Religious faiths professed

Then what a diversified scene is spread before the mind by the variety of religious faiths professed here. A native of Constantinople put the case before the Parliament of Religions, held at the Chicago Exposition, thus: “We have a Parliament of Religions every day in Constantinople. ” The faith of Israel, Mohammedanism, and Christianity, are here matched against each other in great organised communities, with the marks of the controversies and wars which form so large a part of the history of this Eastern world fresh and clear upon them.

Valide Khan in Stamboul

Here are the sects and schools of thought which divide Islam; the Sunnites who maintain the legitimacy of all the Caliphs, the Shiites who hold that Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, was his first lawful successor, and who gather annually in the court of the Valide Khan in Stamboul, to cut and gash themselves, like their brethren in Persia, as they mourn the murder of Ali’s sons, Hussein and Hassan; the Howling and the Dancing Dervishes who hope to apprehend the Divine in their ecstasy, the Bektashs Dervishes, more rationalistic, more tolerant, more latitudinarian.

Here are the sects that divide the Christian world; Orthodox Greek, Roman Catholic, Gregorian Armenian, Protestant, representatives of the Nestorian Church, and of the Syrian Jacobites. What long vistas of Church History are thus open on every hand; what different modes of conceiving truths stare you in the face at every turn!

Finally, but not least, there is the spacious outlook afforded by the political situation, of which Constantinople has long been the centre. The question of the continued existence of the Ottoman rule in Europe, if not also in Asia, has been a burning question for many generations, affecting both the destiny of the peoples subject to that rule and the interests and relations of all the Great Powers of Europe. It is one of the biggest, most important, most complicated problems that can occupy the minds of the statesmen of the world, and it has no less magnitude in its appeals to the concern of philanthropists. Here, to speak with malice to none and with charity for all, is a rule established by the might of conquest over different races, rival nationalities, various creeds.

Basilica Cistern Batan Serai

However inconvenient this arrangement may seem, it was always a pleasing sight to see groups of women and children gathered towards evening about the fountain (Tchesmfc) of their district to fill graceful, bright-coloured pitchers at the gushing faucets, and then to wend homewards. It took one far back in the ways of the world, and was a bit of the country in the town. Nor are the faithful water- carriers (sakka) forgotten, who brought water in great leathern vessels, shaped like a blunderbuss, hung horizontally by a strap from the left shoulder, and who poured the contents into a large earthen-ware vessel within your house. The aqueducts of Valens, Justinian, and other Byzantine Emperors, as well as the Basilica Cistern Batan Serai) still act their part in furnishing the city with water.

Until recently, the only other source of water- supply was either rain-water led from the roof into a cistern built under the house, or water brought in barrels from springs in the surrounding country. The introduction of water from the Lake of Derkos, which lies dose to the Black Sea, to the west of the Bosporus, has been a great boon to the dty, but it is not in favour for drinking purposes.

Generally pious foundations

The most interesting fountains are those known as Sebil, generally pious foundations, and next to the mosques and turbehs, the best specimens of Oriental Art in the dty. The finest example of this form of fountain is the well-known Fountain of Sultan Achmed III. (1703-1780), which stands to the east of S. Sophia, near the Grand Entrance to the Seraglio, and which was de-signed by that Sultan himself. The fountains are polygonal chambers; with broad, brightly-painted, wooden eaves; with sides of gilded open iron work, or of marble slabs, over which carved flowers and fruits are spread in profusion; and, often, surmounted by fantastic little domes. Within, is found a tank from which a man keeps full of water a number of metal cups, attached by chains to the iron work, but accessible, through the openings in it, to every thirsty wayfarer, without money and without price.

The living, personal, human element in this mode of distributing water is as impressive as the fairy form of the monument Furthermore, water-carriers, paid from the funds which endow a fountain, go about the streets to give “the water of life ” freely to any person who asks for it To erect a public fountain is a very usual form of public benefaction among Moslems, and is regarded as highly meritorious.

Distinguished deputation led by Belisarius

But when the officers sent for that purpose appeared, Vigilius, a man of uncommon size and strength, clutched the pillars of the altar, and refused to obey the imperial summons. Thereupon, the officers pulled him by his feet and hair and beard, to force him to let go his hold. But the bishop held fast, and could not be moved until the pillars to which he clung gave way, and threw him and the altar to the ground. This was too much for the indignation and sympathy of the spectators who crowded the church.

Coming to the rescue, they put the assailants to flight, and left the Pope master of the situation. It was only after a distinguished deputation, led by Belisarius, waited upon him next day, warning him that resistance to the Emperor’s authority would be vain, and assuring him that submission would prevent further ill-treatment, that Vigilius came forth from the church. This was in 551. The church was attached to a large and rich monastery known as the monastery of Hormisdas, after the name of the district in which it stood. Like the members of other monasteries in the city, the monks of this House took their full share in the theological controversies of their day.

Among the crowd of events witnessed under the dome of S. Sophia, there are three scenes of paramount importance in the religious history of the world that lend to the Great Church an extraordinary interest. The first occurred on the day on which the envoys of Vladimir attended service in the cathedral, and were so overwhelmed by the splendours of the worship, that they hastened back to Russia to tell their sovereign that they had seen the glory of the true God. “We know not,” they are reported to have said, “ whether we were not in heaven; in truth, it would be impossible on earth to find such riches and magnificence. We cannot describe to you all that we have seen. We can only believe that there in all likelihood one is in the presence of God, and that the worship of other countries is there entirely eclipsed. We shall never forget such grandeur.

Whosoever has seen so sweet a spectacle will be pleased with nothing elsewhere.” The conversion of the Slavic peoples to the Christian faith, a work commenced in the ninth century by the mission of Cyril and Methodius to the Slavs of Bulgaria and Moravia, is one of the most important services rendered by the Church of the Byzantine Empire to the cause of European civilisation. So far as its political significance is concerned, it can stand comparison with the conversion of the Teutons by the Western Church. It accomplished what the victories of Zimisces failed to achieve.

It was the moral conquest of Russia, and the source of her upward life, until that country was opened also to the influence of Western civilisation marriage under comet. It probably saved Russia from becoming a Mohammedan State. The Slavic peoples rightly cherish a regard for Byzantine Constantinople, similar to that which Western Europe feels for Athens and Rome.

Patriardr Michael Keroularius

The second scene, to which we refer, took place on the 15th July 1054. On the morning of that day, as Divine worship in the cathedral was about to commence, three papal legates, Cardinal Humbert, Cardinal Frederic, and the Archbishop of Amalfi, made their way through the crowd of worshippers to the steps of the altar. Having denounced the Patriardr Michael Keroularius for insubordination to the Holy See, the legates placed upon the altar a bull of excommunication against him and his adherents. They left the church, shaking its dust off their feet, and exclaiming, “ Videat Deus et judicet” In due time the patriarch hurled back a counter-anathema; and, thenceforth, the Christian world was divided in two bitterly hostile camps. It was the wave precipitated against the shore by waves that had tossed the ocean’s expanse, for league upon league.

It was the consummation of a long process of disruption between the West and the East, the course of which is marked by such events as the foundation of Constantinople, the jealousy between Old Rome and New Rome, the invasion of the Teutons, the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire, race antipathies, and wrangles over the phrase Filioque, the use of images, the celibacy of the clergy, and the employment of unleavened bread in the Eucharist. Behind all this discord, we may be able to detect men groping for the truth, and resisting absolutism in Church and State. But it has left Christendom weakened both as a political and a religious power to this day.

Tropical climatic conditions

At present fc‘Elprom -Thermo” Ltd-Balchik produces disconnectors for Voltage 66-132 kV and Rated Current up to 2000 A, as well as manual drives for outdoor disconnectors-up to 145 kV, operating under normal and tropical climatic conditions.

In 1964 a special branch “Cermet materials, special alloys and contact materials” was established with the Research Institute of Electrical Industry. In 1970 it became an independent institute.

From 1975 on all kinds of electrical equipment production was brought together in the Elprom-Energo Integrated Works, and for the purposes of research and development in that field, an Electric Power Technology Institute was opened in Sofia. The new group covered a wide range of rotary electrical machines, power and measuring transformers, on-load tap-changers, apparatuses and high-voltage complete devices, as well as electronic control systems for power generation, transmission and distribution. They all had a significant share in the investment development of power sector, machine building, chemistry, metallurgy and other branches of industry.

History of electrification in Bulgaria

After 1974 Bulgaria had ingenious solutions and new technologies. It became a much sought-after manufacturer and exporter of on-load tap-changers for large power transformers. The annual output of on load tap changers came up to 2777 pcs, 96% of which were exported to more than 30 countries.

The Bulgarian unified series of high-voltage asynchronous electric motors of 200-1000 kW capacity created in 1976 — 1980 proved to be very competitive on the international markets. Powerful electric motors for the nuclear and thermal power plants were developed and manufactured. Five types of vertical electric motors for the secondary circuit of the nuclear power plant were introduced in production. Sixty asynchronous electric motors with 250, 500, 1000 and 1600 kW and double-speed motors with 800/400 kW capacity were manufactured for the Bulgarian nuclear power plant (1983-1988).

In the period after 1980 for the purposes of nuclear power production appeared a series of synchronous electric motors with static excitation system and automatic excitation control within the range 250-1600 kW.

After that-round the clock

For economic reasons, until 1921 the plant operated only at nighttime, and after that-round the clock.

Table 2 presents a summary of the electrification enterprises for public power supply in Bulgaria by 1918.

Until the end of World War I (1918), although the Bulgarians were convinced of the usefulness of electrification and that without it no significant progress in the country was possible, most of the towns except for the above- mentioned five ones, continued to use oil lamps for indoor and street lighting (street lanterns).

Electricity Demand Level

During the period of local electrification electricity demand level could be considered only in relation to several electrified towns and villages, where, except in Sofia, electricity was mainly used for lighting purposes. Sofia had the highest specific electricity consumption per capita, as shown below:

Before the end of World War I the average specific electricity consumption in Kazanlak for all purposes did not exceed 45 kWh per capita, and in Varna it ranged between 5 and 8 kWh per capita. This low figure was due to the irregular operation of its diesel power plant.

Electricity generation in the country

The overall electricity generation in the country by 1913 (at the time of the Balkan wars) was estimated at about 110 million kWh and 2.2 kWh per capita on the average for the country. At the same time the electricity consumption per capita in the USA was 156 kWh, in Germany-41 kWh, and in Russia-14 kWh.

That low electricity consumption corresponded to the low specific installed capacity in the power plants- 50-^60 W per capita, equal to the wattage of an electric lamp. Correspondingly, the annual utilization ratio of installed capacities in the power plants was low, although increasing with time. For Sofia it was 670 h in 1901 and 1074 h in 1917, and for Kazanlak-830-1000 h, respectively.

THE BALKAN CAMPAIGN

THE BALKAN BARRIER

Near the head of the Adriatic there rise several small streams whose waters flow almost due eastward through the Save and Danube Rivers, to empty into the Black Sea. South of this west-to-east river trench, and separated by it from the open plains of Hungary and Rumania, lies the rudely triangular mass of complex mountainous country known as the Balkan Peninsula (Fig. 1). Prior to last October the bulk of this difficult terrane stood as an effective barrier between the Central Empires and their Turkish ally.

The northwestern corner of the triangle, comprising Bosnia and Herzegovina, was largely under Austrian control, while in the eastern corner the Turks were effectively resisting all attempts of the Allied armies and navies to dislodge them. But the rest of the territory was either openly hostile to the Teutonic powers, or was maintaining a wavering neutrality which constantly embarrassed communication with the Turks and threatened to become an active menace at any moment. It was to resolve this intolerable situation and to impress the world by a decisive military achievement that the German general staff planned the Balkan campaign of 1915.

THE MORAVA-MARITZA TRENCH

Through the mass of the Balkan mountains rivers have cut two great trenches which constitute the only important lines of communication in the region. One of these passageways or ‘‘ corridors ’’ runs southeastward from Belgrade on the Danube to Constantinople on the Bosporus and consists in large part of the valleys of the Morava and Maritza Rivers. The other connects Belgrade with the harbor of Saloniki on the Aegean Sea and is formed by the Morava and Vardar valleys. From Belgrade as far as Nish the Morava valley is common to both routes. Although possession of the Morava-Vardar trench incidentally became essential to the Teutonic powers for military and political reasons discussed below, it was primarily for control of the Morava-Maritza depression that the campaign was undertaken.

Very great rarity in Turkey

Her claret however was excellent, nor did she wish that we should spare it. We had tolerably good beds, which is a very great rarity in Turkey ; and this is perhaps the only place where anything better than the bare boards could be procured.

During all my travels in Asia I thought myself happy when I could get some clean uncut straw on which I might spread my blankets. I mention uncut straw because the Turks, feeding their horses and cattle principally on it, cut the straw very small, immediately after the corn is threshed, and put it into large hair bags in which they send it to the market. They never litter their horses, but make them lie on the boards, and we were frequently compelled to do the same.

We rose early on the following day and took our leave of our good landlady, who made us pay thirty-six dollars, being equal to five pounds eight shillings sterling, for her friendly and comfortable accommodations. Our escort consisted of nine mules, three of which carried our provisions for the journey, as we had nothing to expect on the road, and having to travel nearly three hundred miles on the same animals, it was necessary to spare them as much as possible, which would of course render our progress slow.

The sun was just rising as we ascended the mountain called Yachaku,1 which commands the town and Bay of Smyrna. I do not remember ever having seen so beautiful a landscape: nor can I suppose that there is in the universe a richer or grander prospect than presented itself to our view from this mountain.

The variety of flowering shrubs two-brothers, particularly the arbutus, now quite covered with berries, growing in vast quantities on the sides of the mountain ; the flocks and herds grazing in the valleys ; the noble appearance of the town ; the extensive Bay and shipping of every nation, formed altogether the most beautiful coup d’oeil in the world, and with the splendour of the morning inspired us with sensations the most pleasing.

I could not help observing to my friend how surprised I was that more of our countrymen did not direct their travels to this delightful country ; for I will venture to assert that no part of the globe is better worth their attention, or would more amply repay their trouble and expense than the country from Smyrna to the old and magnificent town of Magnesia, once the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which, as well as its environs, still retains so much grandeur.

Baggage and janissaries

Having spent half an hour on this mountain, almost lost in admiration, we set off by the advice of my faithful Pauolo, full gallop to come up with our baggage and janissaries, who had gone on before us. We soon overtook them at the entrance of a wood, which consisted chiefly of forest trees, such as oak, elm, and pine ; all, however, of inferior growth, and intermixed with the fig, olive, and almond : there was also a vast quantity of dwarf holly, which formed a very thick underwood. The arbutus and the oleander were likewise frequent.

We now heard, for the first time, the drowsy noise of a caravan, which we soon overtook. It consisted of about thirty camels, all heavily laden. They formed a long string, and were fastened to one another by a ring which passed through the nostrils of each, and was tied to the tail of the foremost. Their pace was about the same as that of one of our heaviest waggons in England, but they have the advantage of performing much longer journeys, as they seldom stop to feed. This novel sight for some time engrossed our attention ; but in the course of a few days we were habituated to it, and it soon lost its power of pleasing from the frequent repetition and the tedious sameness of the object.

The country around seemed in a state of nature; yet displayed an uniform appearance of richness and fertility. We perceived but few cottages, and these were only the temporary abodes of shepherds, where the ragged ensigns of poverty were displayed, and the appearance of the inhabitants bespoke their wretchedness, as much as the neglected state of so fine a country indicated the badness of the government to which it was subject.

Distinction in Ireland

The most prominent feature in my character, to which I may in a great measure impute all my misfortunes, is the extreme anxiety and impatience I always felt at the approach of any difficulty. To avoid an impending evil, I have formed plans so wild and extravagant, and for the most part so impracticable, that what I had before dreaded appeared light when compared with the distress I incurred by my own precipitate folly. Added to this, an impatience of all control whatsoever, and a temper always impelled to action in proportion to the resistance which it had to encounter; and it will no longer be a matter of surprise if I were continually entangled in some new and perplexing embarrassment.

When I had attained my sixteenth year, *my mother thought proper* to send me to France in order to finish 1 my education. For this purpose she assigned me a yearly allowance of nine hundred pounds, and placed me under the care of a tutor, who had been recommended to her by some persons of distinction in Ireland. He had been in the army, but his pay not corresponding with his expenses he was under the necessity of selling his commission to pay his debts, and had now taken up the profession of governor, or as it is sometimes termed bearleader, to young men of family.

He had had a good education, and profited considerably by the observations he had made abroad. His heart was good; but his constitution .had been impaired by early intempeiance; and he wanted that address and firmness ot character necessary to superintend the conduct of a young man like me, on whom opposition badly managed, or authority indiscriminately exercised, always acted as a stimulus to excess. Though he proved an indifferent Mentor, as will appear in the sequel ; yet I do not by any means wish so far to injure his memory as to lay to his charge the blame of my follies and eccentricities, which I am willing to take on my own account.

The State Papers

Another document set out in the State Papers (Ireland, 1647-1660. Addenda, p. 700), mentions him as “being displaced for deboistnesse.”

Earl of Clanwilliam

Many members of the Whaley family are described in contemporary records as being interested as Adventurers in the double ordinance and as getting grants of land in Ireland. Henry Whaley, the Judge Advocate, in this way became seized of several denominations of land in the liberties of Galway and also in the barony and liberties of Athenry, for which his daughter of the Rev. Bernard Ward, then a lady of eighteen. The offspring of the second marriage daughter of John, Earl of Clanwilliam ; and 2nd, Mary Anne, daughter of John Richardson. John Whaley died 1847. His son by his second wife, John Richard William, married Louisa, daughter of Dr. Townsend, late Bishop of Meath.

Richard Chapell Whaley’s Dublin residence was at first No. 77 (now No. 87), St. Stephen’s Green, South ;

son John, after his father’s death, passed patent under the Acts of Settlement (Lodge, Peerage of Ireland, vi. 71).

I have not been able to discover the relationship, if any, of Richard Whaley (husband of Elizh. Chappell) to Cromwell’s cousins, but he may well have been connected with them. Sir Walter Scott erroneously refers to the Regicide Whaley as Richard.

Profitably exercise

It has taken those matters for its field in which the human mind, left of itself, could not profitably exercise itself, or progress, if it would; it has confined its revelations to the province of theology, only indirectly touching on other departments of knowledge, so far as theological truth accidentally affects them; and it has shown an equally remarkable care in preventing the introduction of the spirit of caste or race into its constitution or administration. Nationalism it abhors ; its authoritative documents pointedly ignore the distinction of Jew and Gentile, and warn us that the first often becomes the last; while its subsequent history has illustrated its great principle, by its awful, and absolute, and inscrutable, and irreversible passage from country to country, as its territory and its home.

Inspired announcements

Such, then, it has been in the divine counsels, and such as realized in fact; but man has ways of his own, and, even before its introduction into the world, the inspired announcements, which preceded it, were distorted by the people to whom they were given, to minister to views of a very different kind. The secularized Jews, relying on the supernatural favours locally and temporally bestowed on themselves, fell into the error of supposing that a conquest of the earth was reserved for some mighty warrior of their own race, and that in compensation of their existing reverses, they were to become an imperial nation.

What a contrast is presented to us by these different ideas of a universal empire! The distinctions of race are indelible; a Jew cannot become a Greek, or a Greek a Jew; birth is an event of past time; according to the Judaizers, their nation, as a nation, was ever to be dominant; and all other nations, as such, were inferior and subject. What was the necessary consequence ? There is nothing men more pride themselves in than birth, for this very reason, that it is irrevocable; it can neither be given to those who have it not, nor taken away from those who have.