The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15

special envoy to discuss the matter. The
Emperor invited him to dinner for the pur-
pose. Suddenly Empress Taitu broke into
the discussion 10 declare vehemently that
Abyssinia would never agree TO the Italian
Interpretation.
I'VE, TOO, HAVE DIGNITY"
I'VE. too" she exclaimed. have our dig
nifty to safeguard: in communicating the ar
ticle to the powers you have implied that
we were under your dependence. That Is
not so. Ethiopia will never accept a pro-
tectorate."
She was invited to make her own pro-
posal. Taking up a piece of paper she wrote
out a new treaty. which ran:
Article I.-Article of the treaty of
Uchali is abrogated. Article Hills Maj
esty. the Emperor of Ethiopia, engages
the King OF Italy never TO cede his terri
tory to any European power, nor 10 con-
clude any. treaty, nor to accept any pro-
tectorate."
Negotiations ended right here, and Italy
declared war. She was hopelessIy defeated
and has renowned every pretension TO a
protectorate. And since then Menelik has
ruled unquestioned and with an iron hand.
to the great advantage of Ethiopia.
Such is the history and such the rulers
of the land that broker Ellis has gone to
conquer by commercial invasion. He has
taken with him his bride, who was Miss
Maude Sheymond. oil as romantic a we'd
ding trip as any girl may hope for in this
unromantie twentieth century. He has
taken with him also some wonderful pres
ents, which he will lay at the feet of the
Abyssinian monarch and his queen. They
consist mostly OF jewels of rare workman
ship and great value, among them a gold
mounted revolver set with diamonds and
engraved with King Menelik's name and
formidable title.
He has sent out from America a very
complete camp equipment, that so far as
possible his party may have all the COM
forts and some OF the Injuries of home.
he wants TO travel with considerable pomp,
an Impressive caravan and several hundred
servants, In order properly to impress the
tripesmen through whose territory he Will
pass with tho Importance of his errand.
For the most part the journey must be
made by mule or camel, for the roads of
Abyssinia are mere tracks. There is a rail-
way from the port of Jiboubil in French
Somaliland to Harar in southeastern Abys-
sinia, a distance OF about 1S6 miles. This
was opened for traffic about a year ago.
Perhaps Mr.. Ellis may plan more railroads.
The country is really quite up TO date.
One would hardly expect a native African
kingdom to be ready for the intricacies of
Wall-street Wandering. But Menelik has
shown himself wise and progressive to an
unexpected degree. Nothing is too modern
for MIN. Even now elaborate electric plants
are being established there, and telegraph
and telephones are old stories. There are
complete telegraph and telephone connec-
tons between Ads Ababa, the capital, and
Harar, and similar connections are being
established between Ads Ababa and
Ethyrea. In fact, Herbert Vivian. in one
of the most recent books about Abyssinia,
complains: His Majesty's attentions be-
came almost embarrassing. Every morning
there would be some amiable inquiry about
me by telephone
Then, again. Abyssinian cities are hardly
what a New Yorker means by the word.
MIR. Vivian, describing his approach to the
capital, says: My last march toward the
capital seemed as though it would never
end. / had been led to expect that L should
arrive in less than three hours, but nearly
four had rolled by before ] happened to turn
around and ask one of my men, When on
earth are We ever going to reach Ads
Ababa?
But. sahib. here it is
"'Where?'
Here; we have already arrived
81 looked around incredulously and saw
nothing but a few summer house huts and
an occasional white tent, all very far from
each other, scattered about over a rough
hilly basin at the foot Of steep hills. 1
would scarcely admit that / was approach
ing a village. That this could be the cap
ital of a great empire, residence of the
King of kings, seemed monstrous and out
of the question. Then, pray, where is Men,
to the horizon and 1 could just make out
what seemed to be a fairly large farmstead
with a number of trees and huts crouching
on the top of the hill"
Such is the capital which Mr.. Ellis will
visit. But In that fairly large farmstead,' -
which is the palace. dwells with his wife,
elderly and very, very fat" as already
noted, a ~potentate who, In spite of his
black skin and in spite of his half civilized
country, has proved himself every inch a
king in the fifteen years of his rule, a man
who has won the respect of the world and
commands the obedience of his own unruly
people, so that the great regret is that he
will leave no son of his own to succeed him
as king of kings, but will probably be sue
ceeded by Ras M~akonnen, his cousin, his
trusted lieutenant and governor of Harar.