Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-06

that she would prefer to say nothing more
| about her own country, as the French gov
| crnment objected to her discussing such
matters.
She Has to Like It.
A moment later for some reason
Madame Depret was called out and the
queens aunt said that no conversation
could 60 until she returned I inter
preted this to mean political conversation
and said word or two about the weather
then asked her majesty how she liked
the climate Of Algeria. To this she re-
piled:
1T does not much matter. have to
like 1t. Nevertheless, 1t is a very good
climate"
A little later she spoke Of Paris, and
mentioned the pleasures she had in the life
there. 1 suggested that she extend her
travels to the other side Of the Atlantic and
visit America, and she thought that she
would like to do SO, but doubted II that
would be allowed.
l had brought copy of my Geographical
Reader on Africa with me, and made the
queen a present of it, suggesting that its
simple language might aid her in her study
of English. She took the book and looked
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. Her majesty il a
good French scholar and speaks writes
and reads that language well. Our con-
versation was carried on in French and
the queen never hesitated for a word or a
phrase to express her meaning.
Photographing Queen.
At the close of the audience 1 told her
| majesty that l would consider 1t a great
favor if che would allow me to make a
photograph Of her. as I would like to have
| v,iot A.
American people At first she said that
she did not think 1t would be permitted, but
that she would ask Madame Depret, and
| that If she had no objections she would
so outside and pose for the camera.
AT this moment her French guardian
came in and the question was submitted to
her. The madame replied that it was all
in the hands of her majesty and she would
be permitted to do as she pleased.
Upon being assured that the picturef
her aunt then went with me into the gar
den back of the house and she stood In
the sun while l made the pictures. l had
one photograph snapped by nv draeoman
OF myself standing beside the queen I am
hve feet seven inches in height and the
queen is almost a head shorter The photo
graphs are excellent and they represent
her majesty as she looks in this good year
of our Lord, 1907. After taking the photo
graphs | left. her majesty again shaking
my hand as she said goodbye.
With the French in Madagascar.
Speaking Of Madagascar, I have made
some inquiries of the officials here as to
what the French have done in that coun-
try since her majesty was deposed. They
tell mo that many reforms have been in
stltuted and are now under way. Slavery
has been abolished in all parts of the
island. the schools have been improved and
education is now compulsory upon all chill
hntx nyerl,t
age. There are now a large number Of
schools. both for boys and girls There
are also schools Of agriculture. and of in
dustry, and for technical training. The
children are required to learn the French
language, and attempts arc being made to
krenchify the island.
New Road and Railroads.
So far there are but few roads in NADIA
gascar and there are but few places where
wheeled vehicles can be used. The most
common way of travel on the part of those
who can afford 1t is in chairs on the
shoulders Of men. The French have made
some military roads and they have a
wagon road from the chief port, Tamatave,
to Tananarivo, the capital They have laid
out railway to connect these two cities,
but so far have only built few miles
There Is also q railway s!xty-two miles
long which is connected by canal with
Tamatave and l understand that this will
a
has also been built from the capital to the
west coast and mails are carried over that
road on automobiles. The French have es-
taLl.shed post offices almost everywhere
and they have put up telegraph lines to
the extent of about $500 miles. They have
also about $50 miles of telephone lines
A Military Government.
Madagascar Is now French colony, but
1t Is entirely different from this colony of
Algeria. Algeria is represented in the
French parliament and 1t elects its own
officials with the exception of the gov
crnor general and a few others. MAZDA
gascar Is not represented in parliament
and it has no congress. The island is part
ly under civil and partly under military
administration. 1t has q governor general
and civil and military administrators In
the military territory the soldiers direct
everything There are altogether 1900
troops and about 900 officers There are
also seven or eight hundred civil officials.
but a large number of these are natives
who have been chosen by popular vote.
Taxes are said to be little higher than
they We're under the old regime. The
chief business Of the island consists of
stock raising and farming. Madagascar is
covered with pastures and 1t has something
like 100000 cattle.
FRANK q. CARPENTER.