The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-18
MENELIk, KING OF KINGS.
Has Made a United Nation Out OF
Tribes of savages.

/ Perhaps the most interesting of reign
ing kings is Menelik OF Abyssinia, say
the independent. He WAS born IN is4
| and claims to be descendant or IN
Queen of Sheba. whose own son, OF th'
same name. was reputed 10 De the sol
of Solomon.
! The visitor to the capitai of whai
Menelilx has made united Abyssinla
is agreeably surprised to fnd himself
travelling over smooth and weii-cOl-
structed roads.
The imperial palace occupies the cres'
of hill and dominates the whole city
Standing in garden grounds Enclosed by
a thaIched stone wall it comprises
number of buildings. to which access is
obtained by traversing several CONT
yards and spacious campus, where
are stationed the only body of regularly
European trained troops in the Eth
opian army.
A wide doorway of Indian design sd-
mits the newcomer 10 the audience hail,
a large half churehlike structure. with
a roof supported by timber bridge work,
at the far end ot which stands the
throne. The floor is covered with ORR
entail rugs. mixed with certain products
of French and German looms. Back Of
these lines formed bv the pillars are
nlassed ON ceremonial coca si0ns. in
pie of the capital dressed in Uany-col-
ored raiment.
The throne itself is a sort Of eivan
and occupies platform surmOUn5ed
by gilded canopy. the gift If France.
At receptions each side OF il IS defended
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 EN-
peror is A distinctly pleasing one. His
face is full of intelligence and his man
ners are those of 4 gentleman no less
than of a king. He sits in Oriental
fashion. his legs crossed and his arms
sustained by two cushions.
He wears as outer garment a red vel
vet mantle. which affords glimpses OF
snowy white understanding, and about
bis head IL wound a white handker-
chief. Diamond eardTops 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 language than that Of Abys- 4
sinia- Some scraps of French he ran
upon occasion employ aprOpos. and to t
an English-speaking person he will as
/ compliment say a "HowdO"
Inc tHitfl LOT information
S phenomenal, and his knowledge of II
,ther countries is more considerable II
han one might imagine from the n1ea-
yer sources at his disposal He can II
DISCOURSE on the United States recent II
var with Spain and more sunmarily II
IN the war of independence with Great II
Britain.
President Roosevelt he has evidently Il
earned good deal about and seems to
'e much interested in his personality. II
having heard that the president is
portsman. he expressed the hope of
eeing him some day in Ethiopia. In
uired his age and was eager to have
he story Of his election narrated
The Empress Taitu rarely or never
ssists at the reception of visitors I'M
ess some public ceremony is involved
bsolutely requiring her presence. She
! said 10 be woman of great force of
and tc have been in her
outh OF striking beauty.
She is now AZ years OF age and is the :
aughter OF former ras of Gondar,
nd one of the hereditary princesses Of
ne absorbed kingdom of Siemen, the .
Inhabitants of which are reputed for .
heir white skins. Several times mar :
ed previously, she became the wife Of
Ienelik in 1883. They have no children.
Menelik calls himself "the lion of the .
'lbe OF Judah. the chosen of the IO,d !
ing of kings of Etniopia"