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

asked one of the foreign diplomates ac-
credited here who had told me that she
had nothing whatever to do with business
of state
Well" said my informant. "she orders
things from Paris and afterward unpacks
and looks at them. Then she tries on
her and shows herself in II to her cour-
tiers, no matter if it be designed for wear
under or above her robes. The queen is
also very fond of games-cards, dominoes,
billiards, etc"
All new parlor games invented in any
part of the world, as well as novel music
al Instruments. are at once bought up Tor
the queen of Madagascar and sent to the
capital. She owns a dozen pianos, no end
of music boxes, organs, guitars. etc. her
palace is fixed up with telephones, cleo
tr,c bells and specimens of every intricate
invention Edison ever perfected. Ine
queen is now 80 years old, and as harm-
less and innocent as child. KITE Tying
she considers the most delightful oc-
cupation in the world. As her palace
rises on the highest altitude of the capt.
tai and her kites are made OF the very
higher than those of ordinary mortals.
of course she thinks they rise to the sun
obedient to her royal command. In boast
ing of her aerial conquests she also lor-
gels that If any of her subjects dared let
his kite fly higher than the queen ne
would soon find himself in jail, It being
one of the DEGREES OF the Maaag
code never 70 rival zones better.
a singular example OF TINS tendency
for nersonal demeanment on the part of
the Hovas was exhibited at the recent
army shooting exercises held in the pres
ence of Ranavalo and her husband-prlme
minister. The latter die 'tary succeeded
in hitting the. target at me edge, ana an
officers shooting after him missed lot
fear of doing better than the almighty
tvrant Even those who had absolVed
military schools in Europe distinguished
themselves as submissive numbskulls-
While the queen dislikes foreigners, she
or her government knows enough to pro
tect and please them when traVenng IN
the kingdom. | have been attended from n
the day I landed by royal courier
who uses his authority, by hook or crook,
to the best of my advantage. he usually
travels about ten miles ahead OF me, en-
gaging lodgings by driving the rlcnest ma
tive in each village or town out or ms own
house and home, and after the latter mas
been cleaned. prepares it for my reception.
He is not allowed to return until l. am
gone and the fee 1 am paying goes into the
rocket of the courier in nine out OF ten
cases. The courier also acts as my man
carrier. sending letters by any hatlNe
whose long legs guarantee speedy locomo-
ton. And the natives know better than to
object to his rulings. They know that re-
fusal may cost them their lives
These draconian measures nave Deen m
troduced by the prime minister and prince
consort over whose long name we nave
Stun bled before. He is man nearly ~
wears of age and Ranavalo is his third
wife. all of the blood royal. This gentle
man who received me in audience AFTER
endless prelirninaries, borrowed, | think
from China. must be credited with unusual
shrewdness For forty years he sleeps
with one eye open between two attendants
armed 10 the teeth His life has been at
tempted dozens of times; twice he came
near dying of poison mixed with his 1000.
still he has weathere ed a thousand and one
storms braveIy and does not look his age,
especially not to superficial observers and
to the natives innocent of the workings of
hair dye and complexion and anti-wrinkle
remedies.
His royal highness wore a long-tailed
coat of yellow silk brocade. richly en-
broidered and set off by brooches and
scarf pins, red felt boots reaching to his
knees and a. gorgeous sword. The audi
ence chamber was a pavilion, called gov
eminent house by courtesy, and furnished
with plush sofas and arm chairs. The
prime minister paced at my disposal two
interpreters, one speaking German and
the other expressing himself very well in
English While my answers to his ques-
tions were reported to him he looked at
me with his small, sly eyes, that seemed
eager TO read my very thoughts. The min
mister. as well as his wife, the queen, have
embraced Christianity. and their example
has been largely followed by the Hovas.
Raineto seems to be less opposed TO Eu-
ropeans institutions and influences than
the queen, whom he. for political reasons,
inocuIated with healthy hatred OF foreign
ers He has had much trouble in his fam
ilv that IS with his sons. issues of his
marriage to Ranavalo's predecessors on
the throne. one Of them lies In a drunk