Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22

THE first collection of characteristics.
useful and ceremonial articles from
Abyssinia has made its initial bow
to the Washington public within the past
months. and has taken up its permanent
abode in the most exclusive society of
African exhibits in the New National
Museum.
Because of the rarity of all Abyssinian
material, this highly interesting colloc-
ton has been honored with a separate
case in a prominent position, and has
been the subject of a treatise and cata-
logue by DIR. Walter Hough. curator of
ethnology. The articles were gathered by
Hoffman Phillip. minister and consul GER
eral of the United States at Adds Abeba,
the capital of the nation over which King
Menelek holds sway. claiming the throne
by Divine right as a descendant of Solo
mon and the Queen of Sheba
King Menelek distinguished himself by
his rebellion to the Italian prOtectorate
and his subsequent victory. which gave
his country absolute independence He
also is to be remembered for the I'M
portant part his small nation prayed in
the British scheme of African affairs.
Abyssinia is located in eastern Africa.
southwest of the Red sea, and comprises
an area of 200,Ns square miles and has
chief industry is herding cattle. sheep
and goats. The country is a plateau, and
the high mountains and deep eOrSeS rem
der it almost inaccessible. While lying
between the great trade routes Of the
world the Red sea and the Nile. the
country remains practically isolated from
the rest of the word AMI likewise I'M
affected by the march of progress and
civilization.
From writer's on prehistoric races it
is learned that Abyssinia owes It's first
culture to the prehistoric invasion OF
Himyartes from Arabia, ana later on
Egyptian and Graeco- Roman influences
were important factors in their develop
ment. Whatever progress time nay have
induced in the mercantile pursuits OF this
remote people. their religion and every
thing pertaining to ii remains Identical
with the observances Of the ancient world
With peculiar conservatism this print
tive race preserves to this day the para
phernalia of their forbears Hence the
fly flap, crutch and siStrum have their
propotype in the old world relics O.. the
Nile valley. The splendid collection de-
scribed by DR.. Hough gives ample Illus
tration OF the present stage 81 AoEs-
sinian art culture and craft There IS
nothing in the whole case that is not
worthy of detailed description.
To the feminine mind the wonderful
necklaces and bracelets are the most APP
peaIing There are about half "A dozen or
each all different in design yet similar
in construction and material. all being
of silver and of ancient workmanship.
The necklaces show very decidedly their
origin in the amulet. as nearly all are
made up Of a series of beads and charm
boxes Unlike the ornamental neck
charms worn by the women of our and
today merely for their beauty, these
necklaces of the Abyssinian women are
donned and worn with the specific pur-
pose of securing immunity from various
ills and dangers.
The most remarkable necklace of the
lot consists of a charm of four charm
boxes of silver filigree in simple patterns.
spaced with eight cylindrical beads. All
four boxes have fringes of comical tnk
lers or bells suspended by little chains
and two Of the boxes are provided with