A PRETTY STORY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 10 March 1881, Page 4

A PRETTY STORY.

A pretty story comes to us from tho East, where it is affirmed to be scrupulously e.r.-.•'-,.and quoted as the motive of that hatred towards the Greek Christians which all recent travellers describe as being the most prominent feature of the feultan's policy. About two years ago the favourite wife of the Sultan eloped from the harem with a Greek doctor, and took refuge in Athens. The lady took with her a quantity of jewels belonging to the other ladies of the harem, and worse than all, the two little girls she had borne the Sultan, and to whom, as she knew well, he was devotedly attached. But the mother soon finding the children a burthen placed them with a Greek lady, who finding their expenses unpaid transferred them to the Christain Hospital for foundlings at Chichli. Thence one of them was placed out as a little drudgo and servant to a certain M. Vaccaro, an Italian merchant, where the child was well cared for, clothed, and fed, but made to work hard. About a month ago the mother confidod tho secret of the destination of this unfortunate child to Vitalis Pasha, who is a Frenchman by birth, and aide-de-camp to the Sultan. This gentleman immediately set out for Chichli, accompanied by the chief of the police, and summoned M. Vaccaro to deliver up the child at once. This was accomplished without difficulty. The child is said to be of surpassing beauty, just nine years old, of fair complexion, ancl highlydeveloped intelligence, and the Sultan's gratitude to Vitalis Pasha is reported to have been exhibited in the most generous manner. Her restoration to the Imperial harem took place immediately with all the honours due to her rank, and the Sultan betrays the most lively delight in ber company. Of the other child, just one year younger, no trace has been found as yet. .Sister Martha dsclarcs that she was taken away by a traveller about to start for Cephalonia, where he declared he possessed a vineyard, and wLere he resided with his wife and family. Reference was given to the Italian Consul at Constantinople, whose memory fails him entirely with regard to the circumstances of the case, and so Vitalis Pasha has been dispatched once more in quest of this second stray blossom from tho Sultan's family tree, whose adventures may, perhaps, be even more curious that those of her elder sister.