Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

IN
were not at the head of their war
rior-and with deep bows greetd the
empress and escorted her to her dais
within. There was momentary con-
fusion in our pavilion, the members
CT the bodyguard pressing forward
for a better view OF Menelik's daugh-
ter. while the last eddies Of the mob
rwirled along the edge of the tent.
At this moment I heard a subdued.
!! startled murmur behind me:
"Baltcha! Balteha."
Turning my head, / saw the philo-
sophie hawk stalking down the line
of rases, striking coldly, imperiously,
with his long staff at the heads and
shoulders of those who did not
promptly fall back to make way for
him. 1 held my breath, expecting
them to seize upon him and rend him;
but they made way before the black
clad figure, wincing and pushing for
them. In their eyes was the fear
and pride of a dog struck lightly by
its master.
We paid our respects to the en-
press, who remained yelled to her
Dyes; but this glimpse seemed suffi-
Client to betray a character that was
gentle, sympathetic, unspoiled either
by weak vanity or vain cynicism. No
sooner had this preliminary recep-
ton ended than an uproar burst forth
in the space before the pavilion, and
there, cavorting upon, the green, was
the court fool. He came as a warrior,
burlesquing with timely ridicule the
boosted achievements of the fighting
men. s., $40,
In his headdress was bunch of
grass to mock the gallants who wear
sprig of green to show they have
killed their man; and around his gir-
die were the mantles of his slain.
Flinging himself on the ground, he
crawled on his stomach to within
thirty feet Of the throne. aiming his
, rife, and shouting bang" to punctu-
ate his tale. Leaping to his feet, he
whirled scimitar about his head,
charged imaginary enemies and
shrieked in painting accents how he
had saved thethrone by killing 10000
men at Slit.
One of the court attendants, dressed
simply in white, and armed with
nothing more than a staff, unim-
pressed by the general laughter,
finally stepped forward, touched him
Scarcely had he run aside, screaming
defiance, than with a muffied hammer
Of hoofs the first of the returning
warriors bore down In a wild stam-
T EIDE upon the pavilion.
\ xx
TT was a sight to lift the heart, to
i make one rise in his stirrups. stiff
fened with sheer thrill.
At the head, on q richly capari-
| soned horse. whose coat Of gold and
| silver filigree on blue cloth swept
the grass, came the first ras in rich
robes Of gold and purple. with a
lions name for a cape, and e. head
dress made from the tufts Of lions
tails. On hts left arm he bore q round
shield Of brown suede leather over
| laid with hammered gold, while round
and round his head his keen scimitar
Kissed, as his horse curveted and
made fantasia before the throne.
Pressing at his heels, in a wild riot
of color. came the screaming war
riors OF Shoa, brandishing rifles and
lances, with their ponies plunging
and shying amid q tangle OF weapons
and sloaks draped from their necks
and saddle cruppers--trophies of war.
taken but Ave days since from the
invaders from the north. The final
act of the ras was to hing. himself
from his horse, to rush to the edge
J OF the pavilion. shouting of his deeds.