Evening star., 1907-08-31
Copyright. 1907. by Frank @. Carpenter.)

CAIRO.
wv YHEN I was IN Cairo. sixteen
years ago. I had long inter
NM view with Tewhk Pasha. who
w was then Kedive of Egypt. To-
day have had talk with hts
son. Abbas Hilmi who is now on the throne
Both of these interviews took place IN the
Abdin Palace. the great structure which
forms the business Office and official resi-
dence of the rulers OF Egypt, situated here
IN the heart OF Cairo.
The interviews were arranged by Uncle
Sans diplomatic agents. who act also as
consuls general to Egypt. The first was by
Consul General Cardwell. who represented
US here In 1889. and the other by Consul
General Iddings who is now the diplomatic
agent Of the United States. The audiences
were In both cases held in the afternoon.
and the dress required was the tall hat
and morning costume OF frock coat and
light trousers. customary for oflfcial calls
We went to the palace in the consular car
rlages. with a gorgeous draSoman OF the
legation on the seat beside the coachman.
and were met at the door in both instances
by the soldiers of the khedlVe.
The Abdin Palace.
The khedives of Egypt have two official
residences. one In Cairo and one In Alexan-
dria That in Alexandria is the Ras ell
Teen Palace. situated right on the harbor,
with its windows looking out upon the khe-
dival yacht and the ships of half dozen
nations which are at anchor there. The
Abdin Palace faces great square IN the
heart of this biggest city OF Egypt. II IS
built In the form OF horseshoe, and its
two stories have many windows looking out
upon the square. There Is a grand entrance
way in the center and to the left of this
door. which l am told leads to the harem
and to other private apartments OF his hiSn-
ness.
As our carriage drove up to the palace
we were passed by a closed coach drawn
by magnificent Arabian horses. On the box
beside the Hveried coachman sat sober
faced eunuch. whose black skin and dark
clothes seemed all the more somber under
his bright red skull cap. In front of the
carriage ran two brown-skinned. bare
legged ScyCes with their wandS held up In
front of them, warning plebetans to get out
OF the way. | afteTward learned that tnlS
carriage was that of princess about TO
call on the wife of the khedive.
The palace doors were opened to us by
an Arab official clad in European clothes
and wearing the red fez cap which the
Egyptian never takes of whether IN mouse
or out. We first came into grand en-
trance hall, hoOred with mosaic the Walls
of which were finished in cream ana goju,
and then went up to the second floor by
staircase so wide that two wagonloads or
hay could be drawn up it without touching.
On the second moor are lIc ItCeptioi AooihS
for visitors and also the apartments re.
served for the chamberlain masters OF
ceremony and other officers of the khed-
dives household Here we were taken into
a large parlor by one of the khedives cabl-
net ministers, who Chatted with us until an
official entered and told US his hiShneSs
was ready to receive US.
Face to Face With the Khedive.
We were then conducted across the hall
to the chief reception room OF the palace
and a moment later were face to face with
the young khedive of Egypt. The room
was the same in which l met his father,
ard our reception free from cere-
mony and as cordial as that l had many
years ago. The young khedive does not
look much like his father. He has more
dignity and is tritie taller. He has, how
ever the same light complexion, the same
hazel eyes and the same broad open fore
head. straight nose and full lips. He is. l
Judge about five feet six inches in height.
but his tall red fez cap makes him look
taller. The father had full beard, but
the Is satisfied with brown mustache.
Both men dressed simply. The father wore
a black coat. vest and trousers. with the
coat cut rather high and preacher-like.
His only 1ewelry consisted of three gold
studs the size of bird shot and watch
chain of thin, golden links. His neckte
was black, and as l remember, it was of
the butterfly variety. like those that you
buy on lower Broadway for % cents. His
higness of today wore a doube-breasted
frock coat and light trousers, with neck
tie of light colored silk which he had ap-
parently tied himself
In both instances, after shaking hands.