The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-05
MENEL|k IS INVITED
Special Envoy from St. Louis
Visits That Monarch.
HIS ROMANTIC TORY
How Princess Taoti Finally
Succumbed to His Advances.

ST. Louis. Jan. 91There is some likeli-
hood that lineal descendant of King
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba will be
one of the special guests at the World S
Fair in st Louis. In that event the pres
ence of an ordinary scion of modern roy
atty. such as the Prince of Wales or the
Crown Prince Of Germany, will be Of COM
parativeiy insignificant interest. This ex-
traordinariiy interesting parsonage is the
Emperor Menelik of Abyssinia, to whose
capital and court a special envoy or the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition and of the
President Of the United States is now en-
route. bearing a ninvitation engraved in
solid silver for his personal attendance
and the participation of his nation in the
great fair.
If Menelik H. is a descendant of Solo
mon, as he AYERS and as more or less
authenticated history affirms, he is there
fore also descended from King David.
that doughty and strenuous David who
slew the terrible giant Goliah with peb-
BILE from his sling; what inhabitant OF
western Christendom, then, would care to
davote special attention to a son of Ed
ward VII or of William ii. when a scion
of David and Solomon, occupying
throne that was ancient before the build
ing of the temple of Jerusalem, may be
seen in breathing flesh?
Robert P Skinner, United States con-
sul-general at Marseilles, France is now
at Addes-A baba, capital of Abyssinia,
having just presented an invitation to
King Menelik to the Worlds Fair. Con-
sui General Skinner will also set forth, on
behalf of the United States government,
the advantages of commercial treaty
with this country and present arguments
TO show why Abyssinia should be repre-
scented by an exhibit at the fair.
Mr. SINNERS equipment for the trip to
Addis-Ababa was provided by the navy,
a. ship Of the European squadron bearing
him TO DJibouti. the French port Of Afri-
ca, opposite Alden. From there he trav-
eied over the French railroad to Harriar.
where he engaged camels and native
porters to take him over the plains TO
Meneliks capital. The overland trip re-
quired from sixteen to twenty days, the
distance being nearly 800 miles. The peo-
pie are noted for their hospitality and Mr..
Skinner would consider him of no import
ance If he lacked a caravan. All officials
and personages of Importance travel with
caravans in that country.
Consul General Skinner, in addition TO
presenting the Worlds Fair invitation, is
Apdeavoring to induce Menelik to enter a
commercial treaty with the United States.
Representatives of France, Italy. Ger
many, and Great Britain are being per-
manently established at the capital Of
Abyssinia, and 1t is felt that the United
States should have a representative there.
1t is known that Menelik feels kindly dis
posed toward the United States.
1.-The interests of the United States
says Mr.. Skinner, "are probably greater
than those of all other powers combined.
These conditions are entirely due to the
efforts of individual traders. We have no
representa- tiv, either automatically or
commercially in this empire of 100000
people. IT will be my object to show
TO Menelik the advantages his country
and ours will gain by the establishment
OF recognized rights to trade and resi-
dense and to define the benefits to both
natlhns Of opening up trade relations. L
Will tell him that we want the products
of-his country and desire to sell him our
chants For long time the Abyssinans
have been buying our cotton and staple
articles Our merchants should be per-
anitted to settle in Abyssinia and buy
direct ivory, hides, carpets. woods and
other products. If / am successful that
country will for the first time send a
deputation 30 the United States, and the
Worlds Fair will have an Abyssinian eX-
hibit Of unique interest"
in addition to the elaborate invitation /
engraved on silver, Mr.. Skinner presented |
to Menelik letter from President Roose- |
welt in the Presidents own handwriting |
That this letter is calculated TO impress |
the ruler Of Abyssinia is not doubled by |
eny one who knows the kings warm ad- |
miration for President Roosevelt
Until year or so ago Menelik knew but !
little Of Roosevelt. About that time he /
introduced into his palace a piano. /
player Young American girl of musical /
talents. The young woman was an ad-
mirer of the strenuous President and it /
appears that she found occasion to tell /
Menelik something about Roosevelts Wig /
orous personality
The dusky emperor was deeply interest
ed. He called for more and his American
musician sent for a biography of Roose-
Welt. The emperor expressed the liveliest
interest in the physical activities of the |
President. as told in the book and caused
translate nof the work to be published
and circulated amongst his subjects.
1t is said that Roosevelts personal par
ticipation in the battle at San Juan Hill
made Menelik his enthusiastic admirer
for the Abyssinian ruler likes that sort
of a thing immensely. One must not for
get that in the fierce battle at Adowa
few years ago. where the Abyssinian
foces utterly routed large army OF Ital-
fans. killing 10000 men. Menelik himself
rushed into the conflict near its close
brandished a big sword and killed a num-
Der of Italians with his own blade
Menelik IL Is Africa's powerful mon
arch Other rulers OF realms in the Dark
Continent have been suhdued by the Eu-
ropean powers and their domains annexed
as colonies or dependencies. The superb
ority of the Caucasian blood and civiliza>