The Washington herald., 1913-03-02
COURT GOSSIP ON SUBJECTS
OF GREAT GENERAL INTEREST

Once more the death is reported of
Emperor Meneiik, the Negus OF Abys-
sinia. This time the news seems TO be
Icreditable. as it was telegraphed by a
British oficer. residing at the Ads
Abeba, the capital city OF Ably yssinia. The
report adds that Menelik's successor.
Prince Lidji Yiasson. has been sum
moned to the capital. which he entered
with great pomp and ceremonial.
| Menelik has had bad habit OF
dying" or of being seized with fatal
maladies during the past ten years or
more. 10 judge from travellers. tales or
newspaper reports About a year ago
en- American. on a tour through Abys-
sinia, made the acquaintance of native
physician. whose duty it was to visit
the Nagus once in three months. Even
he never knew whether his imperial mas
| ter was dead or alive. Whenever he was
commanded to the palace. figure was
brought out for his inspection. II was
swathed in bandages from head to foot
and great mask in which two holes
had been cut for the eys. was placed
over the face. He was always told that
this was the great Menelik; but. Of
course, he did not know.
The general belief at Ads Aheba has
been that the Enperor-he was IN the
seventies-had a paralytic affiiction of
the brain. and within the last few
months elaborate precautions had been
taken to guard against disorders which
n long time were believed to be inevi-
table when the time came for his sue
cessor to rule.
On the assumption that there was
bound to b. revolution, as soon. as
the Ncgus' real condition became noised
about. the ambassadors and other chefs
de mission have had their residences
constructed as miniature forts, and Eu-
ropeans were informed that, just as
soon as the news of the death Of the
Negus reached them, they were to seek
sanctuary in the legations.
But a coup carried out 4 few months
ago lessene1 the chances OF an upheaN ii.
The Emperor had nominated his grand
son, Lidji Yiasson, q youth OF sixteen.
as his successor. and Menelik. in, an
edict, invoked the curse of heaven on
any who failed to recognize him when
the time came. But the masterful EN-
press Taitu, who had an eye on the
throne herself, had to be reckoned with.
So she was deprived Of power. ordered
to leave the country. and the powerful
chiefs who supported her were put into
chains. II the news received is cor
rect, the young prince has come into
his own without opposition.
Long after he came to tho throne |
Menelik lived in straw hut, but some |
foreign engineers persuaded him to go
in for 4 dwelling in European style. So
eager was helm accepting the suggestion |
that he himself took part in the work.
heaving stones and handling saw and
troxel. He developed building mania |
and erected q new house every two or
three years.
The mysterious case now before the
courts In an EFFORT to recover
a lost Gainsborough portrait. valued at
$500. that Of Lady Anne Ponsonby,
or, according to others, that of her sis
ter. Lady Constance. daughters OF the
viscount Duncannon Qater First Earl
of Bessboroush), which disappeared
from Burton Hall. in County Carlow.
while Mr.. Engledow was its tenant.
and which turned up at the noted Lon
don auctioneer's. Christie's, last sum-
mer. sent there by a Mr.. d. L. Allen,
recalls the fate of another Gainsbor-
ough, the portrait of the Duchess of
which figured in a mys-
terry that aroused public interest to a
high pitch.
That picture was bought in 1876 by
The London art firm Of Agnew for El0,-
sos. at that time land even to-day a
record price for a painting. and was (
exhibited in their art gallery in Lon
don. Shortly afterward a notorious
.hief. Harry Raimond, broke into the (
-ooms at night. cut the picture out Of T,
Is frame. and made good his escape. |,
During more than q score Of years
he whereabouts tof the famous portrait
'emained mystery. But the gang that
engineered the fheft found itself un-
lble to disposeI Of its loot under the
eyes the police Of au Bu-
49, u