Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-08

sinfa with headquarters at Marseilles. has
a branch Office on Wall street In New YORK.
Although King Meneiik Is lndepehoSht;
his government is very largely controlled
by Alfred Ilg a Swiss, and Leon Chefneux,
a Frenchman. who have lived many years
in the country and have the confidence OF
/ the emperor and the people. They nave
! concession to handle the finances of the
government for ninety-nfne years and the
right to cellect an ad valorem duty OF 10
per cent upon all merchandise entering or
leaving the country, with provision that
when their net annual profit exceeds So
ESQ, coo the surplus shall be divided
equally with the government. These gem
tlemen building railroad from the
port of Djibouti in. French Somaliland on
the Gulf of Alden to Adds ababa the CAPT.
! tai of Abyssina. They have finished 1t as
far; as Harrar $40 kilometres; and expect
to complete the remaining 800 miles within
the next two or three years. when the
primitive conditions of Ethiopia will doubt
less be rapidly supplanted by the Gus
toms of modern civilization. The emperor
is progressive and-is stimulating the am
bition of the young men Of his country to
take an active interest in education and
| to fit themselves for future opportunities
and responsibilities.
Exceedingly few persons are able to
read and write,'' Mr.. Skinner says. The
schools seem unable to get beyond the in
struction In the gospels
Mr.. Skinner describes the eagerneSS with
which the emperor inquired about modern
civilization and says: 1T is doubtful
whether any practical statesman certainly
none labcring under the disadvantages of
the Emperor Menelik, has any keener APP
preciatio of the forces Of the earth. He
has heard of japan, and in his own way
Is trying to emulate that striking ex-
ample. The new railroad, the new high
ways, the bridges, the telephones, all these
things he probably cares very little for in
themselves, but he realizes that nations
must advance or they must fall. He wishes
RI hiS To inf ~ hot q
able to comprehend and uilllZe these mod
ern improvements and inventions, and to
turn them to their own advantage Tor the
defense of their country and their national
liberty.
Interested in Roosevelt.
"He had heard evidently a good many
things about President Roosevelt, whose
personality interested him very much. He
knew him to be n sportsman and hoped
that he would one day visit Ethiopia. He
wanted to know his age and how he came
to be President. He wanted to know the
length of our great rivers, the altitude of
our cities, and he seemed to classify the
great variety of facts which he has the
habit of thus absorbing and to bring them
out again whenever occasion required.
Adds Ababa is new city, not more
than a dozen years old The former CAPT
tai was the ancient city of Gondar. 1t has
permanent population of some $4,000
Aside from the emperors palace, the le-
cations and the homes of few Europeans,
all the buildings are decidedly primitive.
They consist, a rule, of round lattice
work frame, against which mud is thckly
plastered and of matched roofs. The le-
cations have all been object lessons of the
greatest value to the community, for the
builders, instead of undertaking to erect
European structures, have produced glor
fed forms of native architecture.
The British, French, italian and Rus
sian governments are all represented at
Adds Ababa, but the role of their repre-
sentatves is purely political and they are
there to watch each other, to head
off any designs upon Abyssinian territory.
Menelik seems to appreciate the situation
and to seek the friendship of the United
States which he knows to be disinterested.
Menelik's Appearance.
Mr.. Skinner gives us graphic picture
of his majesty as he appeared when the
American mission presented their creden-
tals.
1.-The lion of the tribe of Judah, the king
of kings, the chosen of the Lord sat in
an audience hall, the roof of which was
supported by pillars of timber The floor
was completely carpeted by oriental rugs,
anonymously mixed with the products of
French and German looms. Back of the
lines formed by the pillars on either side
were 1nassed hundreds of the chief people
of Addis-Ababa, CARRIED like the soldiers
in many-colorea raiment and waiting in
respectful SILENCE.
lin the farther end of the chamber sat
the emperor upon his diyan or throne. The
divan placed upon platform extend
ing entirely across the audience hall and
under canopy supported by four gilded
columns. the gift of the French republic.
On each side of the throne stood two young
princes holding guns. and back of it, and
extending on both sides until they merged
into the crowds waiting in the aisles, stood
the ministers, judges and officers of the
court. A subdued light softened the colors
and blended them tremendously. Our small
column. both officers and men, advanced
halfway across the wide and empty space,
where the four officers bowed. In COM
plete silence the procession continued on to
the elevation upon which the throne stood.
Here the party other than the commits
soner, halted, the latter stepping forward
to shake hands in the most friendly and
informal manner with the emperor, who
held out his own hand and smiled cordially.
NJ. Sourvis, the official Interpreter and pri-
vate secretary of the emperor, facilitated
the exchange of conversation. His mai
esty wore the costume familiar to from
photographs. He sat in oriental fashion,