The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-22

the fact that Abdul Hamid, with an eye
to the dangers of electricity and the pos
slble perils to his personal safety. would
never consent to its adoption In Con-
stantinople. There are, however, evidences
Of an awakening interest In this power
as means OF developing the citys re-
sources. \ plant will soon be able to
furnish a powerful electric service. 1t
IL being built at Silifdar on the Bos-
porus.
Cars on the underground cable road
connecting Pera and Galata are lighted
with electricity. Electric cars are run
ming In the main street of Pera. The SER
vice was inaugurated last August. and II
| is promised that In a short time this form
OF traction will supplant the primitive
horse cars In sections OF Galata and Stam-
bouL and. that eventually the line will b.
extended to the villages on the European
shore OF the Bosporus.
Americans Take Part.
At present the use OF the telephone 10
confined to the fire and police stations
and the Government departments. An
Anglo American company. however. Is
pushing the work on franchise which 1t
has obtained and will have within a short
time a network Of wires throughout the
city OH both sides of the Bosporus and
as far as the Princes Islands.
There is great dearth of places OF
amusement. a condition that Is an inheri-
tancc from the old regime when Abdul
Hamid saw in any assemblage a body OF
conspirators who might bring about his
downfall and death. The only change that
has come with the present administration
in this regard is the opening OF skating
rinks-one In Pera has become the prin-
cipal fashionable resort OF the city-and
/ the movies. which are sprlnging up by
hundreds and having large attendance.
Both OF these forms OF amusement are
largely due to American enterprise.
There are, or course. entertainments OF
the cafe chantant order. which are SO
cosmopolitan that they frequently offer
a dozen turns. each OF which comes from
a different country; but OF theatres. there
are only two, and they are noted for third
rate performances. bad atmosphere and
poor seating accommodations 1t Is all
the more remarkable that this great city
Of the Near East. the citadel Of the Otto
man Empire. should be 30 poorly supplied
with playhouses. when 1t IL remembered
that many other towns Of this part of the
world are better off-Smyrna. for in
stance, has magnificent theatre that
would be a credit even to New York. The
people OF Constantinopie are enthusiastic
theatregoers and 1t would seem that this
regenerated. city presents an unusually
good opportunity for an enterprisng
manager.
Formerly the only society Of Constan-
tinople was that OF the diplomatic world
Now there is more social interchange
among the people themselves To such
receptions as there were In the old
regime In STEAMBOAT the ladies were gem
orally carried In sedan chairs. The ha-
mails waited In the courtyards. often
spending their time tinkering at, their
ancient chairs. Some OF these old sedans
had served for centuries and some were
VIGOROUSLY rickety.
Broke Through sedan Chair.
On one occasion II Is related a French
woman of generous figure and weight
broke through the bottom of her ma
chine and padded along in slippered feet
over the dirty street for two or three
blocks before she could attract the at
tention OF her carriers. These antiques
became 30 untrustworthy that the new
regime Ii glad enough to get rid OF
them all.
Now the woman Of Constantinople goes
to her reception in a cab an automobile,
or perhaps In taxi. As a result cabs
and vehicles for hire have greatly IN
creased in number, but with the increase
have come some new and stringent reg
ulstions that make the exactions and
overcharkes of the drivers OF the olden
time an impossibiiity. Every driver must
have tariff card" which he must show
whenever II is called for. Moreover. men
In citizen dress are constantly patrolling
the streets to see that this regulation
Is enforced. Whenever there IL a dispute
between a cabby and his fare there IL
very good chance OF one Of these men
dropping In not only TO settle the dispute
but at the same time to drag the Of
Tending cabby on to the police station
Think Of taking a ride In Constantinople
without being compelled to wrangIe with
the driver over the fare
Another OF the picturesque institutions
that seemed inseparable from the gov
ernmental life Of Constantinople stands
on totterinR foothold. That Is the
kavass. that glorious figure clad IN Ror-
geous crimson tunic. heavily Eoutached
with gold and armed with scimitsr and
revolver. He Is not much longer TO be
seen on tho box Of the AmbassadoriaI
carriage or seated IN the embassy caique
~ u g1idos sover tho Sweet Waters"