Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

PRlNCE OF MONACO.
Hilmi-the khediye of rcrypt II Is of
course, an historical fact that of old all
learning came out of Egypt, but times have
altered since the Greeks went to the Land
OF SphlnX to acquire their first training in
phlIosOphiC thought, and one little eXppcts
TO lind great knowledge now in that de-
graded turkish province under an English
pfotectorate. 1t is none the less true that
the young khedive possesses one of the
protoundest minds of his d. . He is
modern to the fngertips, but .eeped also
In the lore of old times, a hi hly skilled
administrator under difficult conditions of
international Interference. but at the same
time a dreamy Oriental philosopher and a
mlnutely learned Egyptologist. capable of
dlsputing the family history of dead and
gone Pharaohs with the profoundest of
German savants. The wild Arab tribes
over whom his rule extends revere and fear
Abbas Hilmi.
In a downtown Syrian cafe Of New York
| have heard a dark-eyod eX-sCn Of IN.
desert solemnly declare that the Abbas.
('Great FatheT") was a reincarnation of
Solomon, the mystic doctor of all Syrian
and Arabian mythology. "He has the KEY
CT Solomon and the Solomon magic, be-
cause he Is SolomOn's soul, Abbas HiImi -
asserted this newly naturalized citizen, tell
ing us at 'fousouf's" in Roosevelt street
via stories or the wondrOus doings of the
mighty Egyptian magician and prince. The
Syrians and the Arabians gathered there In
smoke the perfumed nargileh together, and
in the squalid new world cafe to tell stories
OF the old life Of the mountain and of the
desert, solemnly asserted before us, GYM
zeal neWSDaUpr mDragSippfgtg tb,, l.
the Soul of Solomon, Abbas Hilmi."
He may not be that, but he is a wonder
ful man-certainly one Of the most learned
ana cultured that ever welded princely
Owe He is skilled in all the knowledge
of the modern world. has in his paIaca in
Cairo as fine a library as any Europcan
capital except London possesses, and turns
readily from administrative work concern
ing irrigation and rebellious Arabs 10 grind
Ike a university professor at the recon
structlon of the past Of Egypt or at the
deepest problems OF modern thought. He
mas acquired as much from the elevation
OF MS character as from his practical ad.
illustrative ability an immense influence
over the turbulent tribes Of the North
Hinterland. They say Of him in
lheir metaphorical style, "You 90 into his
as a raging lion, and in his pres
once you become a cat" He tames tbop
by the magnetism of his lofty personality.
Prince of Monaco.
Another learned nrince is Prince
'harles OF Monaco. He draws his income
from the Eilded hell Of Monte Carlo-fat-
lenlng on the ruin Of the gamblers Of the
world as an American divine put it in a
memorable discourse, but personally he is
an m man. a slave to the curious
bv which alone his lite princl-
ralltY has been able 10 flourish. He has
taken science for his playground. is con
otantlY reading German and English
periodicals. dealing with nature research
and has hims II published able treati.Cs
ID astronomical questions and on various
,urious researches he has made into tidal
laws and into the fora and fauna Of he
sea
The cars devotion to literature treating
d occultism, thought-reading. hypnotism
ana kindred subjects is well known.
The king Of Greece is the most yoracious
'eader OF French y~ellowbacks and has first
'ditions Of practically every novel. good.
bad or Indifferent, published in Paris for
ne last thirty years. He has them g.ut
o him at Athens as soon as they appear.