New-York tribune., 1906-07-13
SULTAN TAKES STOCK.
4ForsS by Alleged Thefts to Er-
omipe His WOnderfM Treasury.


ma, abdul Hamid aroused by the recent sale
$500 Of certain Jewels and treasures og art
J. ,r.re declared 10 have been stolen from the
49, r-,.l treasury at Constantinople. has begun 8
49,. ~ stock taking OF fits contents. It seems
-. CONSERVATION created by this move on the
~ she PadisElah among his pachas and beys
pI.,birv phenomenal. from which e would an.
.Ess their consciences are not at rest. so that
- rxnect 20 learn OF sudden flights from the
49, - the BosporOus, and also OF the arrest OF
= r.-.v,ate Ottoman dignitaTies and their dis
-. TITO that exile from which the cupEit never
- FOR tie simple reason that he rarely ever
--h.1 his destination being put 20 death en-
,,1,e By his guards unoer the preneSt that he h.d
..,r,pfed 20 escape
IN n spite Of pilfeTings the imperial treasury
,-,,~..nfiroDle must contain treasures OF in
.,-.ahIe value Some, but only q small proportion
s-,S are shown to distinguished visitors as, for
-,co state harnesses. blazing with Jewels and
- rem studded cimeters and robes, and ex-
st,.v fulaid arTnor. uatchless rugs, chibouks and
---lss all bedeczed with precious stones But
IN /, e well known that these constitute only a
f--sn traction Of the contents OF the treasury.
:. ~,uss not be forgotten that with the exception
- vonson ConstantinopIe is the only European
s.,Ita which. during period OF nearly five hum
- vears has never been occupied and looted by
Forsign army. Vienna and Berlin. Madrid and
1,-s Lisbon and Moscow, Rome and Athens. have
-, sbe enemy within their walls. But CONSTANT
-. though repeatedly ulenaced. has never fallen
-, II was wrested by the Turks from the last
= the Greek emperoTs. in 145S. On that occasion
csI,sn Mahonet permitted his troops TO retain for
s.,,,selves the spos which they had obtained
49,, the shops and from the houses OF the rich,
cd rost Of these things were sold by the soldiers
., the Venetian, Genoese ana Florentine merchants
-, sscked 10 Stamboul for the purpose. But
1r.t,r,et kept for himself not only all the mar
,,naus riches found in the imperial palaces, but
a.. gse treasures OF the BasiIica OF St Sophia and
= ss STEER sacred ediices, and It is probable that
I. sulsln Abdul Hands treasury to-day are still
,.e.rvsa the crown and sceDtre OF Emperor Con-
.sssae sne the very sandals, adorned with gold
y,g!ss. which were taken after the siege from the
,,n-a AZ the last Of the Byzantine monarchs
Faa "a bit little danger Of their having been de-
,sv.sa ao-. prone we are TO speak OF the bar
vsrn q che Turks Constantinople itself furnishes
q ,irsiang illustration OF their absence OF van
a1rgn most notable being, Of course. the mosque
a ST Sophia one Of the most glorious memorials
e ne byzantine era, which has been preserved
Viz care and reverence for the pastsurpassing
shoss accorded 10 many cathedrals and basilicas in
western Europe
n addition TO the contents Of the Sultan's treas
NY there is what may be described as the per-
soaai fortune OF each sultan buried with him in
BIS tomh. Every Ottoman ruler at his death has
caused his most highly prized belongings TO be
tusis6 with him. and there has never been any
SsseeFaton OF these tonbs. matter how hard
might be for money This entombed treasure, thus
guarded by the mouldering remains Of nearly two
soEe suitans, is known as the Casuba, and has
since the days OF Peter the Great constituted
irresistible attraction TO the emperors Of Russia,
70 their government and TO their people. The |
iooing Of the Casuba would more than suffice to |
Jay Of in its entirety the colossal national debt
fGsgn as well as domestic, OF the Russian En- |
pFs.
THE VACANT CHAIR OF ALNwICK
King Edward ana Queen Alexandra are visiting |
;bdsy the Duke and Duchess Of Northumberland |
81 AlHwick Castle. their place IN Northumberland. |
where they have never before stayed Il is noble
n5 majestic pile. OF the finest existing speci-
nsns Of the old border castles Of the Middle Ages
md the only historic building in Great Britain. ex-
Hptag Windsor Warwick Castle, the Tower of |
luadOn. Westminster Abbey and Arundel. which /
vas IN existence over q thousand years ago. IT
les been portrayed in several Of Lord Beacons-
fads novels and IS simply crowded with pictures
g Titan Belini, Del SartO, etc, Of which re-
productions exist, and which outside the ken Of
the ordinary experts OF the Italian and Spanish
schools Of old masters. In fact Alnwick Castle is
perfect mine OF art treasures, the family having
been IN undsturbed possession OF this prncely home
fr over eight centuries. although OF course. the
present duke is only Percy the distaff side.
Like bis father. he is banker. a partner in the
vel known house Of DrummOnd and is one Of |
lngtss Al his u bic al every meal chair is left
vacant FOR the coming Of the Lord the empty
ehaiT exercising rather depressing effect upon
tlse who are not accustomed to this strange idea.
SPANS LATEST PREMIER.
spain's new Premier Lopez Dominguez. is one Of
le fouf captain generals or field marshals, of the
spanish army, Of which he has long been one OF
ne mest popular officers A nephew of Marshal
sano (who IS generally credited with having been
te real father Of Don Alfonso XII, and who was
.ePeatedly Dictator and on two occasions Chief
'-ssstrate Of the Spanish Repubiic). Lopez Do
lAsuez e sort Of mixture Of SkobeleR and of
Caanzy. For while in the past he has displayed
- reckless daring Of the famous Russian white
= neral" regarded by the 3IuscOvite army one
= ~ most heroic figures. he has likewise much OF
~ ieVelheadedness and mastery of the technical
Caaazy.
1alheE as spectator or eombatant, he has taken
s-E IN every war in Europe during the last fifty
seas beginning with the Criuean campaign; and
sAa'e'er REFORMS Of progressive character have
- brought about IN the Spanish army during the
~ tNo or three decades are due to his initiative.
sle las figured several Of the Liberal admins
lleaons as Minister OF War. but has been regarded
az a certain amount OF misgiving at court partly
s1ause his Liberalism came dangerously near the
n0aer line of republicans and partly. too, on
-1geuht OF his relationship to Serrano who was
,s o. the chief factors in bringing about the over
- t4fS @SoLI DON OeLdSty III OPdlll al 4oOo duA
~ opposition Of Queen Isabella, 10 whom he owed
'oA his rank and his fortune.
, Spez Domlnguez is now a man Of over seventy,
~ n spite Of his age he remains the most re-
.-s.EaDle and popular figure IN the Spanish army,
-ol IN this way has the advantage OF prestige
SO SO Of power which none OF his recent predeces-
'''s ss Premier have enjoyed.
NEW PEER
= seferEihg last week to the elevation Of George
lleR Lefevre TO the House OF Lords the oc-
--slon Of King Edwards birthday, omitted 20
--ealion his maiden aneech In the House OF