THE SULTAN.

Inangahua Times, Volume III, Issue 70, 29 January 1877, Page 2

THE SULTAN.

A Berlin correspondent of the London Telegraph has some interesting gossip about the Sultan. Hitherto the Grand Vizier and Ministers have always stood while in audience of the Padishah. At the first interview granted by Hamid, as Sultan, to Mehemed Euschdi and Midhat, he asked them to sit down, and offered them cigarettes. The Grand Vizier respectfully declined to smoke in the presence of his sovereign ; but Midhat sat down at once, and lighted his cigarette. Presently Abdul Hamid insisted upon Mehemid Euschdi doing likewise, and a tiresome formality of the past evaporated j in smoke. Besides collections of stuffed birds and impaled beetles, of modern arms and coetly mouthpieces, one of the Sultan's favorite " fads " is a passion for art car* pentry and wood carving. He has a regular wordshop in which he practises both these handicrafts. A Mecklisburgh German, Carl Jenssen, owes his grest favor to Abdul Hamid's taste for fancy upholstery. Jenssen was a common avtizan, employed in the Prince's workshop to do the rougher kinds of carpentering, and became his Highness's sole confidant —the most influential personage in the household. By mere chance the Prince's attention was attracted by something the man did or said : he got into the habit of talking with him, and took such pleasure in bis conversation that he soon not only made him director of the workshop, but entrusted him with all sorts of commissions. Carl (as Abdul Hamid always culls him) justified the confidence placed in him in the most brilliant manner— he sot only bought cheap, but got good articles for his money. The Prince's delight with his acquisition knew no bounds when Jenssen gradually developed a variety of other talents— fitting up looms, looking after the Prince's wardrobe, grooming horses, cleaning carriages, &c. ; in short, he bacame quite indispensable. One day, when Carl had made an unusual lucky hit in bia purchases, Abdul Hamid reso.lved.to confer an unprecedented favor upon him. The Prince opened one of his wardrobes with his own hands, took therefrom some Frankisb clothes, and gave them to Jenssen. Let anybody acquainted with Oriental etiquette but reflt-ct for a moment what r.n astounding condescension

it was for an Osraauli heir presumptive, upon whose beck and nod hundreds of slaves are always waiting, to give a pair of Parismade breeches with his own hands, to a Giaour journeyman carpenter! Such trust, however, has Hamid in the honest Mecklenburgher tiat he has even allowed him to eater the apartments of Her Highness. Jensson had one day bought some thoes for the Princess : when he saw them on they did not exactly fit ; but were so well finished that the illustrious lady could not bear to send them back. She sent for her husband, and after a long discussion Carl was called in and requested to see for himself where the shoes did sot exactly suit the Princess's feet, so that he might hare altered them for her. Jenssen himself was overcome by this mark of confidence. There is an emancipation about this little episode which inclines all to congratalate the Turks on their new Sultan.