That enterprising despot, the Emperor Menelek, in many ways the
African counterpart to the Ameer of Afghanistan, is fully alive to the material advantages to be derived from the adoption of European mechanical appliances. The Daily News of Wednesday contains an interesting account from a Zurich correspondent of the schemes entrusted to his European adviser and Foreign Secretary, Herr Ilg, the Swiss engineer, who is now on his way back to Abyssinia after a long holiday. His principal work for the next few years is the construction of the Abyssinian State Railway, and he is accompanied on his journey by a large number of Swiss artisans. Another scheme is that of the introduction of journalism into the Emperor's dominions, where a native Abyssinian newspaper is to be started early next year. Abyssinia bids fair to become the Japan of Africa, though she can never hope to enjoy the peculiar advantages of an island Empire. In Coleridge's vision the Abyssinian maid played on the dulcimer. As a matter of fact, she is already pi ovided with grand pianos.
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