The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-14
THR ABYssrHrAE IMPRESS.
PROBABILITY that TaIion Is at the Bottom
ofths Present War.


Harper's weekly: Is Il again Taisou.
the wife OF Aienelek il. and empress
OF Ethiopa. who has brought about. as
she did in 1891, the rupture Of the peace
negotiations between Italy and Abys-
sina? This is n difficult Interrogation
TO answer; for II Taitou Yields 2 great
influence over state analrs, as 4saDe l.ll.
the Catholic did when the Aoors EeIe
driven from Spain by her husband Fer
tlinand. Menelek Is really the head and
front OF the resistance opposed TO the
italian conquest OF Abysslpia. the lAt-
est news show that this resistance con-
tinues to be an offensive rather than
defensive movement It will be remsm-
bered that the Italians after lanolnH'
with England's consent, at Massotsan'
the seaport on the Red Sea, in 1883.
slowly advanced Into the Interior ana
occupied nearly the whole province OF
TIgre. while they extended their DOM
inatiOn in the northwest as far as has-
salln, which they captured from une
DerVlshes. Menelek did not opject 70
the occupation by the Italians OF me
district adjoining Massowah, when
they called the Erythrean colony anu
in 1883 he signed with them treSty
Of peace and friendship at ucciau. But
Italy having pretended that the treaty
gave her protectorate rights over Abyss
slnIa, nenelek wanted to denounee the
treaty. Count Antonelli was sent as
italian ambassador to the court OF Men
elek, where he had to battle mainly
with Queen TaItou, who insisted upon
having the TTcciall treaty torn out, and
10 be replaced by a new treaty, which
ghe herself wrote.
Taitou CZehetepla- Berehan, or Sun and
Light of Ethloplal, descends from a
noble and ancient family. She Is Of
fine figure and regular features, with
the exception of a slight defect In her
upper Jaw. Her complexion Is OF q
light brown color; her eyes dark, large,
and expressive; her hands and feet
small and well shaped. She dresses at
ter the Ethiopian fashion, but with
much taste and even elegance. Taitou
Is OF amiable disposition, though Of an
lmpetuous and naughty character; she
wants to know oil that is done by the
emperor, what he says and what he
writes, and herself often dictates letters
10 his secretary sometimes concerning
state affairs OF great Importance.
Taltou was married several times be-
fore becoming the wife Of Menelelt,
whom she had known since her infancy,
at the court Of the famous Negus Theo-
doros, who committed suicide rather
than surrender himself to Lord Napier
after the capture Of Magdala, his capi-
tai There was q talk at that time OF
uniting by marriage the two younger
people, both being OF royal blood. But
Menelek married the daughter Of Theo-
doros. Taitou became the wife Of De-
glac Griel, and soon after Of another
Deglac or chief, Ghiorghie, from whom
she was divorced three months after
the wedding to marry Gianteri idle.
He conspired against the Negus. and
was sentenced to perpetual imprison-
ment. The unfortunate Taftou took
refuge IN the convent Of Debra Mercl,
whence she was taken of by her broth
er, RaB Ollie, who conducted her to the
province of Shoa. There Taitou mar
ried a chief named zeccaragacciu,
brother Of the beautiful BAHAMA, then
the favOrIte of Aenelek: and she was
compelled to flee from that fourth hus-
band. who brutally beat and otherwise
III treated her. Taltou again went TO
her brother, who sent her on mission
to the court OF MenelelC, from whom
she asked the return Of some men who
had been captured by the imperial gov
ernor Of the Tigre. Menelek was cap
tiYated by the physical beauty and the
Intellectual accomplishment Of Tai
tou. and ne married her solemnly, thus
making Taltou the empress Of Ethio-
mia