New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-08

~ who Will excite envy ana perhaps hchieNe
} nOtOriety. BY passing himself on as
- brother TO an Arabian donkey boy he was
able 70 be present at the orgies Of the Sunni der
wishes He has seen with his own eye the fanatcal
rites Of the Persian passion play at Stamboul' lived
in the native quarter of Cairo, behed the ala
baster bathtub of the Sutans harem in the palace
of Dolma Bagtsche. travelled through India third
class in midsummer and acquired vast store OF
adventures snd bacteria.
This man is professional lecturer who culls
material to stsr,le gazing audiences MS one cuils
orchids from out Of the way corners OF strange
countries His name is Harry C. Ostrander HIS
adventures have been experienced among the rao-
bic Of many lands on journeys when he was with
out money or inclination TO travel the established
routes Of tourists. Night after night he mas
passed in the native quarters OF Oriental cities
making strange acquaintance and playing dom-
iroes with those past masters Of all games, the
Arabs. For weeks at time he has lived in dis
trcts where a white man is curiosity
Il was lucky in being present at some OF the
dervish rites" said Mr.. Ostrander because white
mon have seldom if ever witnessed them. ! do
hot refer to the performance Of the whirhng ana
bowling dervishes who are gsped at by every
tourist and have appeared IL every three-rine
circus in Europe and America mean the Sunni
Nnellt
and Constantinople. The former is forbidden to
white men by special order of the khedive; the
latter. sometimes called the Persian Passion
PLAY is not attended by the whites as general
rule because Of the risk involved.
In Constantinople my experience was extra
ordinary and would need the pen Of victor
Hugo TO be described effectively. 1t was sight
Of the great festival, held in the native quarter
of Stamboul where white people do not often ven
trre after dusk.
"I WAS with some college boys at the time, and
cur guide was a bright young Maltese lad who
seemed to become attached TO me. He suggested
that he take US TO see the Sheiha ceremony, and
we of course fell in with his suggestion with the
utmost cordiality.
CELEBRATING THE MARTNRDOM OF hOSElN
AND HASSAN.
We crossed the Galata bridge and entered the
conrested streets Of STEAMBOAT, where the native
reputation was moving as though with one mind
up hill 70 the entrance Of khan that was
Guarded by soldiers. When reached this there
was a moment Of shrill arguing on the part OF
cur guide and we were then allowed to enter.
The inside Of the khan presented one Of the most
wonderful sights that have ever seen. 1t was
twice as large as Madison Square Garden ana l
should guess that fifty thousand people had gath
crewsome performance that lay ahead.
The Passion Play of the Persans is the cere-
nonv of the unorthodox Mshometans. although
other creeds attend and manifest their interest
We had no idea Of what TO come, but we
guessed it was something impressive Tor the
whole khan was draped in black, color usually
abhorred by the Mahometan and forbidden IN
his raiment The festival to celebrate the
nlartvrdom Of Hosein and Hassan, the two grand
sons Of Mahomet by the line OF his daughter ia
TINA II is celebrated all over the world wherever
the creed is found.
The inside Of the khan. which was open TO
the sky. was lit by farng torches that cast
lurid light upon the sea OF turbans and fezzes
that had gathered there. In the centre, at the
door Of a miniature mosque, crowd Of dervishes
were clustered about true American grindstone
whetting their scimtars One by one they APP
proached with their naked blades, the steel
screamed the sparks few and they tested the
edge with their thumbs Their heads were newly
shaver and glttered with perfumed oil desert
man. apparently insane, and therefore sacred
stood near the door of the mosque and anointed
them in passing.
..Soon soldiers drove the crowd back, and with