History

01 Ara 1838

The American missionary Lorenzo Warriner Pease recorded in his diary the new order by the Sultan to celebrate his birthday like the European birthdays

The American missionary Lorenzo Warriner Pease recorded in his diary the new order by the Sultan to celebrate his birthday like the European birthdays:

I am informed that there was some intoxication amongst the Franks last night. Three companies of musicians went up to Larnaca, to wit the Turks, with their broad sword exercise, the Greeks and the Franks. They played for the Zapetes, Omer Effendi, at Tardieu’s, Diabi’s the Sardinian consul, etc. and the Latin fathers and wherever they went were treated with wine etc. On the whole, I am inclined to think that this new custom in the Turkish Empire will have a good effect on the subjects. The Turks naturally do not know what it means, look on with more or less of astonishment. But they will perhaps soon get used to all the new customs and be pleased with the changes. The Greeks I think will love him more than they have, for two reasons:

  1. They can hardly drink his health and sing to his praise and hope that they may live without feeling deeper respect for him
  2. They will see that he is really making advances towards civilization and that they may well hope for better days.

It is hardly possible for scenes of ’21 to be re-enacted in Cyprus. The respect which the Greeks and Franks show to him will, it may be hoped, have a reflex influence on the Turks and excite them to emulation.