Some months after returning home I received through our State Department at Washington the Sultan’s decoration of Shefaket and its accompanying diploma in Turkish, a reproduction and translation of which is here given:
TURKISH DIPLOMA ACCOMPANYING DECORATION.
As Miss Barton, American citizen, possesses many great and distinguished qualities and as recompense is due to her, I am pleased therefore to accord to her the second class of my decorations of Shefaket.—[Translation.]
The first notice of this honor came to me through our own Smithsonian Institute, as indicating its scientific character.
On the ninth of August we took passage on board the steamship “Meteor,” a Roumanian steamer plying between Constantinople and the ports of the Black Sea, our objective point being Costanza, at the mouth of the Danube River. This was our first step toward home, and the leaving of a people on whom, in common with the civilized world, our whole heart interest had been centred for more than half a year; having no thought, however, until the hour of parting revealed it, of the degree of interest that had been centred on us.
On the spacious deck of the steamer were assembled our entire American representation at Constantinople, prepared to accompany us through the Bosporus, their boats having been sent forward to take them off near the entrance of the Black Sea.
The magnificent new quay in either direction was crowded with people without distinction of nationality, the strange costumes and colors commingling in such variety as only an Oriental city can produce, patiently waiting the long hour of preparation. When at length the hoarse whistle sounded and the boat swayed from its moorings, the dense crowd swayed with it and the subdued tones pealed out in tongues many and strange; but all had one meaning—thanks, blessings and God speed. We received these manifestations reverently, for while they meant kindliness to us and our work, they meant far more of homage and honor for the nation and people we represented. And not only in Constantinople but the shores of the Bosporous as we proceeded presented similar tokens of recognition—the wavy Stars and Stripes from Robert College, Rebek, and Hissar, told more strongly than words how loyal to their own free land were the hearts and hands toiling so faithfully in others.
Touching at Budapest for a glimpse at its Millenial Exposition; at Vienna to pay respects to our worthy Minister, Hon. Bartlett Tripp; we hastened to meet the royal greeting of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden, at their beautiful island of Minau in Lake Constance—the wedding gift of the Grand Duke to his young princess bride forty-three years ago. It was a great pleasure to be able to bring our hard-worked men into personal contact with these active royal personages, who know so well in their own philanthropic lives how to appreciate such labor in others.