Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-22

were discovered. not only in the safe, but
in dressing cases and the drawers OF
dollars worth of portable property was
recovered. without reference to co!lec-
ton of $1,000 ancient coins estimated to
have an intrinsic value OF between S1,eOo,UO
and $1,25O,OOO. These have been removed
to the Imperial Museum. In charge or
Hallil Bey, the director. chairman of the
commission which made the examination
of the contents of the palace
The Former Sultan's Collections.
Hallil Bey told me that while the col
lection of coins is very large, it is not
remarkable in any other respect. The
object of the collector seems to have been
quantity rather than quality. He pro-
poses to take out the duplicates and the
pieces of little value and arrange the re-
mainder in the new museum. II parlia-
ment will give permission for the sale OF
the duplicates Hallil Bey thinks the pro-
ceeds will be sufficient to pay the expense
of installation and leave an endowment
to purchase additions in the future.
The same is true Of the sultan's COL
lection of postage stamps. 1t is very
large and very badly arranged. and
will have to be gone over by experts
with great care before an accurate es-
innate Of it's value can be made.
Hallil Bey says the ceramics, the an
smiths and silversmiths work are alto
gether the most valuable part of the
sultan's collection. They occupied
separate building near the kiosk, which
was originally intended for stable,
but was made over into museum
about twenty years ago. Next in value
he considers the collection of arms.
Many of them are of great historic in
tereSt, having been trophies from con-
quered countries, inherited from pre-
for a succession OF cen.
turtles.
Hallf Bey says that Abdul Aamid
apparently had natural taste for such
things, but never took the time to Gull
tivate it or allowed it to be developed.
His acquisftiveness caused him TO
seize and keep everything that came
within his reach. regardless OF its val
ue He played with his museum as
fad. and people who sought his favor
made him presents which were left for
ignorant men to arrange and care for.
Those in charge of the museum had
neither experience nor knowledge OF
the value of the things they handled.
Samples of Merchandise.
Large collections Of commercial sam
pies, many Of them from the United
States-typewriters, adding machines.
monographs, clocks, watches, cash
registers. guns and other military
equipment. models of battleships and
locomotives and everything that you
could conceive of-were sent to his
museum, often without examination. and
there they are today. The rare and
valuable articles have been transferred
to the Imperial Museum, where they
are now being classified and installed.
MANY others have been sent to the
technical schools and the university,
where they will be Of value in the labo-
ratories. The models of ships. some OF
them from the United States, have gone
to the Naval Museum. A collection OF
miniatures, some of them OF value. Will
be exhibited in the museums.
There are few fine paintings in the
various buildings. but. as whole.
HalIil Bey says, the collection is very
moor Abdul Hamid seldom bought a
nainting; most Of these were given to
him. There are some exquisite WOOD
carvings from India and geological
cahinet containing valuable nuggets of
gold. There are several Greek bronzes
and ancient pieces OF marble which re-
ouire investigation.
Among the gifts received from other
soyereiEns during his reign OF thirty
three years are portraits of nearly all
the crowned heads" Of Europe. in
Guiding five pictures and two busts OF
the German kaiser and a large paint
ing representing the sultan and the
kaiser reviewing the Turkish army. A
group Of statuary represents Turkish
and a German soldier embracing each