the Seraglio he was
met by the Seven Mutes and there un-
tremendously strangled.
Years came and passed away. and
many We're the changes in the govern.
ment of Turky. In 1852 Amurath,
at that time q youth of twenty, as
sumed full power and ruled his EN-.
pire with a rigorous despotism which
has never been exceeded in the history
Of the world. Fortunately for his
people. Amurath was man Of great
capacity. Though himself inconceiv.
ably cruel, he was polite enough not
to permit overmuch tyranny in others.
His Majesty professed great regard
for me, and did me the honor and
his Deonle the benefit to enact for his
whole empire some salutary laws
which had enforced with advantage
at TrebiEond. Ny position was assured
by the mandate Of the Sultan and the