ABDUL HAMID

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 115, 12 June 1909, Page 4

ABDUL HAMID

THE LilillTEß SIDE OF AX AUTOCHAT'S LIFE. In most of the books ami articles' that have been written about Abdul llamul U. Ihis character has been described as of the worst .possible dcsi-'iiptioii, anil lie has almost universally come to be regarded as the "black sheep" ofJ'mi'«l>' While there is no doubt that much' th.it Ims been said against him is triii', there is; another .side to his nature that o not often ihvolt H'pon. Years of terror and years of praotiuilly unlimited power have certainly made lu '"i melancholy and egotistical, ibut many who have met him personally' have spoken of his kindness and geniality. One of the chief Court physicians, who knew the Sultan intimately, lias left it on record that "he had never met a man who was so naturally a grand gentleman, all'able without effort, democratic without familiarity, as Abdul llamid.'' MUSIC AND CARPENTERING.

It is, perhaps, no wonder that a man who has been *i harassed with the fear of death should .be fond of trying to obtain a little mental rest in amusement, and Abdul Hamid has always delighted in being .regaled with music, dancing, and other entertainments. His fondness for music, indeed, is said to amount almost to a passion, and he sometimes .plays the piano himself, although it is remarked by those who have .heard him tljjat he is not a Paderewski. Conjuring entertainments are also very popular with Abdul Hamid, and he has often commanded .professors of legerdemain to give their performances before him. He bid a theatre erected at tlie palace, for he is very fond of the drama, but no light is ever allowed in the auditorium during the performances, and tilie players perform to an audience of which they .sec nothing. A favorite recreation of Abdul Haniid's lis carpentering, and lie is an expert at I the art. He has turned out somi' bcaii- [ liful specimens of work, and many years I ago he presented the late ljueen Victoria with a desk-that lie had made himself. [The Turkish autocrat is also a great hook-lover, being particularly addicted to sensational French novels. His | favorite Englislh author is Sir A. Conon Dovle. mild lie is. never tired of reading I "The Adventures of Sherlock .Holmes." ! A PRIVATE HOSPITAL.

One of the most huiuauitariun of Abdul Uamid's acts was the building of a hospital—a private institution run at his own expense. No charge has ever been made for treatment, and even foreigners and strangers have boon received quite gratuitously. The idea of erecting a hospital was a .strange one for Abdul ffamid, considering that ho himself haia a. great dislike for doctors', and when he lias been ill ha* frequently refused to see the physicians in person, but has described his ailment to some Court official, who in turn has described it to the doctors. The medical men have then told the go-between what should be done, and the latter has conveyed the information to the pa tie it. Abdul Ilaniid has also given largo sums at various times to alleviate sull'eving among his subjects, irrespective of rave' Of religion. These things may seem curious in one who has been responsible for untold suffering; but lie is one of those remarkable beings, a man willi .a dual personality, and when seen at his best he has .uianv good qualities. 'THE EYES OF THE SOX."

Like Hnroun til Rasehid of old, Abdul Hamid was at one time fond of going about Constantinople incognito after nigbt'-.ill. He had u grout desirAo find out what war- really going on in his capital, and it is -.aid that in order to penetrate everywhere he provided himself with a p.is-:, signed by him-'olf. Entering -various public places', muffled up so as to be unrecognised, he would carefully note how things were .being managed, and then, later on. when he met various officials in his real capacity of I Sultan, lie would point out to them

wliiit improvements he considered necessary. If they Nought to excuse themselves, lie would silence them with the remark: ''Enough. You see I know everything. I have the eve--, of the sou." Whatever is the eventual fate of this .harassed old man, there can be re) doubt but that be will be long remembered as one of the most remarkable monarch that the world Insj ever seen.— MAP.