Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-03-24
FLIGHT OF TURKISH SULTAN To BROUSSA
His Harern and All the Holy Relics With the Prophets Mantle
Back in the First Ottoman Capital

To the average American, 1t prob
ably means little to read that the Sui
tan has fed with his harem and all
the holy relics including the Prophets
mantle, to Broussa, says correspond
ent of the New York Times. But to
the Grand Turk, this move must seem
the last irony of fate.
Not that Broussa is an unpopular or
an unpleasant town. On the contrary,
no city in Turkey-not even Constan-
tinople itself-is dearer to the heart
of the patriotic Turk, more beloved for
its beauty and its associations. For
was not Broussa the first Ottoman
capital, and was it not here that the
great Turkish dreams of empire were
dreamed and to an unbelievable de-
gree realized?
Perhaps often before now in these
dark years of defeat the ill-starred
Mehmed V has longed to take refuge
in this ancient capital of his line in
the shadow of the tombs of his illus
trious predecessors, the first six en-
pire-building sultans. He may well
have yearned for the inland peace and
quiet of Broussa, hidden away from
the Marmora and sheltered by the
gracious snow capped ridges of the
Boithynian Olympus. And even while
fighting for Constantinople, his SOL
diers may sometimes have been tempt
ed to desert the imperial city for this
provincial capital grit about with
gardens, the first love of their people
Everything the Sultan sets eyes on
in Broussa will recall to him the
irony the tragedy of his lot For
though there are many reminders of
the troubled Byzantine times still to
be seen-broken capitals and columns
and remains of ancient walls-all the
most impressive sights" of the town,
as it now stands, belong to the period
which began with 1926, when Broussa
was made the Ottoman capital, and
extended approximately from the
reign of the first to the reign Of the
sixth sultan. AS Mehmed V goes from
the mosque of each ruler to that of
his successor and from tomb to tomb,
he can not help reviewing one of the
most dramatic stories in all history
now tinged for him with tragedy-the
rise of Ottoman power.
Fittingly enough on the citadel
from which one gets a view of the
town, with towering Olympus behind
1t and the great Plain of Hudavendi-
giar at its feet, lies Osman, the first
great ruler of a race to Whmo he gave
his name He was a rough and ready
| fighter who at his death is said K
have left nothing behind but a fine
stud of horses, and his sword-tht
very sword with which Mehmed, so in
capable Of welding it, was girdeC
when he came to the throne. In grea
contrast to Osmans peasantlike sim
plicity in his tomb, which has beer
made gorgeous, with costly silk hang
ings and crystal chandeliers by lat
ter-day, luxury-loving sultan. Not fal
away across a little garden plot, lies
Osman's son Orkham, a milder, NOR
attractive figure. From it can be seel
in the plain below, the silver, serpen
ir;2g Nelufer river, so-called aftel
his wife, a beautiful Greek princess
H consolidated all of Asia Minor tina
tia father had conquered and founded
the world famous corps of the Janis
sa"ies. His tomb is similar to Os
mans though not quite so rich.
On another hill, but commanding al
equal fine view of plain and noun
taj0, rises the Mosque OF Hudavendi
giar, or Conqueror, built by Murad
who followed Orkham and added tn,
now lost Balgan States to the empire
His mosque, more interesting than tn,
tomb, is unique in that its facad
shows strong Byzantine influence
there are also many fine Greek frag