Word: sultanly
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...harem, are still searching high & low-at drug counters and in dramatic schools, at debutantes' parties and in back alleys-for the girl with that irresistible appeal. The girls in the Hollywood harem today are, inch for inch, at least as voluptuous as their predecessors. But that jaded sultan-the U.S. public-has lately been turning his head away with a yawn...
Abdullah Ibn Hussein, scion of the proud Hashemite family, lived in his youth in "honorable captivity" i.e., as a hostage for the good behavior of his powerful relatives, at the court of Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid, who cut off heads with considerably less thought than Cromwell ever gave the matter. But Abdullah preferred to satisfy his great ambition-and check his many enemies-through subtler means. He seemed to have a natural knack for the subtle games of power. At Abdul Hamid's court the youngster, who was born and raised (until 10) in a harem, came to realize...
...ancient "sick man of Europe." Midhat was a "Young Turk"-in spirit at least-before Atatürk was ever heard of. He was born in 1822, the son of a Constantinople judge. At 29, he was made General Secretary of the State Council of well-meaning but pusillanimous Sultan Abdul Mejid. A sternly upright and able young man with compassionate and liberal convictions, Midhat was soon serving as a trouble-shooter in one tense corner after another of the sprawling Ottoman empire. His determined efforts to abolish slave labor, wipe out anti-Christian discrimination and establish schools and colleges...
...like many a reformer, Midhat made enemies in high places during his years of service. Some time after Abdul Mejid died, the Russian ambassador at Constantinople used his friendship with the Queen Mother to get Midhat recalled from the Balkans. Midhat squared himself with the new Sultan, Abdul Aziz, and was soon appointed Grand Vizier of the Empire. From this lofty eminence he discov. ered that the Sultan was growing rich, at his country's expense, on bribes from a wealthy Austrian railroad man. Midhat appealed to the Sultan's conscience. The Sultan returned the bribes and sulkily...
Plot & Prison. Abdul Hamid was a devious, scheming tyrant who hated Reformer Midhat, chiefly because the latter had written a constitution for Turkey. The new Sultan reappointed Midhat as Grand Vizier and set an army of spies to watch him. Soon he had cooked up enough phony charges to banish Midhat and all his followers. Responding to diplomatic pressure, Abdul Hamid restored Midhat to imperial grace. In 1879, however, he had Midhat arrested for the "scissor-murder" of Abdul Aziz...