The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-04
MADAGASCAR'S QUEEN.
Unique Commemoration Of Her
Dusky Majesty's Accession.
Particulars of the Observation-Disclosures Of
the Gueen-She Loves to Play the
Typewriter and Talk to
the Telephone.
TcoPYRIGHT, 1891

In Madagascar PARKWAY Isle tn
: biggest kind Of IN anniversary celebra
ton is under way. On July Is Queer
Ranavalona will have been ten year
upon the throne, and her enthusiast
subjects are stirring with might an
! main to render the occasion Inemora
BILE with parades, fireworks and gen
eral public rejoicing throughout TIT
island. Rainilaiarivony, the queen
prime minister and husband in one
who married into Madagascar's roya
family shortly after her present ma j
| es1 came to the throne, is honorary
chairman of the general committee
formed to carry out the programme o
festivities, and, as matter of course
he will come in for a good share of the
homage.
The celebration is expected to oper
on the 18th of July with a special drill
and parade of the principal Madagascar
garrison. These troops to the number
of two thousand, commanded by a
couple of English army officers and
supplied with rifles and weapons OF
late European make, will afford fine
sight, marching down the main street
OF Antananarivo to the queens palace
and firing salutes as they go. There
will also be the pick of the Mojanga
troops, and, as the Malagasy army
numbers nearly twenty thousand, there
is to be respectable marching contin-
gent. Her majesty will address her
people from the terrace of her gardens,
| and the principal native dignitaries
will be on hand to make complimentary
| speeches.
The populace are heart and soul in
the movement. Houses viii be decor
ated with flags and lanterns and the
school children are to sing patriotic
songs in the public plaza. On the 18th,
which is the anniversary day, there
viii be fireworks galore and counter
felt presentments of the royal family
in red, blue, green and yellow flame
will be ignited on the highest points
in the city. The siaves-slavery in
patriarchal form exists in Madagascar
will not be overlooked in the gen
eral rejoicings. Many of them are to
be given their liberty. and all will be
more or less Toasted and allowed
special privileges for the day.
The people are divided into a great
many clans and seldom intermarry.
Racial differences, however, are to be
forgotten for the occasion. The Hovas,
who number about one million, have
subscribed for superb memorial which
will be presented by one of their
patriarchs. The Sakalavas. who are as
numerous as the Hovas. have sent gifts
to the capital, including one superb
necklace which the queen will wear to
church. The Bemileos will not be be-
hind their dusky brethren in ex-
pressions of fealty; the remaining
tribes, Betsimi, Bavas, Sakvas and
Arabs, have received assurances of the
pleasure her majesty feels in the inter
est they are manifesting in the celebra-
ton. There is talk of monster gath
ering of these tribes at Tamatave, the
principal port of Madagascar on the
east coast, and if the project is carried
out one of the most unique process
sions ever witnessed viii march the
streets of that quaint city.
over Ranavalona. Since her accession
the island, which is the third largest in
the world. reckoning Australia as
continent. has become of real CONNER
cial Importance. The government. it
is true, is an absolute monarchy; but
the queen has always modified and
tempered her sway by customs and
usages which now have almost the
force of law. She is advised bv her
husband, the prime minister, who is
now the real source of all political pow
er, and is perhaps the most wonderful |
statesman, not of the Caucasian race,
that ever lived. There are a number |
of ministers who act as head of depart /
justice. the interior /
and SO on. They will all be given /
special honors in view OF the happy |
event to be celebrated. The success !
sion to the crown is hereditary in the /
royal house, but rot necessarily by /
strict primogeniture. The queen may /
designate her successor. and some /
nomination in this connection is ex-
pected as a special mark of her pleas
ure during the anniversary week.
The French government, which
maintains resident general with
small military escort, at the capital,
and extends q protectorate over NADIA
gascar, proposes to honor the event by
decorating its garrison headquarters
and drilling before the queen. A com
address on behalf OF the
president of France viii be made by
the president. The British govern
ment will in measure participate in
the ceremonies and Consul ". C. Pick
ersgill has been instructed to coneratu-
late Queen Ranavalona on behalf OF
Victoria.
The occasion is expected TO have
much influence in soothing the irrita-
ton prevalent in Madagascar in conse-
1uence of the mixed authority Of Eng
lish, French and natives. While the
native government retains absolute in
in all domestic legislation
and control Of the tribes generally. the
foreign powers have often been dicta-
torial, and two or three times open
breaches have been imminent.
The present queen IS the great
Of Rahetr. sister Of
King Andria nampoinimerina. fact OF
which she Is very proud. She was
oorh n 1851 and was appointed queen
oy her predecessor OF her own sex and
lame. The royal dynasty Of NADIA
-ascar is very blue blooded and very
black skinned. having rcigued since
ar back in the seventeen hundreds.
,irca $40 he Island has kAer -r.c.-a q