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Show . T -y si r tpr-tV J.C'V' tr' ' ' v - (' .,. t'" Just Like an Jin- 's -1 h ' , : V V cnanted Hoard of a rVf Wm n' ' ' ;' '-. - - K ' l 1 I . the Arabian ? t jr?fUfiS7 ? ' x -v . - V - V ; I Nigks Is Tins ; - c.: -Wt - '-'IV i t Aladdin s Cave of U , ' ' r Present 1 lme bKI y . - k!Wrlmrmr'i, Y-1 Tt Bttl Torn and Tim.. Worn Wall, of lMai.'.Vv.:.-;V J Li S 'J T, TT f r:&CW&2 Comtantinopla. It W. Ov.r Th.,e That -te witn Its neaps ox jewels, yA rx&l! SIf feV th Horde of Matometi- sf wt- c ,t sl rt -fi tffv. r - V iTral Fi mfSH, qerin tha City, WhU. Traaauro. of tha Tn. Saltan Solyman, th. Mgm6cant,W h. XtS jHini Cl JLXX10ieS Ol ieaQ yPYlrRriTAA Form.d tt. Nu. of H. Secret Tta.ura Worth of Booty to the Troaura '- Rulers and Its Glittering .. JkJCT4 Loot of Six Centuries yfemp f0 HIDDEN atray 1n the Green Vaults of ipe Old Seraglio Palace in Constantinople Constan-tinople the Sultan of Turkey has gold, jewels and other treasure worth at a conservative estimate more than $3,000,-000,000. $3,000,-000,000. The contents of this huge treasure treas-ure house are the result of centuries of hoarding on the part of Turkey's rulers. Here they piled up for the personal use of themselves and their successors all the richest of the loot brought back by their conquering armies from Persia, Greece and other lands to which they carried flrs and the sword. Now that peace is in sight, what is to become of all this wealth? Shall it b seized by the Allies as part reparation for the damage done them by Turkey and her German, Austrian and Bulgarian partners In crime, or shall the Turkish Government 'i compelled to use it to transform the Ottoman Empire from the miserable( poverty-stricken land it now is into a rich, prosperous and happy nation? These are questions which are quite certain cer-tain to receive serious consideration around the peace table at Versailles. It k seems unlikely that the Allies will be will-rg will-rg to allow the Sultan to retain possession posses-sion of what would prove such a powerful weapon in some future war on civilization. This personal wealth of the Sultan is probably the greatest single collection of treasure in the world. A description of some of its items reads like pages from the "Arabian Nights," and to enumerate all of them even briefly would fill a volume vol-ume as large as that famous work. If the 8ultan were to take the contents of the Green Vaults with him into exile he would need a whole railroad train or all the cargo space of a good-sized ocean liner to carry the thousands of precious objects that flU his coffers. The Green Vaults that hold the rich spoils of Turkey's long series of bloody wars are most Jealously guarded. No less than twelve sets of heavily barred bronze doors have to be passed before the final entrance is reached to this Aladdin's cave. For every lock there are two keys entrusted en-trusted to as many custodians, each of whom is watched over night and day by twenty-four armed guards. These guards are supposed to spy on each other as well as protect the guardians of the keys. The key to the next to the last of the oors is kept in an embroidered velvet case, which is entrusted to the special care of a high official. The last of the doors is curiously sealed with the Imperial cipher, and the seal is never broken without with-out elaborate ceremony. Before anyone ."lot connected with the Imperial Treasury ' (shallowed to set foot in the vaults a small army of guards is scattered about to prevent pre-vent any of the priceless contents being carried away or injured by handling. The treasure caves are officially known as the Green Vaults of Constatio. They are located in a low-domed edifice at one end of the Court of Felicity. The entrance to the building is lavishly decorated with rare marbles and tiles of great antiquity, its beauties giving a faint hint of the wonders won-ders that will dazzle the eyes of anyone fortunate enough to be allowed to cross the threshold. Only two or three of the Saltan's most trusted officials have ever viewed this collection col-lection of treasure In its entirety, and, of course, they are sworn to secrecy concerning con-cerning it. Several times within recent years, however, foreigners to whom the Sultan wished to show especial favor have been allowed to visit parts of the Green Vaults, and by piecing together their stories we get an idea of the splendor of this marvellous array of riches. What these visitors have to say confirms the belief be-lief long held in well-informed diplomatio N. circles that the person who succeeded in 'Vmduclng the Sultan to part with the contents con-tents of the Green Vaults for $3,000,000,000 would be getting a great bargain. The most impressive object in the vaults. . fCMPs psSTm occasions to heighten the charms of the Sul- and probably the most valuable, is an im- Q j' MFSf I , I 9? Vi.l "d ,mhr eartMy favorltea '' tha posing throne of beaten gold, adornad with MChSX. M I M fif 1 ?h,"ioW of God on Earth' are stored in tho thousands of rubles, pearls, diamonds, 0BWMMvm M W TOSMl Th"y taC'Ude sarliB of sapphires and emeralds, set in mosaic. SMUllhuiU I rl U WWMm dlamonii flowars long eD0Ush t0 reach fr0M This was one of the trophies brought aMtMiM 11 PlrHgl? shoulder to shoulder, ropes of pearls that from Persia by Selim I. away back in "H WJA JV KTm 0 'iT; t B '"vaU,T could duPUcate, and ear orna- the Fifteenth Century. How he ever , SOiif&i J? M rliRX jL . ments consistlnS o jewelled birds the succeeded in transporting this pon- r3 ftST J$V7 ( Jl i sh'" of butterflies holding in their derous piece of barbaric magnlfl- 11IRa Jk Jjk JL II f llMm $ph KM, A b6ak3 fe3toonB o BPark!inS Bems- cence such a long distance in days j yplBCw MI Ipt. "l? khMM VyIM? One of the few foreigners to gain when travelling was so difficult JlflpLLWr ft--fl -IPs WTrM admittance to the Green Vaults was is quite beyond comprehension. ffiffMffaiSFM W jf - f S-,r. 1 V'j i ' William J. J. Spry, a British naval No other precious stones can Jf f A C , 4yI 1 officer, who lived for many years compare in magnificence with ft :( V vw I V? --''" c$J& JitS Wk ln Constantinople. He describes the two great emeralds which 'llW A, hM 1 IxrW Fn fmimk Bome ot the things he saw ,n crown the top of this throne. r S fciASiT21 t:w I J jyTT 'mk this surprising treasure louse The weight of one is estj- A vtlt ft "easff' V as fo"ows: mated at four pounds and :: " Jl-x 3 ft "fad II "f-? I "What a marvellous sight the other is only a trifle I tm, 1 j T 'i ; met our gaze! No cave of table of delicately tt'flfs?4 WWwf W fIA A Diagrammatic Pro- carved ebony and , Vra -AJjteJ Ad m-fXA .entation of the Green sandalwood. itself At EISUa ".A l " W Lk VauIt of Constatio, worth a fortune V h t A V y)Atyzr$ Showing the Effig.e, On this repoe a flA "3N rSSMlri KV-i0x4 J tA TS k of the Dead Sultan, tankard and plat- , J I Jy g dwl? WCT P vult 10' nd ter, both M B-m JUL lA mMSAI fod'"ting th" wrought of ,1LJ SWX I W A WveBr.n 1 iM;f ifeNi-Vv .53;!t --..A I v v " ; - h x Av v'- a ; , f I " v '- - v ? - '-t , t , fa-....tfAJirft'. . , . ..ftfK.A.tfrt M .A . 2, M ,-,. a , j, . . ...... .-.f .. j,. ... . ,( ... , , y ..it full ii il il, i' ii nti'll r 'THE LOOT OF THE SULTAN" Tho Noted European Artiit, G. CUirin't Conception 6f tho Treasures of Constantinople Being Prewnted to IU Conqueror by HU SoIdier. and literally veneered with diamonds of unusual size. brilHance and symmetry. Everywhere are great hnaps of unset precious stones thousands of rubies, pearls, turquoiseB and emeralds piled up in the most prodigal prolusion. Other s piles contain nothing but exquisitely carved buttons of let, amber and mother of pearl, all set with great diamonds. The walls of one of the Innermost of the valuts are lined with life-size effigies of the Sultans who ruled Turkey from 1451 Copyright, 1918, by Star Company. to 1839. Each of these is clad in robes ot heavily brocaded silk and satin richer than any modern woman could obtain at any price. Their swords and daggers, and even the long feathers of their turbans, are loaded with priceless jewels of every Great Britain Rlgnta Reserved. kind Particularly wonderful are the big rubles and emeralds forming the clasps of the gauntlets on the effigies ot Ibraham and Solyman II. It was during the reign of the latter monarch, in 1689, that the .Turks won a notable victory over the Germans, 'k The jewels that are broueht forth on state All Baba ever contained such riches. For eight centuries matchless, precious stones and marvels of art have been hoarded up here. When our eyes, still dazzled with the outside sunshine, became be-came accustomed to the obscurity, tha diamonds began to scintlllato on every side. "A profusion of objects of unknown age and of Inestimable value were displayed In endless variety. Here were weapons of every period, from that of Yengbis Khan to that of Mahomet; weapons of silver' sil-ver' and weapons of gold, loaded witi precious stones; collections of golden cabinets cab-inets of every size and every style, some covered with rubies, other with diamonds or sapphires; coffee services of silver and gold, flagons and ewers ot antique forms and of exquisite beauty, fairy-like tissues, Faddles and harness, saddle-cloths embroidered em-broidered with silver and gold and bordered bor-dered with flowers in precious stones, great chairs of state, made to sit cross-legged cross-legged on, some of them one blaze of rubies and pearls, giving them a roseate hue; others, again, covered with emeralds 8nd shining with a green light, like tha ripples of sea-water. "Our expectations, no doubt, were greai, and our curiosity intense as we wera shown round this wondrous storehouse. One of the first things to which our attention atten-tion was called was a magnificent ivory throne inlaid with gold, studded with rubies, pearls and diamonds, and the seat cushioned with cloth of gold. "In the, cabinets are numberless velvet and silk prayer-carpets, embroidered in gold thread and precious stones, and a marvellous collection of arms, comprising sabres in silver scabbards carved in relief, re-lief, their blue-vefned blades covered with Arabic inscriptions in letters of gold, daggers dag-gers -with handles literally covered with diamonds and rubies, spears and old matchlocks, match-locks, richly enamelled pistols, the stocks of which are covered with clusters ol pearls, coral and other beautiful gems. "Here, in gold-enamelled bowls, ara quantities of loose turquoises, coral, agate, Cornelian topazes and strings of perfect amber beads. In another case we were permitted to admire agate, crystal and Jade vases, mounted in gold and enamel; saddles and horse furniture of gold, inlaid with precious stones. But among the most curious objects was a large dressing-table, made of tortoise shell, encrusted with diamonds dia-monds and rubies, the pillars supporting the mirror and frame of which were a mass of diamonds and rubies, all of large size; even the fringe round the edge of the table ,top, three or fonr inches in depth, was made of hanging strings of those precious stones. "Perhaps one of the most interesting vaults to which our attention was called was that in which were displayed effigies of twenty-fl' 3 Sultans, dressed in their original gal costumes. Very gorgeous they looked u their richly embroidered robes of silk and cloths of gold and cashmere; cash-mere; loose trousers of beautifully embroidered em-broidered Broussa gauze or silk; rich sashes incrustcd with precious stones, from which hung priceless scimitars with golden scabbards, the hilts literally covered cov-ered in diamonds; pistols and daggers of the richest description and workmanship; the traditional slippers of yellow morocco: and their headdresses most marvellous works of art and design, and turbans of the, richest materials, with jewelled aigrettes. "Until the beginning of the nineteenth century whenever a Sultan died an effigy, as large as life and dressed in the monarch's mon-arch's robes of state, would be brought to the treasury, wearing wonderful weapons weap-ons ln its sash, and on its head a grand turban, with a magnlficenO aigrette of jewels. Here it would be deposited, covered cov-ered with all this wealth, which was lost for any other purpose. Slowly this solemn, richly-dressed group has increased in numbers, num-bers, the new figures arriving one by one to take their places In this long line of ancient Sultans who have silently waited for them for hundreds of years. They touch 'shoulders now. all these phantoms of those who reigned at wide Intervals of each other, brought together by death in the same dreary non-exislence. "And this extraordinary luxury, sprinkled with the dust of ages, 1s trios! melancholy to contemplate. Of fabulous magnificence, these figures, ln their lofty turbans, guarded so zealously behin! double iron doors, have seen years, reign, and centuries pass, and revolutions lis nnri fall, in tho name Immnhtlltv tho oottw silence, scarcely lighted even ln the day time behind the ancient grated wfndowj and in total obscurity as soon as the snj has set. Each one bears Its name no an empty sound, but once illustrious andt terrible 'Amurath the Conqueror,' '8ol man the Magnificent,' 'Mahomet,' 'Mat moud the Reformer" and o on. throDg! out the group," |