Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-12-12

Special Correspondence.
| ~ ONSTANTINOPLE, NOV. 10
Nothing in the world equals IN
splendor the Turkish sultans
treasure house here which has
never been photographed and scarcely
ever entered, except by its royal own
er and its guardians. So priceless are
the treasures stored therein that even
ambassadors are refused admittance. 1t
is only some great favorite of the
sultan's who may have a passing peep
at it's wonders. The whole treasure
house consists of but two large rooms
with single galleries running above
each. The first thing that strikes the
eye on entering is the gigantic Persian
throne, covered with a huge crystal
canopy. 1t is made out of beaten gold.
one and a half inches thick. The seat
and the four thick legs are covered
with eastern designs worked out in
thousands of huge pearls, equal IN
size and water with topazes and en-
eralds cut all alike The throne is
square in shape, measuring three
yards long and two yards high It
was made in 1901 in Tabrys, in Persia,
for the Shah Ismacl the First.
There is yet another wonderful
throne OF Persian work in the same
hall. This is rather different in form,
having steps and being supported by
slender pillars. 1t has a eupola Of
gold ana is itself of golden foundation.
Into this are incrusted cedar and SAN
dial wood designs which are again
richly studded with rubcs emeralds,
pearls and diamonds. Under the Gu
pola, of the end OF golden chain,
hangs an uncut emerald SIX inches
long and two and a half inches thick.
1t is covered with texts from the
Koran This throne was made IN the
sixteenth century and was used by
.tchmed /, whose hobby was swords
and who formed collection Of 1,0ls
golden swords set with precious stones
Of the very first quality.
THREE GREAT EMERALDs.
In a crystal cupboard next TO the
thrones repose three of the largest en-
eralds which have, up to the present
moment, been found. They are from
eight 10 10 inches long and from five
TO six inches thick. In the eighteenth
century there was n wonderful emerald
in this Same cupboard which weighed
40 carats. but AIustafa III gave it to
be put over Mohammed's grave in Me-
dina, where ii hangs still.
Under the window, next to the cup
board, stands n splendid bronze statue
of Abdul Axis. In the midst 3f tho
glare Of gold and stones such
thing makes but little impression. +. Is
however, valuable, because It is the
first and. as yet, only statue of 70 sui
tan. The Koran declares 1t to be q sin
TO patroni2e sculpture. and no other
sultan has dared to defy this prohibit
ton of the DEVILS art"
Behind crystal cupboards between the
two windows IRE historical relics OF
priceless value. There hang the sword OF
Mohammed the Conqueror. which he
carried In his hand on entering Con-
stantiisople for the first time; the
sword of Constantine Dragoses the
last of the Byzantine dynasty; the
crooked sword belonging to Bajezet II
when he set out against the Germans
and Soliman the Greats sword which
he carried during his conquest of Bel
grade. All these are of gold. studded
With turquoises. sapphires. pearls and
erubies. Near them are the helmets.
suits of armour, lances. stilcttos and
horse-trappings once used by these.
eastern potentates. They are a. blaze
OF diamonds, emeralds, rubies and
pearls, all large enough to awaken the
envy of duchesses aud SO close togeth-
err that the gold that they are embedded
In can scarcely be seen. The effect is