The New York Times archive shows that the newspaper published the following report in 1909. Though the accuracy of some the claims – for example, language – are doubtful, we have re-posted it here for what it may worth.
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King Menelik Has Investments Here
Special Correspondence THE NEW YORK TIMES
BRUSSELS, Oct. 27.–Baron de Claris Jarisburg, the Belgian explorer, just returned from Abyssinia, has much to relate about i Emperor Menelik, whose serious illness was recently announced.
“Menelik,” said Baron de Jarlsburg, in an interview with THE NEW YORK TIMES “correspondent, “ has since his accession to the throne twenty years ago, transformed Abyssinia from a semi-barbarous power to a State modeled on the lines of a European constitutional monarchy.
“The sovereign, who styles himself f somewhat pompously, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of the Savior, King of Kings of Ethiopia, who shattered Italy’s colonial ambitions -by his victories at Amba-Alaghe, Mek’lle, Adigrat, and Amba-Garima, is the ruler of a nation of 7,000,000 inhabitants, the mysterious origin of which is lost in the night of ages.
“When Meneiik was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia on Nov. 4, 1889, after King Johannes’s death, he was far from being the accepted ruler of all the States which constitute the Abyssinian empire. It was only after much hard fighting that Menelik finally succeeded in subjugating those rebellious chieftains who did not recognize him as Johannes’s legitimate ‘i successor.
“Since then Menelik’s one aim has been to introduce European civilization into his country, The Emperor, after abolishing ‘the feudal laws still extant in the empire, and emancipating the slaves, established compulsory free education throughout his dominions. As a result in another generation education will be as wide-spread in Abyssinia as in several European countries.
“Menelek is himself an altogether unique figure among African potentates. As a. diplomat, as a financier and as a soldier he can hold his own with the most up-to-date of his brother sovereigns. As a soldier and a diplomat, he showed his worth at the time of Italy’s defeat by the Abyssinians. In late years, however, it is particularly as a financier that Menelek has distinguished himself. He had a natural bent for finance, even as a young man, before his accession to the throne, and at that time went in for stock speculation on the; Paris Bourse to a considerable extent. These youthful speculations proved successful, and were only interrupted by the events which followed Menelik’s accession.
“To-day the Abyssinian ruler has extended the range of his financial operations to the United States, and is a heavy investor in American railroads. What with, his American securities and his French and Belgian mining investments, Menelik has a private fortune estimated fit no less than twenty-five million dollars.
“The most striking fact about Abyssinia’s dusky ruler,” said Baron de Jarisburg in conclusion “is his versatility, an accomplished linguist, he speaks French English, and Italian fluently. Notwithstanding all the time he is compelled to devote to state affairs, he still finds the opportunity to keep up in current European literature, and is rarely at a. loss when a new author is mentioned. At Adiss Ababa Palace, Menelik’s habitual residence, the Negus—to give him the title by which he is known to his subjects—takes particular pride in his library of ten thousand volumes collected by himself. Menelik’s chief hobbies in the way of books are works dealing with the ancient civilizations of Africa and Asia.”
The New York Times Published: November 7, 1909 Copyright © The New York Times
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