Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-30

Sc hANE4uas IL ELAnua alNlAN ~ 1
silence Of the immense cemeteries which
cover the hills. Around it is nothing but
tombs. shady paths wind between kubbe
and marble monuments. forming a white
sacred city. Here sleep the generations
which conquered.
Where the victorious OF Ottoman armies
pitched their tents in front Of divine By
Iantium IL now a vast encampment OF
sepulchers. growing each year more vast
which seems to lay tragic. silent siege TO
the town and will inevitably end by con-
quering II. The grave stones, surmounted
by large turbsns. look like human figures
a multitude Of white forms lettering and
falling, some supported against others.
prone and overgrown by the grass,
as though wrapped in an enchanted sleep.
In the marble court Of the mosque are
precious carpets on which two
gigantic plane trees in flower weave a
trembling arabesque Of shadows. In tine
center the fountain Of the ablutions re-
fleets in it's basin the lace work Of its
sculpture.
Ceremony of Investiture.
The sultan was received 1T the gates Of
the mosque by the chief dignitaries OF the
empire, civil, military and ecclesiastic.
After the MONDAY prayers the impressive
Of investiture began.
Three lmams lntoned the "suret Feth
Sheriff" then after reading the opening
chapter Of the Koran the Tchelebi recited
another prayer calling down the divine
blessing on the new ruler, while all pres
ent genuflected and d~evoutly raised their
palms. Finally within the tomb enclosure
itself the Tcheiebi took up the sacred
scimitar OF Gilman from its 5eweled
tripod. pressed the hilt three times to his
lips. an example which was followed by
the sultan, and then solernnly girded Mo-
manned V with the symbolic blade. A
brief prayer followed. and then the min
listers and high officers OF state withdrew
in silence, leaving the sovereign alone, who
Frustrated himself on the prayer carpet to
render his thanks to the Almighty.
At ! O'Clock the thunder Of artillery and
fanfares Of trumpets announced the sui
tan's departure from the mosque. The
route followed the highway 10 the Adrian
ople gate and led thence to the mosque OF
Mohammed II and thence past the Bayezid
mosque, the seraskierat, the Porte and
Santa Sophia to the old Seraglio.
Modern Touch to Parade.
Along the steep Eylb road, still covered
| with Byzantine pavement, the procession
wendell its way. First came, anonymously
enough. two armoured automobiles, each
carrying a Hotchkiss gun. Behind trotted
salonlcan gendarmes and two squadrons
Of Rumelian cavalry with drawn swords
Then came the npn-Mussulman religious
dignitaries. patriarchs and exarchs with
long boards, all wearing Turkish emblems
and episcopal crosses.
The Ulema followed, wrapped IN ample
c~aftans, green or violet, embroidered witt
gold and wearing great white turban'
crowning their solemn biblical faces. Car
riages passed containing deputies and sena'
tors. Among them were some fine Arat
heads draped in rich Bagdad turbans.
Groups OF the Armenian population whc
watched the procession from the walls OF
their cemetery olspped their hands as tbs
Parliamentarians went by, but the Turks
were silent. There passed numerous viz
iers. their breasts covered with gold lace
They seemed annoyed by the tolting Of the
wheels over the rough stones.
Bands played and between squadrons OF
cavalry on magnificent horses came court
carriages containing the ministers. The
people when they perceived them shouted
their names. Among them was the grand
vizier with the new helk-ul-islam in Z
white mantle. Ahmed Ria president o.
the chamber. was with Said Pasha. presi
dent Of the senate. he Of the white beart
and penetrating eyes
Cheer for the Heroes.
Cheers resound: an old general carrie
his hand TO his brow in salute. 1t is Ed
hem Pasha. victor Of the war with Greece
Another and louder cheer greets Mahmout
Chevket Pasha and Enver Bey. who ar
on horseback dressed in khaki. New an
old Turkey march past together.
Then came Ali Pasha, the tall, soldierl.
minister Of police. and twenty yards be
hind him the scarlet and gold imperia
carriage drawn by four white horses, Il
which sat the sultan with Ghaz Mukhta
Pasha facing lin. Behind rode a nike,
regiment OF cavalry OF the Second an
Third army CORPS. some Of the men i
brown and some in blue uniforms, untid.
and often Ill mounted, but a soldlerly bod
none the less. The court officials brough
} up the rear Of the procession.
Outside the Adrlanople gate man
Americans had Joined the group OF foreig
ambassadors and leading members of tn
European colonies. The sultan SCENE
tired and continuously covered his eye
with his right hand, as though the ligh
disturbed him. AS the Americans an
| other foreigners rose at his approac
; he saluted mechanically.
At his point the imperial carriag
stopped. A ulema cast & lamb to III
! ground; the sultan made a motion q
: though to draw his sword from its scat
bard. Thu he signified that he too
; possession Of the city, Of which the lam
signifed submission. Byzantium is cor
Quered,
At the Mosque Of Mohammed /
where the Junior officers Of the arm
had gathered. the sultan left his csrriaa
and visited the tomb of the conQuerC
Of Constantinopls. where he prayed.
At the old seragiiO ministers, senate
and deputies ssiuted the sultan's al
, rival Thence the return tourney wa
made by sea 10 Dolma Bagtsh. tt
1 journey and the ceremony had occupis
D five hours.
: COmparisOns with Past ParadeS
J. The change OF regime in the Ottoma
5 empire inevitably invites comparison
( with the previous ceremonies. There al
; still eyewitnesses living of the prooessic
= ri - al