Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-12

Turkey, brilliant but brutal soldier,
vieeroy, tyrant would-be usurper OF
his benefactor's throne and FOUNDER Oh
the semi-autonomy of Egypt, lsmall
was the most conspicuous 1allure'
Abbas. seventh of his dynasty, Is by
far the best equipped of the khedlVes
in point of education and all-round
mental fitness. His admirers say that
lie would make an excellent ruler II
the reins of government were really in
his hands. But this is merely an esti-
mate of the man. 1t does not mean
that if Europeans were out of Egypt
this young Turk could remain in his
place as the head of a nation to which
his line is alien.
While his father, Tewfik, was khed-
i've. and while the tolls of British domi-
nation were gradually closing about the
government of Egypt as a result of the
after effects of Ismail's misrule, Abbas
was getting his education in Switzer-
land and later in Austria. He was
taught, among other things, languages,
diplomacy, the art of war and engl-
neering He Travelled during his vaca-
tons to every important point in Gu
rope. A tour of the United States, in
Guiding visits to the great industrial
centers as well as to washington, was
4
called Prince Abbas to the viceregal
throne when he was only Is years old
He stil regrets that he was unable To
see America.
That he was a student while at
school and in college is evident from
the fact that he speaks and writes
fuently English, French, German
Turkish and Italian, as we'll as Arabic
He is a pianist of marked attalnments
a first-rate horseman, sclentlflt
farmer. enough of an engineer to run
a locomotive and to know what Is
wrong when the engine does not run
and how to remedy the evil. lover
of good literature and grand opera, nc
is Versatile in conversation and an IN
terested, as we'll as interesting, talkel
to guests he receives. He attends
nllnctually to the various duties of his
rulership, which are as many and IN
tricate as if his hands were not guldec
Inv a superior power. He arises at
o'clock in the morning, and, from the
saddle. superintends the farm worE
upon one of his estates before driving
to Abdin palace, if it is winter, or Ras-
eileen if it is summer.
! In personal appearance the khedive
is prepossessing. By many persons ne
| is considered singularly handsome Tie
will be So years old this July, and seems
somewhat older than his years. lie Is
! not democratic in the sense that ne
would be slapped on the back by az
acquaintance and greeted with "hello,
but he is sufficiently sensible not tt
violate the popular canon against TAX
ing ones self too seriously. He dresse:
Quietly in the European style, except
that he habitually wears red fez IN
doors as we'll as out. He is bird o.
bright plumage only when he dons ms
uniform is ommander-in-chiefo OF tho
Egyptian army. In uniform he is moi
a mere figurehead, but finely trained
soldier who can direct the meneuver'
of his regiments like war-worn vet
eran. He is more interested In America
than in any other country. American
farming implements and machinery II
operation on his various farms glvt
evidence of an intelligent attention e
the march of progress in a more pro
eressive country than his own: Al
american stallion, as well as oioodee
Arabian horses, is included in his breed
ing stable. 1,o