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Page 5
The Ameer of Afghanistan has, it is said, become seriously alarmed over
the advance of the British troops to the frontier. He is persuaded that
England intends to invade Afghanistan, and take his country away from
him.
The Government in India has sent him word that though they are obliged
to send troops across his frontier, in order to accomplish their
purposes, their object is solely to punish the mad priest, or Haddah
Mullah, and his followers. They assure the Ameer that no harm is
intended to him or his loyal subjects, but declare that all the tribes
who endeavor to oppose their advance or harass the English troops will
be included in the severe punishment which the British intend to mete
out to their enemies.
On hearing this, the Ameer sent a letter to the Mullah, ordering him to
cease from inciting the Afridis to revolt.
In spite of this the British Government continues to be very suspicious
of the honesty of the Ameer.
Word has been sent to him from the Government that no war material or
machinery for manufacturing it will be allowed to cross the frontier
into Afghanistan until the present troubles are over, and the tribes at
peace.
* * * * *
Some time ago we talked to you about the Ex-Empress Charlotte of Mexico,
widow of the Emperor Maximilian who was shot by the Mexicans.
The Empress, as you doubtless remember, went out of her mind from the
troubles of her short reign in Mexico.
We told you that after thirty years of insanity the poor lady had given
signs of returning reason, and that the doctors thought a visit to
Mexico might entirely restore her.
Preparations were being made for the visit, which was to take place as
soon as the doctors thought it safe. All plans have now, however, had to
be abandoned, for the Empress Charlotte has become so alarmingly ill
that her life is despaired of, and the news of her death is hourly
expected.
Ever since her affliction she has been leading a quiet life at the
Palace of Larken, near Brussels.
Her insanity has never assumed a violent or unmanageable character, and
her sweet and gentle nature has endeared the unhappy lady to all her
attendants.
Her mania lay chiefly in a belief that her husband Maximilian was alive,
and she spent her days in hourly expectation of his arrival. She
appeared to have forgotten all the troubles which had unbalanced her
mind, and to be unaware of the cruel death which he had suffered.
The Palace of Larken, where the ex-Empress passed her life, is
beautifully situated in a large park. The gentle Princess would wander
over the estate, interesting herself in all the various phases of a
country life.
It is said that her one pleasure was her dairy. The King of the
Belgians, who endeavored to gratify every wish that she expressed, sent
a very fine herd of cows to Larken, and the ex-Empress established a
model dairy farm, from which she derived much pleasure.
* * * * *
Another traveller has reached the summit of the Enchanted Mesa.
We told you how Professor Libbey, of Princeton, had successfully scaled
the bluff, and had reported that there were no traces of human life on
the Mesa-top.
It seems that the scientists were not altogether satisfied with this
decision.
It has been the experience of all men who have had any dealings with the
red Indians that, no matter how vague and strange their legends may be,
they are always founded on fact. Every tribe has an abundance of
legends, and it has been found that there is always a leaven of truth in
them.
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