Montgomery County sentinel., 1935-09-19
Adds ABABA DRAWS
EYES OF THE WORLD
Ethiopian Capital Only Real!
City in Empire.

are focused on Adds Ababa, capital
of Ethiopia, Ethiopian press box Of
the Ethiopian political situation,
and only settlement in the empire that
merits the name "city."
"Addis Ababa Is the sole place In the
country showing marked signs of mod
ern development, yet in the shadow Of
these improvements, ancient Ethiopia
still lives" says the National Geo
graphic society.
'sThe city is situated high up In the
Ethiopian mountains, near the geo
graphic center Of the empire. To reach
it a traveller must traverse the dusty
caravan routes or board train at
Djibouti, French Somaliland, for long
hours of riding through torrid plains,
and rolling foothills to the central
plateau region.
Has Splendid Climate.
NESTING among eucalyptus-forested
hills. Adds Ababa has a splendid Gle
mate, which along with other attrac-
tions, has been an important factor
in Its growth to~a city Of 10000 In
habitants. Several thousand Of its
residents are foreigners, notably Brit
ish Indians, British Arabs, Greeks.
and Armenians.
"Addis Ababa hills number more
than those Of Rome. The royal palace,
audience hall and new parliament
building top one small hill On others
rise many prepossessing buildings, in
cluding villas of Eve European lega-
tions, hotels, two government hospitals
and churches There are several
schools, conducted mostly by Ethio-
plan clergy and foreign missionaries.
Recently Ethiopian students have been
sent for advanced training to the
United States, England, France, and
Switzerland. In many Of the city's
wide, winding streets, rough cobbles
lately have been replaced by macadam
and asphalt surfaces. Electric light
ing is becoming more prevalent, due
to the founding Of small private plants.
Since the piping Of water from Mount
Intotto has been completed, natives
can purchase in the market q FIVE
gallon tin Of water for penny. They
can also buy imported foods In the
stores. Sound pictures are heard In
the capitals theaters and there Is
telegraph service, and an air-mall
service to Djibouti.
~At present, the country has almost
no roads. Ethioplans bringing leop-
ard skins, monkey furs and other ar
ticles Of commerce to the bazaar at
Adds Ababa, pile them on the backs
of camels and sure-footed donkeys
that pick their way over stony noun
tain trails. Since 1892 the govern
ment has been building two roads out
of Adds Ababa One leads 30 miles
northeast toward Dessye, the other 100
miles southwest toward Jimma. When
these are completed, coffee from the
south and hides and skins from the
north will probably pour much more
rapidly into the city.
o Wealthy Have Cara.
"A few of the capitals wealthier
citizens own automobiles, but many OF
them still take pride In riding gaily-
caparisoned mules, followed by SER
wants on foot. Automobiles feel their
way carefully through streets some
times choked with mules, donkeys,
and jaywalking pedestrians. Streets
are especially congested on Saturdays
when about 10000 purchasers throng
the marketplace to buy salt, honey in
goatskin bags, cotton sheeting and
other commodities. Through the
crowds of dark-skinned Ethiopians plod
camels laden With sheets Of CORFU
gated iron used for much Of the city's
roofing. Tribal chiefs from remote
villages, wearing lion name collars and
carrying gilded shields, mingle with
soldiers In khaki uniforma
"At night these same streets are
nearly deserted Since most Of the
streets are unlighted, bugle at night
fall sounds a curfew for all Dthio-
plans. Foreigners who venture abroad
in the streets after dark are warned
to carry lanterns. During the corona
ton Of Ethiopia's Emperor Halle Selas-
sic I, four and half years ago, some
Of the main streets were lighted by
electricity. But this was considered
an unnecessary expense, and economy
has since caused the removal Of many