The Alaska citizen., 1915-05-03
City of Constantinop|e is Interesting Seat of Turkish Government Described

to the taste or caprice of the princes or sultans. it now consists of con slomeration of buildings. clustering | together without order or design. i It's apartments, however, are spa cious and richly furnished
 At the principal entrance is a large and lofty gate. called Rabi Humav. on, "fhe high door" or sublime ! porte from which has been derived the wellknown diplomatic phrase, all political business being trans acted. as supposed. under this DOT tai Within the precincts of the palace Is the celebrated divan and the harem. with the Garden of De- light" in which are numerous gor- geous parterres and pavilions. The Adrianople and Constantinople rail way here runs along the coast and has terminus.
 MOSQUES BEAUTIFUL. There are great number of mosques in Constantinople. all of them more or less distinguished by gran deur and beauty; but the most re markable are the royal mosques, of which there are about fifteen, among the finest in the world. or these the largest and most splendid is that of Suleimania. situated on the north east side of the city. and standing in the midst of large square. sur rounded by an arcade upon pillars of granite and marble.
 Next 10 it in extent, but of much older date. is the famous mosque of St Sophia, near the east extrem- ity of the city. the pattern of al most every mosque in the land its walls and domes, of which latter it has twenty of equal dimensions, springing from the same level, and sustained by twelve columns. are en- crusted with mosaics, forming vari- ous figures and devices. The court or open square In which it stands Is paved with marble. and shaded by fine plane trees. This is the most ancient existing Christian church. having been only converted into mosque in 1453. It has lat tery been thoroughly restored by an English architect by order of the sultan, and the layer of plaster re- moved by which the superb mosaics and frescoes that decorate it's walls were covered.
 The mosque of Yeni Djami known also as that of the Sultana Djami, was built by the mother of Moham- med ". and Is esteemed one of the most magnificent in the capi- tai It stands almost on the edge of the port. and this point, being the ferry between Galata and Stam- boul is constantly thronged with boats. Here almost every Frank first lands i1 the City of the Faith full"
 The mosque is constructed of white marble, and has two peculiarly ele- gant minarets, encircled by no less than three galleries of richly perfo- rated workmanship. The principal dome rests upon four lesser ones which appear to lift it to the clouds. Another celebrated mosque is that of Sultan Ahmed, little southeast from tie former. From the elevaI ed position this mosque occupies it is the most conspicuous object in the city when viewed from the Sea of Marmora. The minarets are of great beauty, and ascend to a great height All the other mosques are much less in size than those des cribed, but very much resemble them in plan and other features. All of them are enriched by splendid col umns of marble, Egyptian granite or serpentine. and have massive and highly ornamented gateways and porches and handsome courts and cisterns for ablution