Semi-weekly herald., 1912-11-25
CONSTANTINOPLE A JUMBLE
OF ORIENT AND OCCIDENT

Since the day when an adventurous
band of Greek coonists first raised
hastily built stockadc at the southern
entrance of the Bosporus some twen,
ty-fve hundred years ago, Constan-
tinople has been considered unique
on account of combined advantages
York Sun.
hundred years ago, Immediately
after the peace of lit, the Emperor
Alexander of Russia, while discussing
the terms of the treaty over large
map of the world with Napoleon, who
was then at the zenith of his power,
made special effort to induce the
French monarch to allow him to oc-
cupy the sultan's capital
In vain he begged, offering any
sacrifice in return for the establish
ment of his residence on the shores
of the Bosporus. He was willing 10
compromise in every direction pro-
vided he was permitted to attain this
goa of his ambition. Napoleon look
ed carefully at the map, then glancing
back at his colleague is said to have
exclaimed with an air of linality:
impossible! 1t is the mastery of
the world that goes with possession of
this capital"
Like Rome, Constantinople, also
boasls of its seven hills and it was
on the first that the famous Chuycn
of s.. Sophia was built. At the dawn
of the Christian era the city had al
ready acquired worldwide reputation
as d commercial center. Some three
centuries after Constantine decided to
tranfer the capital from the banks of
the Tiber to the shores of the Bos-
porus.
When the emperor arrived at Con-
s'antinople he found the then existing
city to be too small for his imperial
conceptions. He determined to in
crease its forthwith. Accordingly he
summoned his advisers and had them
accompany him to determine on its
new boundaries.
Leaving the city gates behind, the
party started on its circuitous route
the diameter of which appeared to be
constantly increasing. Some of the
courtiers, amazed at the daring of
the emperor and worrying lest he
should take more than was feasible,
ventured to call his attention to the
fact that the ground they had al
ready encompassed was more than am
pie for new capital. Constantine
paid no heed to their words and point
ed to lonely star in full daylight,
to the wonder of all present. Not
until the heavenly light disappeared
did the first emperor of Byzantium
stop, and then the founders realized
that they had covered an area about
ten times greater than that occupied
by the town.
The appearance of the town itself
to the tourist is that of city of
contrasts. The nomad Arab from Me-
sopotamian valleys may be seen ell
bowing freely the well groomed Eng
lish or French promoter stepping out
of a motor car.
AS one emerges out of the subway
that connects the Galata and Pera
suburbs it is possible to meet the
lncongruous spectacle of car driven
by two bullocks. Upon the Bosporus
itself the most modern ferry boat
may be seen stopping to allow the pas
sage of tiny sailing craft that is the
exact counterpart of the pictures of
Greek boats represented on Thirteenth
century manuscripts.
The casual stroller through the
town, proceeding perhaps along an
avenue the beauty of which reminds
one of Paris, may by sudden swerve
to right or left enter a narrow street
which for filth and squalor might
nave been bodily transferred from
Moroccan town. At night Just as
'martly uniformed policeman is pass
"a one may meet few steps further
municipal watchman whose Oriental
ostume and heavily shod cudgel bring
Up visions of medieval insecurity. In
I'VE minutes walk from Robert col
eee' the American seat of learning on
ne shores of the Bosporus, one can
ass the windows of Turkish school
ouse within which may be heard the
Honotonous chant of native students
Getting the Koran as they sway their
odies to and fro in accompaniment
ast as has been done in every sec
ION of the Moslem world for well
Ugh twelve hundred years. The con-
fasts are as unceasing as they are