The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-28

him or the government hereafter, by first
deposttiong francs stocking money,
'hasina" in the native tongue.
Neither extreme poverty nor birth alb
solves a Malagassy man, woman or child
from this tax. 1t is levied on every and
all occasions, at receptions and audiences.
in church and in the gorgeous throne
room. The stocking money" must ac-
company every petition, every public doc
ument; without it no child may be regis
tered as legitimate; no marriage nor dt-
vOrce papers are granted. Ii the queen
travels in her kingdom, her train stops
in every village, whose mayor is expected
to deposit a hVe-franc piece after the
speech of welcome. II he failed to do so
he would spend the rest of his life drag
ging behind him a fifty-pound iron ball
and chain. The hasina alone would SUI
flee to keep the queen not in stockings only
but in all other kinds of wearing APP
parel if her tastes We're not so eXtrava-
giant and her husband less of a rapacious
rogue than he chooses to be.
Ranavalo, as already intimated, has an
idea that she stands as high in the world
as Queen Victoria, for instance, and that
she must not allow the German empress
to outriVal her in the matter of dress or
jewelry. She has running account at
Duchets in Paris, and Worth and Red
fern are also largely patronized by the
little negro woman. The upper story
of her palace. which is little better than
an open garnet. serves for the royal ward
robe There. subject to the eXigencies
of rain and dust the pleasure of rats and
mice, worms and moths, hundreds of
state robes and demi-toilettes are hung
up on ordinary nails, together with le-
gions of hats and umbrellas, corsets of
all makes and petticoatS of all shades.
The royal stockings, with and without
hygienic carriers and drawn over the
models which dudes admire in the shop
windows. fill several hundred square me-
ters of space. There are trunks full of
twenty-four button gloves. mostly mauve
color and whole regiments Of shoes, boots
and slippers. from two to three inches
81 and than her lest " 9
tootsieS.
A special section of the garnet is re-
served for soaps, hair restorers. paints
pomades and patent medicines. Her maj
esty, you must know. buys everything
advertised that promises to improve the
female figure divine or add to its charms
or prolong its youthful appearance, and
being a royal lady she thinks she owes it
to her station to buy in royal quantities.
So she orders a gross or dozen of every
thing that comes along, simply for the
pleasure of doing so, and not with any
intention of utilizing the queer things
billed her
When not on official parade Ranavalo
delights In wearing the national dress,
consisting of a white pleated petticoat
and cotton scarf around her shoulders.
without underwear or decorations of any
kind or description. She leaves her pal
ace only on moonlight nights in sedan
chair of ordinary build to visit her numer.
gus relatives in the capital Her at
tendants on such occasions are but few
IN NUMBER. SHE employs no our uuu6ESs
no SNOWY liveTies. Nobody is allowed to
pay her reverence. to take the least no.
tice of her Everything Ranavalo does
or is allowed to do by her husband and
prime minister she does thoroughly; and
incognito, when she chooses to assume
it. is as dark as her state appearance is
dazzling and luminous.
NV own intercourse with her majesty
has so far consisted in a simple inter
change of presents. l had been in the
capital but few hours. bringing letters
from ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS governor of
Toamasina when the door of my lodgings
opened and the following procession en-
tered Indian file: First, thoughtful
looking sheep, with a broad tail, followed
nv two royal geese, which are twice as
large as ordinary geese, sporting blue
ewes: two turkey cocks. two chickens end
two Hovas (nat!ves) carrying rice and
eggs. respectively. One of the natives
fold the Vazah NaoVso (meaning the new
white man myself that her majesty bid
me welcome in Antan anrivo, and sent
me these things to keep me from starving.
Mr. Rasahntsiheftsi added to this pleasant
Inflammation a long rigmarole describing
his own Measurable sensations in making
nv distinguished acquaintance. Then he
a,d his associate sat down on the floor
and waited until caught on" and gave
Zach. one a 20 franc piece. To her ma
festv 7 sent next day an en-tout-caS OF
lii hrocade three small electrical bat
taries with lighting apparatus attached
and some perfumes, powders ana rouges,
Of which she is inordinately fond.
aHow does your majesty XIII time!