Putnam's Magazine, Vol. 7: An Illustrated Monthly of Literature, Art and Life; October 1909-April 1910 (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Excerpt from Putnam's Magazine, Vol. 7: An Illustrated Monthly of Literature, Art and Life; October 1909-April 1910

Another duty of the bureau was to cut out and translate notices of the Sultan from foreign periodicals. This must have been a somewhat delicate task, for foreign Opinion of Abdul Hamid was seldom flattering, and not only was His Majesty subject to violent fits of temper, but he was one of the best shots in the empire. It was doubtless because he was aware of the light in which he was regarded abroad, that he took such pains to mark his appreciation of those who expressed favorable Opinions of him - as did Mr. Hopkinson Smith on one occasion - and to subsidize so large a number of journals. Individuals were also subsidized. The publica tion of some of their names has caused no little embarrassment in certain quarters.

This vanity expressed itself in other forms as well. Abdul Hamid in public was always a dignified figure.

His dark dress and lack of decorations contrasted not to his disadvantage with the glittering uniforms about him. He was fond of pomp, however, and as years went on he became solicitous to disguise their ravages. In the privacy of his extensive family he was even not a little of a dandy, allowing his fancy to run riot among shirts, waistcoats, cravats and pins. Of jewels he was a great connoisseur, as of weapons, flowers and women. Ingenious mechanisms attracted him. Our late Ambassador, Mr. Leishman, when he returned from leave, used to bring him more or less elaborate toys of the sort. Indeed, Abdul Hamid loved all curious and beautiful things, although without any great refinement Of taste, collecting about him silks, carpets, porcelain, pictures - he himself dabbled with the brush - richly-bound books, manuscripts that make one wonder if any lost Greek texts may yet be found among his treasures; and quantities of pets. Perhaps he found in them his only true friends. One of the first things he did after arriving at Salonica was to send back for his cat, forgotten in the hasty departure from Yildiz on the night of his dethronement.

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