The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-10
KING OF KINGS.
Menslik Has Made a United Nation
Out of Tribes of savages.
(The independently

Y
Perhaps the most interesting of
reigning Kings is Menelik, of Alb
yssinia. He was born in 1912 and
claims to be the descendent of the
Queen of Sheba, whose own son, of
the same name, was reputed to be the
son of Solomon.
The imperial palace occupies the
crest of hill and dominates the
whole city. Standing IN garden
grounds inclosed by a matched stone
wall, it comprises a number of build
ings, to which access is obtained by
|traversing several courtyards and a
spacious campus, where are stationed
the only body of regularly European
trained troops in the Ethiopian army.
A wide doorway of Italian design
admits the newcomer to the audience
hall, large half churchlike structure,
with roof supported by timber
bridge work, at the far end of which
stands the throne. The floor is cover
ed with Oriental rugs, mixed with
certain products of French and Ger
man looms. Back of the lines form
ed by the pillars are massed on cere-
monial occasions, in either aisle, hun
dreds of the chief people of the capt.
tai, dressed in many-colored raiment.
The thone itself is a sort of divan,
and occupies platform surmounted
by gilded canopy, the gift of France.
At receptions each side of it is de-
Tended by two young princes with
guns, while behind and around are
grouped the Ministers, Judges and
officers of the court.
The first impression made by the
Emperor is a distinctly pleasing one.
His face is full of intelligence and his
manners are those of a gentleman no
less than of a King. He sits in Orien-
tai fashion, his legs crossed and his
arms sustained by two cushions.
He wears as outer garment red
velvet mantle, which affords glimpses
of snowy white underclothing, and
about his head is wound a white hand
kerchief Diamond eardrops hang at
either cheek, and both hands are
adorned with rings.
To converse with the stranger he
makes use of his private secretary,
who is also his interpreter, since he
speaks no other languages than those
of Absyssinnia. Some scraps of
French he can, upon occasions en-
ploy apropos, and to an English
speaking person he will, as a COM
pliment, say ''howdo."
The Emporer's thirst for informa-
ton is phenomenal, and his knowl-
edge of other countries is more con-
siderable than one might imagine from
the meager sources at his disposal
He can discourse on the United
States recent war with Spain, and
more summarily on the War of In
with Great Britain.
President Roosevelt he has evident.
ly learned good deal about, and
seems to be much interested in his
Having heard that the
President is a sportsman, he express
ed the hope of seeing him some day
in Ethiopia, inquiring his age, and
was eager to have the story of his
election narrated.
The Empress Taitu rarely or never
assists at the reception of visitors,
unless some public ceremony is in
volved absolutely requiring her pres
ence She is said to be woman of
great force of character, and to have
been in her youth strikingly beauti-
ful.
She Ia now AZ years of age, and is
the daughter of former Ras of Con-
1ar and one of the legendary Primo
esses of the absorbed Kingdom of
Siemen, the inhabitants of which
are reputed for their white skins.
Several times married previously,
she became the wife of Menelik in
1888. They have no children:
Menelik calls himself THE Lion of
i