DAILY LIFE AT YILDIZ PALACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13325, 3 November 1906, Page 5 (Supplement)

DAILY LIFE AT YILDIZ PALACE.

SULTAN'S FAVOURITE QUARTERS. Thk Palace of Yildiz stands on the top of a hill and is surrounded by a thick wall. It is almost a misnomer to call it a palace, as " Yildiz" comprises a number of very modestlooking whitewashed villas and kiosks, any one of which is more like a private residence than the home of a Sovereign. The study in which Abdul Hamid passes a third of his life is furnished with a simplicity amounting almost to poverty. On the big writing-table lie the papers and documents of the dav only, which are carried off as soon as they have been attended to. The rule is that nothing should remain more than 24 hours on that table, and there is no waste-paper basket. His favourite room is his library, or libraries, of which he has four. The first Imperial library was founded by Sultan Ahmed 111. One of them is devoted exclusively to works on Turkey and the, Ottoman dominions, in all languages. It contains a strange collection of manuscripts of books which have never been published, that were bought up in order to prevent their circulation. Another section is composed of works in Turkish. Arabic, and Persian, and these are kept in the best order, as the librarians can read the titles and catalogue them regularly, which they are incapable of doing with foreign productions. The Sultan's day begins early. In summer at five and winter at six lit- rises, and if the weather is tine goes immediately into the park. This is extensive and laid out in alleys and little forests, with several artificial lakes, the largest of which has an island in the middle. On this big pond His Majesty generally embarks in a caique, or boat, which he rows himself, or in either a. small steam or electric launch, and repairs to the island to visit his pets. These are of all sorts—stags, roedeer. gazelles, rare goats and sheep 'and birds of every land. They are all tame and are said to be very fond of their Royal master. At ten o'clock the Sultan returns to his room and takes a frugal breakfast. He is served by the head butler. Osman Effendi. who tastes each dish before handing it to his master, and nobody else is present, unless it be, rarely, sonic of the children. After breakfast ah hour or so is spent in the library, where the illustrated books are most used.' Altogether there are some 10.000 volumes. At one o'clock punctualy His Majesty retires to his bedroom for a siesta, while one of the eunuchs or a picked man of the Albanian Guard stands outside the door. This is really the best rest.be gets, as he often works, late into the. night, and then goes tired to bed. The siesta lasts an hour and a-half, when he is softly waked, and at half-past two repairs to the study for the labours of State. Here he works uninterruptedly, often till past midnight, with the exception of the, time, taken for a hasty refreshment about sunset. All documents brought to him are first thrown into a disinfecting box, and then given to him by the First Secretary. Tahsen Bey. On Fridays this programme is interrupted by the Selamlik, and often by audiences to foreign diplomats in the afternoon, which generally take place in one or other of the garden kiosks. Nobody knows beforehand in which room the Sultan means to sleep, and he often chooses himself at the last moment. It is always on the ground floor, however, and the door is. always watched by some especially trusted eunuch, or Albanian, armed to the teeth. ' ■'.:;' On Wednesdays. Fridays, and Sundays there is generally a theatrical representation in the Court Theatre, though Sunday is not a regular day. The theatre adjoins the dwelling rooms of the palace and communicates direct with the Sultan's apartments. The stage is roomy and well machined, tint there are only three or four boxes for the spectators, the place generallyfilled by the pit and stalls being merely covered 'with a fine carpet. The Royal box is so arranged that the actors shall never turn their backs to it. and for the same reason the orchestra is placed beneath it. On either side of the Sultan's box is one for the harem and one for visitors, the former, of course, being shut off by a grille , and netting.