Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-02

I
apoplexy was credited with doing its
deadly work. The same cause is given for
the present reported demise. More cred
ence is given the present report. being
accompanied with biographical notes and
psrentage and age OF the kings successor.
II Menelick has actually shuffled off his
mortal coil at the age Of &C. European
doctors cannot escape censure as "acces-
sories before the fact" The king was, or
is one of the very few remaining independ-
ent monarchs in Africa. Practically all
others are vassals Of foreign powers, or
subject to their influence The king liked
European ways, his queen resisted for
eign innovations. Soon after the king and
his warriors welcomed the Italian invaders
to hospitabe graves in his mountain de-
files, German, French and English influ-
ences became mixed up in the rival
court faction. All were nightly interested
in the kings health and brought doctors
to the capital to promote his physical well
fare and mix political medicine with the
regular treatment. In the ensuing rivalry
of the doctors, the German medic charged
the French NJ d. with poisoning the king.
The shocked ministers Of the king inves-
tigated the charge and acquitted the doc
tors, but the kings suspicious we're aroused
and he was treasured only when the
doctors involuntarily swallowed large
doses OF medicine compounded for himself.
At least once a month Menelik INDUCED in
an extra large feast with his favorites, and
the rest Of the time short rations and
dyspepsia tablets constituted the royal
bill Of fare. Doubtless one Of these gorsing
feasts was the immediate cause of his
alleged taking off. According to Abyssinia
history the royal line OF Menelik extends
farther back than that OF the emperor of
Japan-so far, inded, that the names OF
Solomon and the queen OF Sheba mark its
legendary, II not actual beginning. The
empire is about as large as Germany and
contains an estimated population of
10000 900.
Conspicuous among the natives welcoming
Theodore Roosevelt to Egypt was Abbas
Pasha H. Khedive Of Egypt by grace Of
Great Britain Abbas is nearly 36, hand
some and athletic, wears European clothes
topped with a real feZ. He is a grandson of
the last real monarch Of Egypt, Ismail
Pasha who spent $21, 100000 in various en-
tertanments in honor of the completion or
the SueE canal. The present Khedive has
not the means nor the inclination to beat
the spending record Of his grandfather. He
manages, however, to bear the strain OF
higher cost of living with a salary OF
$4,000 a year. He speaks and writes
French, German, Turkish and italian as
we'll as Arabic. He is a pianist of no little
ability, a crack horseman, q hunter,
scientific farmer, a fair locomotive engi-
neer, a capable military officer, a lover of
good literature and grand opera. hard
worker at his official duties, and an ideal
host. Like Mr.. Roosevelt Abbas is strenu-
Gus. He arises at O'Clock In the morning
and superintends, from the saddle, the
work upon his farm before driving to the
palace, where his routine work as Khedive
begins.
The appropriation and political ends of
the game having been achieved, Great
Britain's war scare has subslded. ALPS
quiet on the North Sea and the navy
yards are humminE with activity. The
German government has chosen this period
of calm for publishing an official note to
show that the Britain admiralty anthori-
ties are wrong in their estimate Of the
dreadnoughts Germany will have in com
mission two years hence, and also have
exaggerated the speed with which they are
being constructed. Germany assured the
country that there is no new departure in
her naval program and no menace TO
anybody in her prosecution of a policy
begun years ago. Germany so far has had
rather the better of this controversy, be-
cause it's attitude has consistently been
that what 1t is doing for the development
of its navy Is no other nations business
and therefore requires no defence from
Berlin.
BY a vote of 2sO to the French senate
passed the old age pension bill. Should
the Chamber of Deputies agree TO the
Senate changes the scheme will go into
effect before the end OF the year. and all
workers who have reached the age of
IS or have spent thirty years in toll will
receive pensions from the state treasury.
Like the German workmen's insurance
scheme the French bill places a premium
upon thrift and requires that the bene-
ficiaries shall contribute as well as their
employers and the state, Obligatory pay
ments of from to francs year over a
period OF thirty years are made the con-
dltions of a pension averaging about $50
at the age of 65 years, the payments by the
workmen and women being supplemented
by contributions of the same amount by the
employers, the government pledging itself
to make up whatever deficiency there may
be- Experts differ widely as to what this
annual cost to the state will be- but it
is supposed that when the plan gets into
working order it will average about SIS
100000 a year, the initial payments being
greater than that amount by perhaps
Sll, ,OOC 900 for several years. The provisions
OF the "law of assistance" OF 1905, In which
the pensionable age is fixed at 70 years,
are merged in those Of the new scheme
and there are detailed provisions made for
the protection OF the insured in times OF
unemployment and during military service.
The outburst OF nationalist Indignation
against the pro-British speeches OF Theo-
dore Roosevelt in Egypt is generally re-
garded as justifiable. No Observant trav-
eler questions the beneficial results of
British rule and enterprise in the land
of the Pharoahs, but the average native
dislikes alien rule thoroughly as would
Americans, Saxons. Teutons or the Gaetlc
races and properly resent critlsism OF ma
tional aspirations by a stranger. Like
India, Egypt has in recent years developed
an aggressive and militant native party,
opposed to British rule. The "nationalists'
desire the early withdrawal of British