Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-03-30
Lie MENELIk - Is aLAmE.

kept themselves informed on The
periodical gymnastic stunts Of the
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt win ma
turally express surprise, says the
Birmingham News, at the an.
nOuncement that be heartily dis
approves Oithe means By which
King MeneIik II, Of Abyssinia, has
expressed his regard for and pre-
sented his compliments to the
present head Of the United States
government. King Menelik, it
seems, wished to establish friend
ly relations With Uncle Sam, and
sent q little tribute Of respect, in
cidentally rendering his greetings
at the same time. It consisted OF
a lion cub, a pail Of huge elephant
tusks and a laughing-hyena When
the geological outfit arrived it was
X presented with q flourish to the
President. The tusks we're sug-
gestive Of big game, Of course, the
} baby lion proceeded to get Obstre-
perOusand rOared regardless, while
the hyena simply shook his sides
with laughter, but the President
failed to see the joke.
It is but just that q word should
be said in defense and explanation
Of King Menelik and his motives.
he is a merry monarch and fond
Of sport, according to the authori-
ties. Doubtless be had read about
the Presidents frequent expedi-
lions in search Of elk, mountain
lions, growing bears in the
swamps Of Mississippi and all the
rest Of the story, and the Abyssin-
ian monarch inferred that a few
trophies Of the chase would be ac-
ceptable to a strenuous gentleman
who revels in the reputation he
has acquired as a simon pure sport
with the trademark and all blown
in the bottle. And besides King
Menelik is sovereign ola people a
large proportion Of whom are d.
rect descendants Of the ancient
Philippians, and he no doubt had
read OF Mr.. ROOSEVELT oit-ex.
pressed and we'll tested preference
for the COlored man. Naturally
enough when the President took
occasion from time to time to pay
special tribute to other Africans,
the Abyssinian sovereign saw no
reason why the royal representa-
tive Of an ancient African race
should not openly demonstrate his
appreciation Of the same. King
Menelik claims to have a family
tree running straight back to Solo
mon and the Queen Of Sheba. lie
should therefore be given credit
for sOme prudence and taste. he
perhaps felt sure that in view Of
so much publication Of Mr.. ROOse-
Velt's decided strenuOsity, includ-
ing marked interest in striking
geological specimens, a lion and 3
hyens would together enliven that
department OF the White House
and afford interest to the chief
executive, and SO over came the
expression of Menelik's interna.
tional regard.
1.-THE Abyssinian sovereign
should not be eensured for The
fact that the President vas not
amused, especially when the for
mer was thoughtful enough to 10.
cIuds il his tribute an animal that
starts q laugh on the slightest
provOcatiOn. Meantime It is said
the lion Cub continues to roar
around the white house, and the
laughing hyena is tiCkled to death
over bis new surroundings. Il is
expected that the white house
menagerie viii receive other add,
tiOns as the impression becomes
more general in remote countries
Of Africa that specimens from the
iungles are always Of special inter.
est to Uncle Sans chief represent
tative.
HER EVAsIVE ANSWER.