Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-29
TAKES ONE BATH A YEAR.
Queen RanavaIona Does II Secluded
By Double Line of Guards.

Queen RanavaIona Does II Secluded
BY a Double Line Of Guards.
Queen Ranavalona III, the exalted
ruler of Madagascar, takes a bath but
once a year, but when she does perform
her ablutions the ceremony takes on all
the impressiveness of an affair OF
state.
Ranavalona III Is a queen in name
only. In reality she is prisoner In
the hands of the French, who keep her
In semi captivity in Algiers. She is
the lineal descendant Of the great
Hovas King, Ranadama l, who a CEN
tury ago reduced the dusky cannibal
tribes of Madagascar to subsection
set himself upon a throne and began
the work Of forcing civilization upon
his people. In 1929 Ranadama was
formally recognized by Great Britain,
and from that day the trouble Of the
royal family Of Madagascar began
Ultimately the French laid claim to the
entire island and in 1897 conquered It
Ranavalona III was then on the throne
The French soldiers made her prisoner
and sent her to Reunion Island. In
March 1899. she was transferred to AL
giers.
Although really a prisoner, Rama
valona is treated with q great deal OF
consideration by the French. Once
every year she is permitted to visit
Paris. where she Is received with a
sad mockery as a real queen. But her
trip to Paris has its delights, for the
poor exiled queen is given $4,000 and
permitted to shop. She revels in
dainty frocks, expensive gowns, opera
cloaks, embroidered lingerie, silken
hose and the costly things that Paris
has to sell. Then when her vacation
is ended she goes back to her exile In
Algiers, to rule in petty state over her
little court.
Ranavalona has been permitted to
bring a large retinue Of her former
servants from Madagascar. She has
her palace" in Algiers and keeps ur
as much bedizened state and native
ceremony as her limited allowance
from France permits.
Among the ceremonies Of Ranaval-
ona's little court is her annual bath
She takes a real bath once year. II
is an elaborate bath, but conducted
with a great deal Of mystery.
The queen takes her bath in silker
tent set up in the grounds surround
ing her Algerian palace. At each cor
ner of the tent Is a native guard, clac
in the picturesque uniform of soldier
of the Madagascar royal regiment
Twenty PAGES from each native soldier
IL stationed a French soldier. This
line Of double guards keeps the cur
iously intrusive at a safe distance from
the tent which incloses the royal bath
At noon of the day appointed for the
ceremony Of the queens bath a gayly
decorated procession winds its way
from the queens residence through the
trees to the silken tent.
First comes a guard Of native SOL
diers. Then q detachment Of French
soldiers in full dress uniform. COM
manded by a major. Then there is Q
band Of native musicians, with queer
instruments, playing plaintive melodies
The queens mistress of the robes fol-
lows, and then comes her chamberlain
with his gold chain and white wand
Two ladies in waiting come next, ac-
companied by two little pages.
A line of Madagascar girls. servant:
of the queen, are next to be seen
Each carries on her head a large tut
filled with rose scented water TheJ
walk erect, clothed only from the hip:
down, the naked upper half Of thei1
bodies glstening in the sun like ebon!
statues. They carry the water for TIT
royal bath With them are more ser
wants, with towels. silver jars Of soal
and perfumes.
| Reaching the tent. the water carrier
enter and fill the huge bathing tank
which Is simply a modern bath tub
lined with yellow and red silk. Whel
the bath is ready the queen, accom-
panied by only two of her female ser
wants and the mistress Of the robes
enters the tent, the guard withdrawing
to a safe distance. The assemblag
keeps an awed silence. From the ten
comes the noise Of distinctly feminin
giggles. low murmured exclamation
and the soft splashings Of water.
Then for long time there Is a 81
lence while the attendants are dress
ing the queen. Presently she emerge
from the tent, the little procession re
forms and the queen returns to he
palace refreshed by her first bath 4
twelve long months.-Chicago Trib
une.