The Detroit times., 1909-12-25
EX-sULTAN keeps
LONG, LONELY VIGIL
Abdul Hamid, Who Ruled Turkey
With Iron Hand, Dreams Of Travel,
Not of Regaining Power.
BY chAs. r. SEAMAN.

SALONICA. Dec. 25.-The world has
heard little OF Abdul Hamid since the
unfortunate attempt OF the ex-Sultan
OF Turkey 10 escape from his prison,
the famous villa Alattini. The pris-
oner now seems more reconciled. In
fact. Abdul Hamid was lucky. even
after the loss OF the Turkish throne.
in the place chosen for his exile.
The Villa Alattini is the most beau
tiful residence in this capital OF Mace
donia. IL Is white three-story build
ing. surrounded by a large garden. I'm
I'll q few months ago this villa was
the residence Of the Chief OF the
Macedonian Gendarmes, Gen. De 70
billand Pasha. Of the Italian army But
this high Official. one OF the many EN-
ployed In Turkish service. was Obliged
10 vacste the villa as soon as the
Young Turk committee decided 10 $50
late the deposed ruler OF the Ottoman
| Empire in the very capital or the
Young Turk movement.
For this purpose the villa was trans
formed into a royal prison ON the
ground floor there are two dining
rooms. three parlors. one serra. ana
large billiard salon A large nall
forms a separate parlor. On the sec
ond floor there are the apartments OF
Abdul Hamid and his harem. ana the
third floor Is devoted 10 the numerous
servants. both male and female. q
number of them coming directly from
the Yildiz Kiosk. and the others spe-
cially appointed on detective duty In
tho latter class is the sister OF the
famous Niazi Bey. a leader OF the last
revolution. who is chambermaid 10
the ex-Sultar.
recently met a young off1cer on
duty at the villa Alattini. who. in The
course OF a dinner We had at the Olym-
po Palace Hotel. gave me very IN
teresting account OF the ex-Sultans
life
Dreams Of Liberty.
Although there are a number or
residents in the villa" my friend said.
there are few signs OF life about the
white. palace-like building. Sometimes
in the afternoon. during these sunny
winter days. one may see in window
OF the second floor a tired, almost ex-
hausted figure with sleepy eyes and a
white beard. watching the magnificent
spectacle OF the Gulf OF Salonica. II
is old Abdul Hamid himself.
What are his thoughts during these
long. lonely hours? Some people think
that he is dreaming again OF the
Yildiz.
We'll. will tell you The ex-Sul-
tan thinks more OF liberty than of
ANYTHING else During his long reign
he never had a moment OF real l'o-
erty as other people understand II:
he was a prisoner in the Yildiz. and
being deposed. he went 10 be prison
er in villa Alattini. And now he wants
personal liberty, having lost the
throne.
II have good reasons 10 believe,
my friend continued that Abdul
Hamid is not willing 10 go back 20
Constantinople. His only ambition Is
now to see something OF that wonder
full Europe OF which he has heard and
read SO much But as far as | know
he will never he allowed TO pass the
limits OF the palace which Is going to
be his prison and his grave Some
time ago, as you know. he tried TO es-
cape by Disgusting himself in the garb
OF workman. but he soon was dis
covered and reconducted back to his
quarters.
"On reading OF the successes OF the
aeroplane he thought il possibility
in the near future TO escape by means
OF such an aerial machine. but old
Abdul Hamid Is only dreaming.
The Day Of the Ex-sultan.
Abdul Hamid wakes early in the
morning. and meanwhile mis- harem
and his relatives are still reposing
He takes very light breakfast. fol
lowed by light gymnastic exercise
TO which he has been accustomed
from the time he was Sultan. Then
he enters his Office. where he passes
several hours in reading the Turkish
papers. addressed 10 him from al
parts Of the empire.
Then Abdul Hamid takes rest on
soft sofa. playing In the meantime
with his cat and parrot. two old friends
OF his, who accompanied their master
into exile. The cat Is OF the Angora
kind. and was sent to Hamid as gif'
from the governor OF that province
together with a number Of pretty girls
for his majesty's barem. The girls
married various officers OF the Yildiz
and some Of them were released after
their master was deposed. The cat
and parrot remain the favorite pets oi
Hamid, who in their company forgets
all his sorrows and laughs as child
Abdul Hamid's lunch doesn't take
a long time, because the ex-Sultan
hardly touches the many dishes pre-
pared especially for him by number
OF his Yildiz Kiosk cooks. Even In
the COMPANY Of his harem, composed
now OF only a dozen wives, at this
meal Abdul Hamid remains silent and
thoughtful II is understood that be
fore he touches meal some OF the
companions have TO taste IL on &C
count Of fear OF poison.
THE most exquisite Mocha cofYee
and cigarettes OF the best make ac
company this lunch. and then Hamid
retires to be again alone with his
dreams and melancholy.
Sometimes he spends the afternoon
In the harem with his wives. one ol
them being Nahie Kadina, a young
Circsssian woman and daughter OF a
famous chief who was killed during
the Russo-Turkish war. Nahie Kadina
is the only woman In the harem of
the villa Alattini that Is mother OF an
imperial child. fact that gives her
the right tc use the title OF kadina.
She is mother of the fve-year-old
Prince Abdul Raohim. and last month
che gave birth 10 a girl, the first born
10 Abdul IIamid since his seclusion
In the Villa Alattini.
There ls more vivacity at the fam