New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-14
A SCHOOL FOR PRINCES.
AND HOW THE KHEDIvE OF EGYPT AC-
Quilted HIMSELF THEREAT

interest is attached to the reports OF his scnooi
life, which was abruptly ended by DIS oeihs
called to the throne of the Pharaohs. lie was'
us is well known, student in the famous Viehha
college called the Theresianum; an institution IN
which princes innumcrable have been educatea
and in which not few ilustrious sovereigns have
spent some years Of their early life. Indeed
among the three hundred lads in the Iheresianum
only five or six are commOners, that Is uh-
titled There are dozens Of princes OF royal or
imperial blood; and barons and counts by the
score. They all live together on terms Oh
equality, however, and are subject to discipline
that would not be endured for day py the
students in an American school or college
They are under the constant supervision OF .
set of tutors or guardians called projects MOI
only during the hours Of study and recltauon'
but even in hours Of pleasure, and while they
are sleeping, the lads are watched by these pre-
fects as closely as though they were suspected
criminals under police surveillance. Ihere ls
literally not IN hour in all their school life when
they are free from this restraint. Nor is that
all. The lads of different classes are held strictly
aloof from each other. They cannot associate
even on the playground. Indeed the socaliea
playground is q a scene OF military drill, rather
than Of sport Each class has its own ground
carefully marked off from the others The boys
march thither, in military order, escorted by the
projects For an hour they are permitted 10 III
dulgc in certain sports the projects meanwhile
standing about as guards, to sec that no COM
municalion passes between members OF dlnereh'
classes At the end Of the hour they form ia
columns and march back to their rooms lhis
is done twice day, and this is the pleasure anu
recreation of life at the ThereSianum.
1t is only just u say, however, that 'hes''
absurd restrictions are imposed at the oesne vi
the patrons Of the school, and not because oio
director OF the school thinks them wise. baroh
Pidol the director, is a man OF hberai ana au-
vanced ideas He has studied the educauonai
systems of other countries, and would, II he couio
conduc. the Theresianum on the lines OF an
English or even an American, college, but DIS
royal and noble patrons would tolerate no SUCH
heresy Not long ago he ventured TO introduce
the game Of football, hitherto unknown there'
The conservative Austrians looked upon u with
doubt and suspicion. Presently in one OF the
games lad got hurt. Ii was only trinlhs
injury, an arm or shoulder out OF JOINT but nie
dislocation of royal joint is serious matter
socially if not surgically. And Immediately such
nrcssure WAS brought to bear upon him that
Baron Pidol was compelled to cry halt and foroid,
for q time, the playing Of any more games OF
srned But the English or American lads would
never recognize il as football The lads, clad in
cumbersome military uniforms, helmeted ana
cloyed simply stalk about the field, aimlessly
kicking the ball hithcr and thither. III for an
instant there was bit Of tackling, or good
lively scrimmagc or if one Of the lads unbent III
the least from the dignifed attitude of grena-
dicr OH dress parade, the projects would prop
ably drop dead with apopleXy, and the strong
pillars of the Austrian Empire go crumblinS into
irretrcvable ruin.
At this school Prince Abbas studied for several
years, in company with his brother and several
NJ bis cousins lie was subject TO all the rules
Of the school lust the same as all the other boys
In fact the projects watched him rather more
closely than usual NO that he complained now
and then that he was being treated too severely.
His complaints had, however, no effect. lie did
not have AS much spending money as most OF his
schoolmates But he was popular with them, and
was generally docile and obcdicnt to the projects
and professors lie mastered the English. Ger
man and French languages with marked facility.
and was. on the whole, regarded as an excellent
student .-
The official report of the school, just published,
reviews in some detail his whole career there.
IL was at tie beginning OF the academic year
lss7-ss that he entered the Theresianum. lie
VIA then known as Abbas liimi Bey, Crown
Prince of Egypt, and thirteen years OF
age His father the Khedivc Tewfik, had become
ACQUAINTED with the Theresanum and it's mo tho!s
through two OF his nephcws who had attended,
it, This fact induced him 10 send there his own
two Sons, Prince Abbas llilmi I"y and Prince
Mchemct Ali I)ey. the latter a year the younger,
who had taken preparatory courses partly NJ
home and partly at Geneva. They began their
wor, in September. 1887.
Al WAS the ease with all the other Students the
Crown Prince was assigned 10 certain section.
Project Henry Ral was detailed Ia make him
ACQUAINTED with academic life. The Prince Joinci
his comrades in their hours OF recreation, and
when possible, took part In the regular class
exercises. In intercourse with his comrades, he
used the customary familiar thou, thus Drids-
ing over every difference in standing and birth.
The Prince was subjected 10 the same academic
discplipc A. the other students. lie obeyed every
rul, and showed proper respect to his teachers.
In private intercourse with the rector Of the
academy he was treated in accordance with his
rank In the instruction OF the Prince. some
changes in the regular curriculum wen necessary.
AZ first however the Prince. like his comrades
attended the public classes OF the gymnasium. and
this with his free intercourse with his mates,
enabled him TO learn German rapidly. When no
left the institution, he had reached degree OF
proficiency in that tongue seldom attained by
a foreigner The principal difference in his course
of study compared with that OF the other students.
was the substitution OF modern languages, cs-
pecally French and English, for the classic
tongues.
The many demands upon the working powers
of the Prince were increased. says the report.
by his study OF the Mahomctan religion the
reading of the Koran and lessons in Arabic and
Turkish ShciS Ncdjib Efrcndi, who accompanied
the Prince from Egypt was his teacher in the
branches Just named. In addition TO the studies emu
mcrated he also attended the classes in German.
geography, history. mathematics and natural
sciences.