Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-22
BIRTHDAY OF SULTAN
ConstantinopIe Enthusiastic in
Celebrating Anniversary.
GREAT CROWD ON STREETS
City Ablaze With Lanterns and
Nominations.
TWO PRINCES RIDE ABROAD
Mehmed Himself Confined to Rooms
With Measles-Women Unveiled
Out at Night.
GREAT CROWD ON STREETS
TWO PRINCES RIDE ABROAD
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

CONSTANTINOPLE, May %, 1910.
we were fortunate enough to reach Con-
stantinople in. time to witness the cele-
pration OF the first anniversary of the
| reign of Mehmed Kahn v, the new sultan.
IL was an occasion Of general public re-
1olcing, such as never occurred in Turkey
pefore, not for centuries, at least
Sultans OF Turkey are not crowned like
other monarchs. The ceremony of inves-
trure, which corresponds to a coronation,
mas always taken place at the mosque of
Eyoub. In the suburbs Of Constantinople,
particularly sacred to all Moha mmedans
because the tomb of Eyoub Ansari, the
standard bearer OF the prophet is there
Ihe mosque stands in the midst of a
great cemetery shaded by cypress trees,
at the head Of the Golden Horn None
but the faithful are ever allowed to cross
the threshold.
Abdul Hamid endeavored to obtain a
permit for the German kaiser when he
was at Constantinople. The Mevlevi or
Ger or dervlshes, corresponding to the re-
ng1ous orders of the Roman Catholic
Cnureh.' who have charge Of that particu-
iar mosque. and are said to have been
| rounded by Eyoub, would not consent to
holy place.
Prophets Sword Girded On. :.
Tchelebi Effendi. superior general of the
MevieW dervishes, who resides at Konia
In Asia Minor. In a great monastery with
several hundred of his order came to
Constantinople to perform the ceremony
In the presence Of eminent ecclesiastics
and pashas he girded Mehmed Kahn v
with the sword which belonged to the
prophet. and blessed him nine times, with
injunctions to observe the teachings of the
Koran and administer justice to ALL
Formerly 1t had been customary for a
| new sultan to plough furrow in the in.
closure OF the mosque. guiding the oxen
said to have come down from the time OF
constantine the Great. and signifies that
the Sultan Of Turkey is a laborer in the
neld like his humblest subjects For some
reason or another. this picturesque per.
formance was omitted in the present cas-
Princes Ride Around.
There is no doubt Of the genuineness OF
the enthusiasm with which the new sui
tan was greeted. although unfortunately
he was not able to witness the manifesto
tons Of his popularity. He was confined
to his room in the Dolma- Bactche Palace
with measles.
His four sons were out all evening and
most OF the night. driving to every section
or the city In open victOriaS drawn by
splendid black horses from the imperial
stables. We met them several times as we
were driving through the crowded streets
and their carriages were kept in line like
those of ordinary people.
They were recognized everywhere, but
no demonstration was made in their
honor, although the princes are popular
and roSHoCfod Tho 0f ha
incident lies in the fact that 1t could not
have happened two years ago. But there
have been many changes in Turkey dur
Ing that time.
No Spies Employed Now.
There have been Nominations BEFORE
but they have been ordered by the gov
eminent on occasions when the Turkish
troops were victorious in battle over the
Greeks. and two or three times on the
birthdays Of Abdul Hamid. On those oc-
casions spies have gone about the city to
count the lights and inspect the decora-
tons upon the houses OF certain people.
That was not done this time. In the
first place. 1t was not necessary In the
second place, no spies are employed by
the present government
There are no mysterious disappear
ances. There are no political prisoners
In the tails. Not one citizen has been
banished from Turkey for two years.
The only Turks In exile are those who
belonged to the old regime and fed from
Constantinople when the late sultan was
deposed for fear of being punished for
their crimes or compelled to make resti-
| tuition for the money they have stolen.
The Dolma-Bactche Palace, where the
present sultan lives. is probably the only
Illuminated. That was as dark as q
pocket. because etiquette required 1t, as
I was told.
Some illuminations were elaborate and
artistic. and were really remarkable for
a city without gas OF electric lights.
There are several private gas works in
Constantincple and two electric light
plants. one for the German embassy and
the other for the Pera Palace Hotel.
The rest Of the population. including
the American ambassador, use kerosene
oil and tallow candles. The facade of
the American embassy was hung with
million lanterns, more or less. did
not stop to count them.
Multitude in Streets.
Nearly all Of the two million popula-
ton were out to celebrate. In the prin-
cipal streets the masses of huma nifty
| were SO soiidly packed that it was i'm
possible for carriage or even pedes-
TRAN to get through. =.
The only thing that could be done was
to move with the crowd; one stream
trending in one direction and another In
another. like the currents Of the sea-
When You. got tired you could slip of
into q side street
Every one who owned or could hire or
borrow carriage was driving from one
end Of the city to the other inspecting
the silluminations. It was tedious work,
because the carriages had to follow one
another in a continuous procession for
fear Of collisions.
The Turkish feet, the yachts belonging
to the different embassies and all the
merchant steamers in the Bosphorus and
on the Golden Horn were outlined against
the darkness with living fire. and pre-
scented glowing spectacle to the hun
dreds OF thousands of people who stood
upon the housetops and other high places
to admire them.
Strings Of rowboats-caiQues they call
them here-lashed together and bearing
lights moved slowly up and down the
Rosphorus, and the Golden Horn, like
snakes Of fame. The minarets and domes
Of the mosques were encircled with CIR
dies of light. The monogram of the sui
tan, an artistic combination of Arabic
characters. and the words Long life to
Of flame in MANY conspicuous places.
Enthusiasm Is Real.
Taking it altogether, I have never seen
q more brilliant or busy spectacle. Al
| though there was no shouting or other
manifestations, for such things have been
prohibited heretofore and the people have