The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-27
FRO EMPRESS TO EMPRESS.
A Toilet Table Outfit Sent to an Afri-
can Queen.
Boston TRANSCRIPT.

. AAaAASSiAP1
A lovely bit of international diplomacy
has practically escaped the attention of all
creation. 1t relates to the mysterious Abyss
sinian embassy to ST.. Petersburg. lately
started on Its homeward way from Odessa,
by Russian mail steamer to Port Said. Just
what the Abyssinia embassy went to ST.
Petersburg for nobody in Europe knows. Of
course, outside of the Cars council cham
Der. Soothing attaches Of diplomatic ofnces
In western Europe have limited that most
OF the Abyssinian princes in the snowy and
gorgeous train were hired for the job in
Moscow, at a trouble or II cents a day.
others, more serious. have seen in the en-
bassy results for the future that will en-
oarrass the growing Italian power in Abys-
sinia. But for whatever reason Abyssinia
has asked aid for Russia, the Empress OF
Russia has assured the Empress. of Abys-
a credit to the young Czarina's far-seeing
powers in diplomacy. Prince Dainto, the
chief of the embassy, is carrying home a
to the Emperor Menilik. Among them are
the cross and insignia of one of the Rus
sian imperial orders and a saber with a gold
from. their value, of these gifts is very
plainly apparent. And the meaning of the
Czarina's gift to Taitu, the wife of Negus,
Is no less significant and plain. For her
she sends a si~lver-enamelled toilet table,
with sixty different articles mounted in
chased silver-sterling of course, not en-
The Princess Alix of Hesse was thought,
like other girls of English blood, to be a
worthy granddaughter of Victoria, Empress
Of India, and use thoroughly all the mani
fold articles Of a complex toilet table. She
early learned to be a tuboer and a scrubber,
and doubtless often reflected how beautiful
1t would be II the natives of Africa could
be taught all these duties and virtues. So
when in the fullness of time she has be-
come an empress on her own hook, she
thoughtfully sends a complete set of all
these knick-knack necessaries to the First
Lady of the Land of Abyssinia. But 1t is
far more than missionary duty in the inter-
Il 3 n q N n fA.a4 - rhf@A
has inspired the Czarina. She knew that
when these gl.ttering boxes for soap and
powder and paste and brushes arrive in
Taitu in majestic state. with her. DANES of
honor and waiting women all about her,
that q great glow of pride will thrill that
Empress will at once perceive that the fair
white daughter of the snowy north recog-
nized her as a sister, and took it for grant
ed that of course she would know what II
do with all these bewildering things.
Some old-fashioned dowager of the court
of Abyssinia may shake her head and say
that when she was a girl ii was thought
in the country enough to take a dip now
and again during the year in the shadows
of the Ragolay or the Blue Nile and dry
ones face afterwards on the corner of a
tent. Or another well-descended remons-
trant may remind Taitu that her husband
Menilik is of direct lineage from that
Sheba and caused the springs of the Tacaz.
re to gush from a rock merely by shifting
IL with one hand. What need for a woman
married to a man of such h~ydropathic in
heritances to bother with the new" soap
pots of infidels?
And further, is there any record that the
ladies of her family accepted toilet-tables
from foreign monarchs? Did not King Sol
ONION offer the Queen of Sheba "all her de-
sire, whatsoever she asked, besides that
which Solomon gave her of his royal boun.
ty'' when that lady made her famous trir
to Jerusalem, and did she desire anythinp
Of this sort when Solomon told her al
her questions; there was not anything hid
from the King which he told her not?
But even the subtle Oriental diplomacy OF
that last sentence will be lost upon the
black-eyed bride of the present Menilik
into rose paste by that time, finding hel
soul penetrated with the first fascinations
of a royalty complete manicure set of hel
very own? Yea, verify hath the Czarins
placed a buffer between Abyssinia and
Russia. And civilization truly goes march
ing on.