The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-07
Of the Atlantic and visit America, and
slie thought that she would like to do
so, but doubted If that would be nj.

Of the Atlantic and visit America, and
SHE thought that she would like to do
80, but doubted If that would be al
lowed
had brought copy Of my Geo.
graphical Reader on Africa with me,
and 1 made the Queen a present of It,
suggesting that It's simple language
might aid her III her study Of English
She took the book and looked over the
pictures. comparing tile natives there
represented with her own people, on
that great island not far away from
the African coast. SHE told me she
found the English language much more
difficult to learn than the French. Hor
Majesty is a good French scholar and
speaks, writes and reads that language
we'll Our conversation was carried on
In French and tho Queen never hest
tated for word or phrase to express
11er meaning. s
Plotographing, a Queen.
At the close OF the audience 1 told
her Mujosty that would consider 1t a
great favor IL she would allow mo
to make a. photograph OF her, as I
would like to have q picture made by
myself to show to the American poo
pie At first she said that she\dld not
think 1t would be permitted but that
she would ask Madame Depret, and
that IL she had no objections she would
go outside and pose for the camera.
At this moment her French guardian
came In and the question was sub
mitted to her. The madame replied
that 1t was I'LL in tile hands Of her
Majesty and she would be permitted
to do rs she pleased
Upon being assured that the pictures
were not for luso in Algiers the Queen
aud her aunt then went with mo into
the garden back OF the house and she
stood In the sun while l made the
pictures. j had one photograph snaps
ped by my dragoman Of myself stand
Ing beside the Queen. 1 am five feet
seven inches in height and the Queen
is almost a head shorter. Tho photo-
graphs arc excellent and they represent
her Majesty as sho looks in this good
year Of our Lord, 1907. After taking
the photographs I left. her Majesty
again shaking my hand as she said
good-by.
With the French in Madagascar.
Speaking Of Madagascar, have made
some inquiries OF the officials here as
to what the French have done in that
country since her Majesty was de-
posed. They tell inc that many rn-
forms have been instituted and are
now under way Slavery has been
abolished in all parts of the island, the
schools have been improved and educa-
ton Is now compulsory upon all chill.
dren between eight and fourteen years
of age. There are now large num-
Der of schools, both for boys and girls.
There are also schools OF agriculture,
and of industry, and for technical
training. The children are required to
learn the French language. and at
tempts are being made to Frenchify
the island.
New Road and Railroads.
So far there are but few roads in
| Madagascar and there are butfew places
| where wheeled vehicles can be used.
| The most common way Of travel OH the
| part of those who can afford it is in
! chairs on the shoulders Of men. TIE
| The Freach have made some military
roads and they have a wagon road
| from the chief port, Tamatave, to
| Tananarivo, the capital. They have
| laid out a railway to connect these
two cities, but so far have only built
a few miles. There is also a railway
siNty-two miles long which is con-
nectcd by canal with Tamatave, and I
understand that this will be continued
| to Tananarivo. A wagon road has
also been built from the capital to the
| west coast and mails are carried over
| over that road on automobiles. Tho
| French have established post-offlces al
most everywhere, and they have put
| up telegraph lines to the extent OF
about $500 miles. They have also
about 100 miles of telephone lines.
A Military Government.
Madagascar is now French colony
but 1t is entirely different from this
! colony OF Algeria. Algeria is repre-
| scented in the French Parliament and
| It elects it's own officials with the
! exception of the encouragement and
| few others Madagascar Is not re-
| presented in parliament and It has no
congress. Tho island is parity under
civil and partly under military admin
! istration. 1t has governor general
and civil and military administrators.
/ In the military territory the soldiers
direct everything. There are alto
gether 10000 troops and about COO Of
| iicers. There are also seven or eight
hundred civil officials, but a large num-
Der of these are natives who have
been chosen by popular vote Taxes
they were under the old regime. The
chief business OF the island consists of
stock raising and farming. NADIA
/ gascar is covered with pastures and it
j has something like 100000 cattle. It
also renrs horses and sheep and the
people are now engaging In ostrich
farming. The land is rich in minerals.
4 The French are opening up gold mines
Land there are also deposits Of iron,
/ nickel, lead. copper and coal.
l FRANK G. CARPENTER.