Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-07-08

O. VAC Az lnO lCh6bh dHo
strength of his arm. Like Artexerxes Longfmanus, he
could stand erect and touch his knees with his hands.
He was, also, called Kara Osman, because of his great
personal beauty. His personal costume was exceedingly
simple. He wore a turban of white linen wound around
a red center. He was largely a man of peace, and for
many years his reign was one of peace, and much of his
military career was defensive rather than offensive. He
allowed the widest liberation in faith, and protection to
person and property, alike to Christian and Moham-
'medan. In A. D. 1899 he coined money with his own
efigy, and caused prayers to be said in his name, the
official declaration Of his sultanate. He was, neverthe-
less, a man of strong passions when deeply aroused. On
one occasion he summoned his followers and announced
the intention of attacking a Greek fortress, but his aged
uncle, Dunbar, who had marched with Othman's father,
Ertoghrul, from the Euphrates, counseled against the
attack, and set forth the danger of provoking the neigh
boring princes by such an act. Enraged at these words
of caution, Othman shot his aged uncle dead upon the
spot. The fortress was attacked and taken, which led
to many other offensive enterprises, which eliminated in
the surrender of the great city, Brusa, in 1926. Gilman
died at Saegud, and shortly before his death he called
his two sons, Orchan and Alaeddin, to his bedside. and,
addressing Orchan, said: Il am dying, and die without
regret, because ! leave such a successor as you. Be Just;
love goodness, and show mercy" His sword is still pre-
served in the treasury of the empire, and the martial
ceremony of girding on this sabre in the mosque OF
Eyoub, of which there were press accounts last week,
corresponds to the coronation of a king or the Inaugural
ton of a president. His ashes repose at Brusa.
When orchan assembled the throne he besought his
brother. Alaeddin, to share with him the responsibilities
and duties of sovereignty, but his brother firmly refused
to do so, because their father gave the succession to
Orchan. He, however, agreed to accept the office OF
vizier, which, in the Ottoman language, means burden
bearer" This Office corresponds to prime minister IN
England or secretary of state in our country. Alaeddin,
by his military legislation, laid the foundation for Otto
man supremacy. He formed the first standing army
known to modern history. 1t was under the reign OF
Orchan that the Janissaries, so long the scourge OF
Christendom, were organized. They were composed OIL
children of Christians who were wrested from their tami-
Jlies-a thousand of their finest boys each year for over
300 years. They were torn from their parents at a very
o-l mona troiDnd IN ranOunCp ChrSt1an1tV and
preserve the creed of Islam. They were carefully pre-
pared for a soldiers life by severe discipline, which
taught them implicit obedience and enabled them 10
hear without complaint all the ~hardships OF a soldiers
Aife.
orcban captured the city of Nicomedia in the first
os his reign. and four years later the great city OF
Nice. where the first Ecumenical council was held. Like
his predecessor, he never left a captured province I'LL IL
was thoroughly assimilated to the Ottoman power
orchap died in 1859 after a reign of SO years, during
which the Ottoman power was extended over a iarge
mart of Asia and firmly planted on the European cont
nent, from which 1t has never been dislodged.
The third sultan was Amurath, or, as the orientaA
said. "Murad." He was 40 years OF age when ne sue
oceeded his father, and reigned 30 years In great pros
perity and honor. His first enterprise was TO extent
tho European conquest Of his father, but he was checked
NV a rebellion in the Ottoman dominions and was com
peled to march his army toward the scene OF lnsurrec
ton, which he completely quelled: de then crossed TN
aHellespont and began a series OF ~conqlests IN Europe
which were only consummated by his death on the hel
of Kossova In 1889.
He formed many valuable alliances through the mai
rving of his son, Bajazet, and his daughter, Nifisay. ID
died upon the battlefield OF Kossova. His Oldest Sol
Baiazet. commanded the right, and Prince Yacoub, hi
.ocond son. the left; Amurath commanded the cente
with the Janissaries. The Christians were led by Kin
Lazarus, who commanded the center, and Vuk BranK'
wich led the right, and the king Of Bosnia the left. Bot
armies advanced resolutely to the charge, and for a lon
time stood their ground firmly while the event OF the da
was in doubt. While the two armies thus strove t