The Washington herald., 1909-11-07
MENELIK A CRAFTY RULER
Emperor of AbySSnia Proud of His Ancestry and Capa-
bic Governor
Rr RUDOLPH DE ZAPP.

BY RUDOLPH DE ZAPP.
Cable dispatches announce that Empe-
ror Menelik OF Abyssinia few days ago
was stricken with apoplexy and that his
condition IS considered precarious. BY this
time ne may have been gathered TO his
fathers. II is further claimed that the
patriarch has anointed Prince Lidj Jea-
su. grandson Of the King and heir ap-
parent 10 the throne. in the presence OF
the ministers, in order TO be prepared for
any eventuality- Ras Tessama the vice
roy, has been appointed and confirmed as
guardian Of the prince and Regent
In the history OF Africa for the last
quarter OF a century there has been no
stronger native ruler and none Of greater
interest for the people OF Europe and
America than Menelik II Ruling semi
savage people with a rod OF iron, he not
only astonished the world by defeating in
war a European nation. but he built Up
Abyssinia from within. Progressive, and
a student Of modern civilization in its
complex aspects, he introduced the rail-
road. telegraph. telephone, and modern
unDrogressive Of native countries. a land
where the lion. the elephant and rhino-
ceros stu survive and where feudal con-
dltlons Of social organization remain as
iu the Middle Ages.
Abyssinla has an area Of about 10000
square miles. so that II is approximately
three-f ourths the size Of Texas. II has a
population OF about 1Lc1c,ooo and IS stu
ated between , degrees and ID degrees
north of the equator. Most OF the land Is
more than a mile above the level OF the
sea-a country Of table lands from 5000
10 1900 feet high, guarded by mountains
which are a natural defense against in
vasion. The people are a strange mix
ture Of Semitic Abyssinians, Hamitic Gal
las. Somau negroes. and Falashas tof
Jewish religion), with a considerable
number Of COMMUNICATIONS. Arabs
Greeks. Armeniaus and a few Europeans.
OF all Middle African countries Abys-
sinia is considered the most healthful for
Europeans. There are few blacks among
the population. the ruling type being cof-
fee-colored and Of handsome. statuesque
appearance.
1t IS the boast Of Menellk that he Is a
lineal descendant OF King Solomon and
the Queen OF Sheba, she who "came 10
Jerusalem with a very great train. with
camels that bore spices. and very much
gold, and precious stones; and when she
came TO Solomon she communed with
him Of all that was In her heart" Arabic
tradition. indeed, says that the Queen
did bear a son to Solomon, named Meme
Xix, and with credulous people pro-
Tossing Christianity, as the Abyssinians
have prOfessed since the fourth century.
such a claim doubtless was OF value 10
the modern ruler.
Menelik bears the title Of Emperor be-
cause Of his ruling over several states or
tribes within Abyssinia. His title is Ne
gus Negustin," King OF Kings. He was
born in 1913 The son OF King Haelou OF
Shoa one Of the Abyssinian states, and
a beggar woman Of striking beauty who
one day sought aims at the palace door
and attracted Haelou's attention, Meme
Xix was named heir by his father, though
there were other sons who thought they
had a better claim to the throne. At the
death OF King John OF Abyssinia, In 1883.
Menelik, who had succeeded to the throne
Of Shoa, brushed away the claims or
Mangascia, nephew Of John. who had
been named by the dying Emperor as AIS
successor, and was crowned at Adau
through the might OF his army Of 100000
men.
While a progressive ruler Menelik never
attempted TO force innovations on his
people His fondness for mechanical con-
/ trivances amounts 10 q passion, and he
avails himself Of all he can get OF the
latest inventions for his personal use
Within recent years he bought an auto
mobile and became expert In 1ts use
When he first learned the value of
watches and clocks he ruined several
| that were sent to him by taking them
| apart and trying 10 put them together
again. His perseverance resulted IN hlF
! becoming an expert, so that he could re-
| assemble any timepiece that he possessed.
j Once the French government sent nm as
a present a machine gun. packed for con-
venience OF carrying after it had been
/ taken apart. The weapon reached KING
/ Menelrt several days before the French
| man who was to explain its use had ap-
peared at the capital. To his atsonish-
ment the traveller found that the King
/ had put the gun together correctly and
/ had It mounted ready for use, as the re-
suit OF careful study of the mechanism
| of firearms from books aud plates
The great accomplishment OF Menelik
! which raised him inestimably in the eyes
of European statesmen and made them
careful about offending this ruler Of
| semi-barbaric country was his defeat OF
the Italians in 1896. Like other European
nations, italy desired land in Africa and
sought to extend the foothold 1t had Oh