The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-18

HAVE just had an aud1ence with
 his royal highness, the Khedive of x Egypt The meeting was arranged by the diplomatic agent of the United States and 1t took some time to bring 1t about. The khedive Is the Mohamme- l dan ruler of these 100000 Egyptians, and the many tribes of the Sudan bow down to to him as their chief Although the country is really ruled by the En- glish the khedive holds the place of king in the minds of the people. He lives in great state and appreciates the dignity of his position. It was only through letters of introduction which I have from Washington that I was able to enter his presence. My appointment came from the grand master of ceremonies of the Abdine palace. The letter from the khedye was written in French, and 1t informed me that his royal highness would receive me Tuesday afternoon. When I arrived at the palace | found a regiment of soldiers drilling in front of it and company of fierce looking Arabs on guard at the door. These men presented arms as entered. I first came into a hall where other dark-faced guards, in full uniforms stood. and I passed be-
 
 staircase, where 'one of the cabinet min isters met me. With him I walked up to the second floor of the palace, and was taken into a great parlor where I waited until the exact moment for my inter view came
 Tewfik Pasha's Throne Room II As I looked about this room I recog- nized 1t as the audience chamber in which the father of this khedive, Tewik Pasha had received me when he was ruler of the country now more than 24 years ago. At that time had most remark able interview with him, and as I looked about me the man and his words came to my mind The room is the same as it was then, all of the furniture being European notwithstanding Egypt Is a land of the Orient The sofas and chairs are of carved woodwork painted white and plated with gold. They are up- holstered In white brocaded satin, deco rated with flowers and the carpet of European make is woven in one piece. At one end of the room Is great bro caded sofa, as wide as a Turkish divan. It was upon that sofa that his highness Tewflk sat as he chatted with me about himself and his country. He spoke En- glsh we'll and talked freely about the then condition of Egypt and its future. He was not averse to speaking of re- ligion and his Mohammedan subjects. u Tewffk Versus Abbas
 Since then great changes have taken place in Egypt. The present khedve's father was always afraid of assassna- ton and when he suddenly died it was supposed that he was carried off by poison. I asked him how he liked the l life of a khedive. He replied:
 'T don't like 1t. I am told that many people envy me and think that my lot must be a pleasant one. They do not un- 1 derstand the troubles that surround me. I have seen many a time when I should have been glad to have laid down all the honors I have for rest and peace My 10 years of reign have been equal to 40 years of worry, and If life were mat ter of pleasure I would be a fool to re- main on the throne I believe, however, that God put man into the world for purpose other than pleasure. It Is duty that Is mans chief end. I am try ing to do what can for my country and people and I am happiest when I am working the hardest"
 These words were uttered after the English had taken hold of the Egyptian | situation. As you will remember, they came In at the end of Araba Pasha's rebellion, and after they had put down the revolution of the Mahdi. Tewf1k was | ground between the upper and neither | milstones of the rebels and the English, and his bed was never one of roses.
 It was different with the present khe- dive He has practically nothing to do with the actual government and the English relieve him from most of the troubles of the ordinary ruler.
 MOhammedan Rulers
 Both Tewfik and Abbas have upheld the principles of Mohammedanism. During my talk with Tewfik cigarettes were brought in and I was offered smoke. Observing that his highness did not take a cigarette refused, and moment later I asked the khedive if he did not smoke. He replied that he neither smoked nor drank and that he did not drink because 1t was against the laws of life as laid down in the Koran. I understand that | the present khedive never touches to- bacco or intoxicating liquors. and that he Is almost as good a Mussulman as | was his father. He has recently gained great favor with his subjects, not only in Egypt but in the Sudan, by making pilgrimage to Mecca, and the fact that he 1 has increased the size of his harem will probably be another point in his favor. could recte the Koran backward from beginning to end. He knew the whole book by heart, and could commence at any place and recite back and forth. He said that he thought every man should be faithful to the beliefs of his fathers, | and that he was in favor of religious t0l- | eration He went to mosque regularly, and ureged the pushing of the Mohamme- dan religion. Abbas is also regular in his mosque attendance, but doubt whether he is doing anything out side that and his pilgrimage.
 | The Khedive in 1910
 l As was thinking of these things stately officer in dark clothes and red fez cap entered and told me his highness was ready to see me- He then led me out of the room and across the hall into an l other parlor, which was equally large. | As we entered a straight, stout young man, with a fair face and blond mus tache. came forward and offered me his hand It was the young khedive, whom had met when in Egypt four years ago. He greeted me with a welcome back to Fgypt. saving that he considered it compliment to his country that the Amer | jeans who came invariably returned. His highness led the way to sofa near the window, and motioned me to chair ot his side. When he sat down himself he put one foot under him and sat upon that. I remembered that his father had aat the same way. The khedive main tained that position during the half hour of our audience.
 As we talked had an excellent oppor- tnnity to study the man. His highness is about five feet eight tall, and he weighs perhaps ITO pounds He is as straight as an arrow, and the red fez cap which he olro ia