ABDUL HAMID IN PRIVATE LIFE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 3

ABDUL HAMID IN PRIVATE LIFE.

Abdul Hamid, Sultan of Turkey, must always be a figure pregnant with interest for the world at large (writes A Turkish Exile” in the “Pad Mall Gazette ). A new work shortly to appear in an English translation is from the pen of M. Georges Dorrys, and is a clear and apparently authentic account of the life and reign of the only Monarch in Europe powerful enough to successfully ■withstand the march o civilisation, m his own dominions, whose temporal authority is without limit, and whose spiritual sway exceeds, perhaps, that of any priest/ on earth. Turkey and its ruler have so long presented a vexed problem, the issues of which are of such moment to Europe, that a nearer acquaintance with tne vie intima of the Sovereign cannot fail to be welcome and instructive. To Western eyes the Orient has ever appeared shrouded in a veil of mystery and romance, which, though impeding a dearer vision, greatly enhances the fascination. The tortuous - ways of the East are not our ways, nor is it possible for us to entirely fathom the workings of the Oriental mind; therefore such an insight as M. Dorrys gives us becomes all the more Interesting, for it beeps us to lift the veil a little and to pierce the gloom with our owe eyes. The, ordinary daily life of the Sultan seems to be comparatively regular. Rising at half-past lour, or, at latest, five, every morning, his entire day is spent in a ceaseless round of occupations. That these bear little on State affairs is proved by the fact that current matters often along for months, and even years, in spite of the tireless activity of the master mind. In fact, most of Abdul. Hamid’s time is spent in his study, absorbed in the perusal of reports sent 'by his spies from every quarter of the globe; for, as it has been truly remarked, the Sultan’s subjects may be divided into two broad classes, namely, the spies and .the spied upon. Very opposite traits in this strange character are Abdul Hamid’s extreme credulity; and his overwhelming suspicion and distrust. In proof of the former, it is told that all his drinking water must be brought from Kiathane, because years ago the Bohemian Aafital prophesied he should reign on condition that he drank no other. On a second occasion he met a wandering gipsy in his park at Kiathane, and asked her to tell him his fortune. Oddly enough she predicted his accession to the throne, foretelling the tragic circumstance by which it would be attended, as well as a long

reign, wars, etc., concluding with the ominous words: “ Your death will be caused by an illness coming from outside.” Like all despots, the Padishah, has a horror of death, and, consequently, dreads illness, especially anything of a contagious nature. Cholera and the plague had found him a determined enemy, and if Constantinople of to-day boasts a perfect system of sanitation, and advanced colleges for the study of bacteriology, it owes them to the gipsy’s warning. His Majesty himself is no mean chemist, having devoted a good deal of time to the study of medicine; for, like the wise and far-seeing monarch he is, he fully realises the benefit of being able, personally, to analyse such drinks as may appear suspicious. Moreover, ho doctors his own ailments, and has done so since the physician who formerly enjoyed his confidence became old and fell into disgrace. FEARS AND PRECAUTIONS. The Sultan’s accomplishments are many and varied in character. He is an excellent shot, performing feats with the pistol that show him to be a marksman of no ordinary skill. When younger he was fond of riding, and of boating on the lake near the Palace, but, thinking these amusements dangerous, he prudently abandoned them, Then, too, he is an astrdogist; he can mould, and even paint. A clever carpenter, in his youth he carved with his own hands the woodwork of an apartment in his kiosque at Kiathane, the _ surveys! of which now causes him a legitimate feeling of pride. As to his musical attainments, he can strum a few tunes on the piano, his tastes inclining towards light airs, such as abound in “II Trovatore” and “La Stella Ardente.” Classical music ho termed “ugly,” after listening to the rendering of a masterpiece. Frugality and extreme simplicity mark his preference in food, although the Imperial meals are served with a pomp and ceremonial fitting an important State function, , Abdul Hamid is temperate and suspicious. His private kitchen is a veritable fortress, consisting d a small chamber, situated 'to the right of the great entrance, and is guarded by barred windows and an armour plated door. The cook officiates under the ever-watoh-ful eye of the Kelardjhi Bachi, one of the most weighty functionaries in YiMiz, for the health, the very life even, of the Padishah is at his mercy. When cooked, each dish is fastened with red wax, bearing the official seal of the Kelardjhi, and remains hermetically closed until the seals are broken in the Sultan’s own presence. His Majesty’s life is, passed in a long series of elaborate precautions. One of his most fruitful sources of terror is the darkness. Each night sees him a prey to this horror, although every room and corridor of Ms kiosque, even to the farthest alley of the immense park, nightly witnesses the miracle of fiat lux, the brilliancy of the illuminations rivalling daylight itself. Sometimes the silence of a sleeping world will madden him, and he orders the band to strike up, or commands the Imperial Guard to march up and down in front of the pavilion, that the sound of their measured tramp may calm his nerves. He retires very late, so as to escape sleep as much as possible. His foster-brother, a plain, pale-faced little man, whose duty it is to read Mm to sleep, resembles him so remarkably that it is whispered he personates him on State occasions, when his Majesty is indisposed. Abdul Hamid’s literary predilections are certainly most in favour of those reports which are continually pouring in to Mm, on all subjects and persons, from his spies. After these he prefers literature of the melodramatic school. Particularly pleasing to him are books by authors like Xavier do Montepin, which deal in gruesome murders, detective mysteries, forgeries, outrages, substitution of wills, revenge, violence, and vice; in fact, everything tending to show human nature in its worst form. Among more serious works of philosophy and politics Ms Majesty admires “The Prince,” by Macchiavelli, taking this work of the Florentine historian as his vade mecum and guide. . VERY MUCH A XiADIES’ MAN. After this insight into his character can it be wondered that prisoners coming up for judgment meet but scant mercy? These unfortunates are privately examined at Yildiz, Abdul Hamid being a Mdden witness of the proceedings. Much is isaid and talked about the harem system in Turkey. As a matter of fact, however, only a few wealthy nobles can afford to indulge in so a luxury. 1 The Sultan, 'being untrammelled by a Parliament to revise his Civil List, is enabled to maintain one of unparalleled splendour and size, numbering over three hundred women, choean especially, when very young, for their beauty and grace. On entering the harem they must abandon all idea of home, family and country, even their names, for they are re-named, according to the pleasure of their master. A special training is 'given them in all the arts of pleasing, but in everything' else they must be childish and ig-

norant. Unlike most Orientals, who admire large, stately women, Abdul Hamid prefers charm and prettineas to regularity of feature. When not troubled by preoccupations and anxieties, he pays frequent vxsats to the hairem, occasionally entering into conversation with his favourites, giving them a superficial outline of political happenings, and telling anecdotes of foreign courts, this being the only idea of Mstory they possess. His Majesty’s visits to ,the harem only take place when his mind is free from care. At the first alarming rumour of embarrassing political crisis all bis usual habits and occupations are swept away before the threatened storm, and he remains for long periods plunged in thought, his active mind preparing plan* against an enemy, or busily engaged conjuring up visions of imaginary danger. He has been known to remain over forty-eight hours without food or sleep when suffermg from one of these fits. Such long watches, together with the tremendoua mental and physical strain endured, bring, on nervous attacks of great violence, wMch render the monarch perfectly ferocious, so that while the paroxysm lasts no one dare approach Mm. It in, therefore, not surprising that, in spite of the care ho take* of Ms health, and the precaution* with which he surrounds himself, Abdul Hamid, after a reign of twenty-five years, looks prematurely old and broken. His weakness is extreme, and Ms body eo thin that it is little more than a.skeleton; in fast, it is only by dint of will-power and nervous energy that the Sultan manage* to keep up.