THE STORY OF YILDIZ KIOSK.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13410, 30 April 1909, Page 6

THE STORY OF YILDIZ KIOSK.

Abdul Hamid's career ends as despicably as it opened brightly. Called to the throne at a grave crisis in Turkey's history by the official aristocracy, wijo were genuinely desirous of reform, ho swore to abide by the new Constitution, and a grand career seemed before him. But never for an instant did he intend to keep his oath. With an able and willing instrument ready to his hand in the person of Said Pasha, his Grand Vizier, Abdul, before- six months had passed, hfld prorogued Parliament, suspended the Constitution, and established martial law. He then proceeded to create and'perfect a detestable system of espionage both at home and abroad, and, as his tyranny hardened, on two awful occasions allowed hundreds of Armenians to be butchered in the Constantinople streets, and authorised those namelees Armenian atrocities, which horrified Europe. But the tyrant begets the conspirator, and Abdul became afraid of his life, as well he might. INio Roman Emperors for ten centuries had had their state palace on the acropolis that overlooks the Bosphorus. Their Turkish conquerors only made one change, adding the Seraglio. During the winter cold, it had become the custom to house the Sultan in the'more modern Tchiragan palace, which is beautifully situated on the- southern side of the Golden Horn. There Abdul was born ; there, he now tells the world, ho wishes to die- Its more usual name is the Dolma Baghtche.

But at last the terror of the conspirator's knife became so acute that an impregnable place of refuge had to be found for the tyrant. Some miles north of the Golden Horn, beyond Pera, lay a magnificent park, with two lakes, and much of it consisting of steeply rising hill land. The site commanded Pera and Galata, and could easily be made impregnable. The park was bought, a palace erected, and then the whole place was encircled with a huge wall, in places 50ft high, and girt with towers. Hither came the Sultan with his harem. To protect him a hundred trusty Albanians and Circassians were stationed near • the living apartments. To quell all possibility of an organised attack, a regiment, three hundred strong, of picked infantry had permanent quarters assigned them within, the walls. To keep up constant communication between these two bodies of soldiers more than fifty messengers were kept in perpetual readiness. Two hundred sentinels day and night patrolled the park, and kept watch along the walls. It was found that one solitary residence overlooked this abode of tyranny. That property had to be purchased, the residence destroyed, grounds thrown into the park, and another high wall erected. Still Abdul could not feel at ease or enjoy sound repose. More -than seven thousand of Turkey's First Army Corps, with two battalions of artillery, were inarched up to the park wall, but not allowed to enter. For this army permanent barracks, which have just been destroyed, were erected, and a mosque for the soldiers' Teligious exercises. Thie is the history of tie famous Yildiz Kiosk, and here Abdul Hamid has cowered for the last eight years; this is the garrison to whom he recently distributed £300,000. For the present the Sultan has been taken to Salonika. But if such as he do think, what thoughts must rack his brain as in his old age he sighs forth his wish "to die at Tchiragan, where I was born."