The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-08-03
JACQUES l. NO FOOL.
FRENCH EMPEROR OF SAHARA
IS DOING WONDERS.
Englishman Declares M. Lebaudy Is
a Beneficent Autocrat-Has an
Army of 1000 Men Under
His Control.

London.-Jacques l., emperor OF the
Sahara, erstwhile known to fame as M.
Lebaudy, of Paris, and the reputed pos
SCISSOR of more money than brains, is
commonly regarded as a notoriety seek
ing freak" whose kingdom should be
restricted to the confines of an asylum.
That at least is the wayne is written up.
w. l.. de S. Lennox, an Englishman
who recently had abundant opportuni-
ties for studying Lebaudy at close range,
takes different view. Lennox has just
returned from years stay at Troja,
where the eccentric Frenchmun has
established the capital of what he
dreams will some day be a mighty en-
pire.
Jacques L." he said. has done won
ders in a country that formerly pro-
duced scarcely anything but brigands
and paupers. Two years ago, when he
went to Sahara, the territory was in
most primitive state Now law and or
der have been established, schools have
been opened an embryonic city of 5000
inhabitants has been brought into ex-
istence, many acres have been brought
under cultivation and yield sugar, cot
ton. rice and tobacco, while stores.
granaries and other improvements have
been introduced.
The empire is self-supporting He
leads an Industrious life and is the hard
est worker in his kingdom His role is
that of benefcent autocrat. He has
installed Frenchmen at the head of the
various departments who are practical
men and good organizers.
Jacques maintains q harem. but he
does 80 solely because, to obtain respect
for his authority, he finds It necessary
TO conform to the customs OF his people.
He wants no outside interference and
discourages the settlement Of foreign
ers until he has more fully developed
the commercial resources Of the coun-
try.
There Is now under the emperor's
rule about 1000 square miles and pop
ulation Of something like 10000 people.
Through his domains constantly pass
camel trains from Central Africa to
Morocco. Before he appeared they
were subject to constant depredations
by brigands. Jacques I. extracts tribute
from them. but in return gives them
military escort. watering privileges and
protection.
The imperial army Is composed Of
1000 men, each with q camel, and re-
serve force Of 900. Every soldier is we'll
equipped with modern small arms.
These men. as we'll as everybody in the
empire, can always count on plenty to
eat, which is something they could
never do before. The national faith 10
Mohammedan, which Lebaudy nominal
ly processes, although he is really Q
Catholic. -"-- a. N. w. ~ =
He employs much ceremonial pomp.
and his durbars are grand AFFAIRS, but
this is necessary to properly impress the
Arab mind with his Importance Agri-
culture is the foundation of Lebaudy's
scheme Of empire. expect to hear of
his exporting wheat in another year.
When Lebaudy visits Europe his as
sumption Of imperial dignity is always
ridiculed; but on these trips he is by
no means the fool some people take him
for. and drives some shrewd bargains in
the purchase Of supplies. He is working
along the right line"