Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1877 — The Sultan’s Jewels. [ARTICLE]

The Sultan’s Jewels.

The chief attraction of the Seraglio is the treasury. Here, in a chamber by no means large, is gathered treasure such as one reads of in tales of the genii. The actual value of these stores is almost beyond conception. Each Sultan seeks to exceed his predecessor in the richness of hie additions to the collection, and the result is a dazzling but not very impressive array of theatrical-looking properties that might just ns well be made of glass and tinsel—-the effect upon the spectator would be as pleasing. Imagine to ‘yourself a carpet crusted with pearls, many of them as largo as sparrow eggs; a throne ol gold, frosted with pearls; draperies for the horses ridden by the Sultan, embroidered with pearls and rubies; a cradle coated with precious stones; inlaid armor, jeweled helmets, sword-hilts—one of these is decorated with fifteen diamonds, each one as large as the top of a man’s thumb; coffee trays of ebony, with a double row of enormous diamonds, set close together; pipe stems, sword-belts, caskets, and bushels of necklaces of the most splendid description, heaped together in glass showcases, and flashing like fire-flies in the dark. The most costly article in the treasury is a toilet table of lapis-lazuli mid other valuable material, richly inlaid with precious stones of every description. The pillars that support the mirror are set with diamonds; the stem “and claws of the table are covered with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, carbuncles, etc..; along the edge of the table hangs a deep fringe of diamonds, with immense solitaire tassels. The whole is a gorgeous—bore. Multitudes of attendants are stationed tlirough the apartment, and you may be sure that you are never left, for a second unobserved by these watcjiful guardians of the treasure-house. — Letter from, Constantinople.