Transcriber’s Notes: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Additional Transcriber’s Notes are at the end. * * * * * THE TURK AND HIS LOST PROVINCES * * * * * [Illustration: THE BALKAN STATES TO ACCOMPANY “THE TURK AND HIS LOST PROVINCES,” By Wm. Eleroy Curtis] _The_ TURK _and_ HIS LOST PROVINCES GREECE BULGARIA SERVIA BOSNIA BY WILLIAM ELEROY CURTIS _Author of “The True Thomas Jefferson,” “The Yankees of the East,” “Between the Andes and the Ocean,” etc._ [Illustration] _SECOND EDITION_ CHICAGO NEW YORK TORONTO FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY LONDON & EDINBURGH MCMIII * * * * * Copyright, 1903, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY (_April_) Chicago: 63 Washington Street New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Toronto: 27 Richmond Street, W London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 30 St. Mary Street PREFACE Von Moltke, the great German soldier, predicted that a universal war would be fought under the walls of Constantinople. He had faith that the Christian Powers of Europe, sooner or later, would compel the Turks to respect their moral, political, and financial obligations. This would have been done years ago but for the jealousy of those Powers, and the thousands of innocent Macedonians who have been massacred and the hundreds of thousands who have suffered from Turkish cruelty are the victims of that jealousy. The Czar would intervene, but England, France, Austria, and Germany will not permit him to do so for fear Russia will obtain a port upon the Mediterranean. At intervals the uprisings in Macedonia have indicated the approach of hostilities. They have grown more frequent and serious until, as this little book goes to press, Russia and Austria have demanded a better government for Macedonia, and the Sultan has responded by ordering 250,000 Turkish troops into that province. Diplomatic negotiations and empty assurances may again avert war, but every sign indicates that Von Moltke’s prophecy is soon to be fulfilled. The purpose of this publication is to give English readers a few facts about the several “buffer states” of the Balkan Peninsula which cannot be elsewhere obtained. It is the result of a journey through that peninsula as correspondent of The Chicago Record-Herald, and although the author realizes that it is defective and incomplete, he is confident that the American public will appreciate his efforts to give them the timely information it contains. CONTENTS THE GREAT TURK AND HIS CAPITAL I. The Lost Provinces 13 II. The Turkish Government 35 III. The Sultan and His Family 54 IV. The Selamlik 82 V. The City of the Grand Turk 91 VI. Scenes in Constantinople 107 VII. Mosques and Palaces 126