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.

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 to 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. Ii is a white three-story build
ing. surrounded by large garden. I'm
til a few months ago this villa was
the residence of the Chief OF the
Macedonian Gendarmes. Gen. De 2o-
biland Pasha, of the Italian army. But
this high official. one of the many en-
ployed i'm Turkish service, was obliged
10 vacate the villa as soon as the
Young Turk committee decided TO iso-
late the deposed ruler of the Ottoman
Empire in the very capital OF 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 Sierra, and
a large billiard salon. A large hall
forms a separate parlor. On the Sec
ond floor there are the apartments OF
Abdul Hamid and his harem. and the
third floor is devoted TO the numerous
servants, both male and female, a
number of them coming directly from
the Yildiz Kiosk. and the others spe-
fa1l fnt nl AntnntiUn dftfV
the latter class is the sister of the
famous Niazi Bey. leader of the last
revolution, who Is a chambermaid TO
the ex-Sultan.
| recently met young officer on
duty M the villa Aattni. who, in the
course Of dinner We had at the Olym-
po Palace Hotel. gave me very in
teTesting account OF the ex-Sultan S
life.
Dreams of Liberty.
Although there are 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 a window
of the second floor a tired, almost ex-
hausted figure with sleepy eyes and
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. I will tell you. The ex-Sul-
tan thinks more Of liberty than OF
ole nttrino hic lnn0 raiOn
he never had a moment OF real lib
erty as other people understand It:
he was a prisoner in the Yildiz. and
being deposed. he went to he prison
er in villa Alattini. And now he wants
personal liberty, having lost the
throne.
II have good reasons to believe"
my friend continued, that Abdul
Hamid is not willing to go back ~
His only ambition is
now TO see something of that wonder
ful Europe of which he has heard and
read so much. But as far a. | know
he will never be allowed 10 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.
ION reading of the successes OF the
aeroplane he thought II 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 his harem
md 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 70 him from all
parts Of the empire.
"Thcn Abdul Hamid takes a rest on
a 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 a gift
from the governor OF that province.
together with n number OF pretty girls
for his majesty's harem 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 OF
Hamid who in their company forgets
all his sorrows and laughs as a child.
Abdul Hands lunch doesn't take
n long time. because the ex-Sultan
hardly touches the many dishes pre-
pared especially for him by a number
of his Yildiz Kiosk cooks. Even In
the company OF his harem. composed
now OF only n dozen wives. at this
meal Abdul Hamid remains silent and
thoughtful. II is understood that be-
fore he touches a meal some OF the
have 10 taste II on ac-
count of fear OF poison.
THE most exquisite Mocha coffee
and cigarettes of the best make ac-
company this lunch. and then Hamid
retires 30 be again alone with his
dreams and melancholy.
Sometimes he spends the afternoon
in the harem with his wives, one of
them being Nahie Kadina. a young
Circassian woman and daughter OF n
famous chief who was Killed during
the RussO-Turkish war. Nahle Kadina
is the only woman In the harem OF
the villa AIattini chat Is mother OF an
imperial child. a fact that gives her
the right &c use the title OF Kadina.
She is mother of the fve-year-old
Prince Abdul Rachim. aud last month