The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-15
ABBAS THE SECOND.
Everyday Life of the Khedive of
Egypt.

"Anglo-E Egyptian" in London Mail.
Those who know him well assert that Alb
bas II, Khedive of Egypt, derives more
pleasure from the pursuits beloved of Eng
fish country gentlemen than he does from
participation in political affairs. This, per-
haps, is not surprising, considering the pc
culiar circumstances of the case, though it
is possible that if the young Khedive had
been an older man when he succeeded his
amlable father his public life might have
been more placid and less devoid of I'M
pleasant incident.
Still, it is not with the public career of
the Khedive that we have to deal, but with
his everyday life, as it is known to those
with whom he is brought into constant con-
tact.
The Khedive, whether at Alexandria or
/ Cairo, makes a point of never residing at
the official palaces at his disposal, prefer
ring the greater liberty which the resi-
dences upon his private estate afford. Abdin
Palace where the Khedive conducts public
! business when at Cairo was built by Ismail
upon land that was formerly a swamp. 1t
has been twice partially destroyed by fire,
and in the past few months great prepara-
tons were made within it's walls for the re-
! ception of the German Emperor
The young Khedive rises at daybreak and
/ drives round his estate on a tour of inspec-
/ uon Ii any European improvement is be-
! ing introduced he watches the result with
! the keenest interest, and within the past
/ year or two he has engaged a Scotch baiIiff
Mr.. Wright, formerly of the Agricultural
! college at Gizeh. AT 8 o'clock the Khedive
! returns to breakfast, and, that meal being
! concluded, he drives into Cairo in an open
| carriage TO transact official business in the
! Palace of Abdia. His morning is employed
! IN receiving official visits, or once a week in
| presiding over the council of minister's and
| az Il he lunches with the principal members
| resumed, reports are submitted to the Khe-
| dlVe, as well as the petitions which any per-
son with a grievance may drop into slit
/ IN the wall of the Abdin Palace.
And marvellous are the contents of some
| or these appeals to the generosity or elem
| ency of the Khedive.
| Here Hassan, the bootmaker, records in
| howery Language the failure of some eff
! lendl IN the service of the government to
satisfy his,Just and lawful debts and prays
tndl the great ana potent Khedive will aid
| MN In the collection of the sum due.
AGAIN Mohammed loyal subject hum
! bly, requests that govern ment appointment
| be conferred upon his learned offspring;
! while third petitioner respectfully draws
attention to his impecunious condition and
proceeds openly to point out the magnitude
of his merits.
About the business of the day comes to
ar end, and the KhediVe hastens back to
houDDah, dons suit of loose and COM
Portable clothes and once more visits his
farms and stables. At sunset dinner is
served, and unless he is to pay a visit to
the opera or attend some social function
the Khediye spends the evening with his
FAMILY, and retires about II for the night
me khedive's hobby is farming, while his
! 1aVorite reading consists of works on mill
tary history. His model farm at Koubbah
Is TO him a source of unbounded pleasure,
ana the model village on the estate forms
striking contrast to the squalid collection
OF mud nuts which constitutes the ordinary
village in Egypt. The fellah is content with
dwelling n no and tic
family reside on the best of terms with the
humble but necessary donkey and any other
quadruped they may be fortunate enough to
possess. The Khedive's model village con-
sists Of two-roomed dwellings, with proper
sanitary accommodation, as well as a spe-
clal apartment for the family donkey. For
these houses the laborers pay no rent the
terms of occupation being that they shall
Keep their homes clean and send all their
cnlldren under the age of ten to the
KhediVe's free school In order to encour-
age the scholars at their work. it is a rule
that the two pupils who come out best at
the examinations are sent to a government
school, where they receive higher education.
Eventually these fortunate ones are APP
pointed to official posts.
A feature of the model village at Koubhah
IS the tlre brigade manned by Arabs resi-
| dent on the estate. A system of electric bells
connects the fire station with various points
at winch outbreaks are possible, and it is
said that the Khedive has a technical knowI-
edge OF machinery which surprised an Eng
llsh engineer who visited Koubbah. When a
| IRE brigade expert came to Koubbah some
! time back, a surprise" drill was arranged
for his benefit. Within six minutes Of 3ba
alarm being given the brigade and engine
We're at the scene of the supposed fire a
mile distant from the station itself and the
expert, after having full opportunity of re-
ahzing what had occurred, declared that the
performance would compare favorably with
mat OF most country fire brigades in Eng
The Khedive is a lover Of dogs. and his
! canine favorites include nearly forty ami
mails Among them are a number of fox
terriers and gazelIe hounds, the latter being
akin TO the grayhoanls beloved of English
sportsmen. But his favorite dog is a British
Duil dog full of the tenacity and indoroit-
able courage Of his kind. Horses, too oe-
eupy prominent place in the young
ikhedIye affection, ard 4 tbs Cairo meet
ing Which mas been held in the current
month horses from The Khediyial stables
proved victorious in several severely con-
tested races.
The Khedive can converse fiuently in five
langua ges-English. German, French Ara
bic ana Turkish. His European ed Il alton II
VIII be remembered, was obtained in Syvitz-
erland and Vienna. Had it been conducted
In England the result, mayhap would have
proved more satisfactory both to himself
ana 70 the real rulers of the land of Egypt
But the past IS past and cannot be recalled
The khedive has for years adopted the mol
Icy OF acquiring land in various parts Of his
dominions. His possessions as a n1.iva atio
land holder must be considerable apart from
any PUBLIC property he may control He il
IN the haDlt OF purchasing apparently worth
less lands and gradually by means Of an
glheerlng skill, bringing them under cultiva-
ton.
Five years ago on an estate of 10000 acres
which he acquired near Damietta only 17S
acres were producing crops. The Khe1fve
however, caused over fifty miles of drain.
age canals to be constructed. and today
l,5OO acres of the land are fit for cuItiva-
ton.
In stature Abbas IT is below middle height
OF late years he has shown distinct ten
dency to stoutness, and there is a dreamy
expression in his dark eyes. In business
matters, 1t is said. he displays great shrewd-
ness, and ne possesses intimate knowledge
or the details of the affairs of his estates
actual rulers of Egypt speculation is rife
| Since FashOda things have changed in the
land Of the Khedive but who can saw what
the future will bring forth2
Forgiveness.