Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-01-04
cONS'TANTINoPLE
HAS HAD A BOOM
CITY Has Grown Far Beyond
Walls Of Ancient Capital
MANY NOTED

Germans Soon to Have Exprsss Trains
Running Between Berlin and Turkish
City Via Vienna and sofia-Ths'r
Efficiency In Conducting War str'k'
inaIy illustrated.
Nothing better illustrates the Ger
man system Of conducting the war
than the manner in which their rail-
ways are operated. In a couple OF days
after the fall of Warsaw the Germans
had through express trains In opera
ton between Brussels and the Russian
city, going through Berlin. Now, since
they have opened the way to Turkey,
the German railroad officials are ready
to establish through service between
Berlin and Constantinople via Vienna
and Sofa. A glance at the map Illus
trates the magnitude Of this achieve
ment, as the distance is approximate
ly 1000 miles.
Interest In the war is now centered
around the Turkish capital and In
Greece, and many close observers are
Of the opinion that the result depends
ON the outcome In the Balkans. Thus
Constantinople is one Of the most In
teresting cities in all Europe at this
time.
Constantinople extends far beyond
the ancient walled city Of the emper
ors, which only covered the promon-
tory known today as STEAMBOAT. This
promontory, bounded on the north by
the poetic Golden Horn. which, extend
ing some miles inland, forms perhaps
the most magnificent harbor In the
world, and on the south by the blue
waters of the Marmora, is indeed the
most enchanting part Of the city, but
the present population, estimated ut
about a million and quarter, could
not be housed within its borders. Fac
ing the eastern side Of STEAMBOAT, on
the Asiatic shores Of the BospOrus and
Marmora, stand the ancient cities OF
Calcedon CKadikewy) and Chrysopolis
(ScutarD. These now form part OF
Constantinople. Across the Golden
Horn to the north, up the slopes of the
hill crowned by Galata tower, built by
the Genoese, houses upon houses are
so crowded together that, looked at
from the sea, it would seem as though
there were no streets to separate them.
Many Villages on Shores.
The shores Of the Bosporus are
strewn with villages, some insignih-
cant, some fairly considerable, all of
them part Of the city. To the west,
| beyond the Leven towers and the mag
| nifcent marble gate through which the
emperors rode in splendor, numerous
other villages have sprung up, and to-
day Constantinople may be said to ex-
tend to length of some twenty miles.
| The coast running south from Kadi-
kewy and the Princes islands Is also
included In the city, so that In width,
too, there is a very great difference
since the days of the Turkish conquest.
Constantine founded his capital In
1923, and for LOO years it was a
Christian city. Walking the narrow
streets today one comes across here
mosque which was once Christian
church, there Greek inscription, here
column with beautiful capital, there
the foundation of a once cleaning
bronze column. But most wonderful
of all stands that noble edifice, the
church, now mosque, Of st. Sophia.
Built on the top of the first hill, i'm
mediately behind the site Of the en-
peror's palace, it dominates the city.
Its dome, outlined against the horizon,
catches the eye from every point Of
view.
What has st. Sophia not seen? The
browning Of emperors with all the
pomp and ceremony, expresses riding
IN state into the spacious ladies' gal
ery, quarrels, intrigues and, lastly, a
conquered emperor fleeing to it for
refuge from the invading Turk. All
these form a succession of events
whose narrative holds one In spell.
The conquering Turk did not In any
way lessen the romance Of the life In
the city, and today the charm is still
there. Who, having once threaded his
way through the fascinating bazaars,
does not picture again the quaint shops
with vendors sitting cross legged on
the floor, the curious old arches, the