ETHIOPIAN EMPRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23870, 22 January 1941, Page 12

ETHIOPIAN EMPRESS

A STROM! PERSONALITY CULTURED AND MODERN STRANGE TRADITION BROKEN After a lengthy .sojourn in England, where sho found sanctuary with her husband, Itaile Selassie, alter their eonntr.v of Abyssinia had been invaded by Italy in I 1,*.!."), the Empress now hopes to be able to return to her country shortly to take her place om-e more iipcm the throne with her husband. W hen Abyssinia was invaded, tnueli was heard of the Emperor, who i> a imceiul character, but comparati\ely little was heard of the Empress and her children. Waziru Menin. Empress of Abyssinia. however, is a woman ot eolourlul and strong personality, and her youngest daughter. Princess I'sahai. is another notable personality in the Ethiopian Koyal Family. Roth these women have broken the ancient tradition of ihoir Mouse, the Empress lousing the colour red. which had previously been permitted only to the kings ot Ethiopia, and the Princess by becoming a volunteer worker in the iirst" held aiiibulance unit ol her lather's army. European Luncheons It is a .strange tradition which tor generations allowed only the kings oi Kthiopia to use the colour red. while the queens had to content themselves with green. Ilaile Selassie s wile, however. insisted upon using red lor herself and. having won her way,LUsed to walk to the throne beneath - a red ea nopv.

Married to the Fmpcror in 101 "J, the Empress is modern and cultured and speaks French fluently. Prior to the Italian invasion of her country she frequently gave luncheon parties with European dishes and wines, while she also used a motor-car, wireless and telephone. The women of the upper or ruling class of Ethiopia profited by the example of their Kmpress and lived normally the life ot any cultured woman. When war threatened her country Empress Menin followed Ihe custom ot her country by fasting for 10 days and praying for peace. She said at Ibis time that if the peace was disturbed she would first exhort her people against the invader, then copy the Empress Taitou, who fought by her husband's side in the Battle of Adowa. She was prevailed upon, however, not to do this.

The Empress reached England from Jerusalem a year alter she bad departed from her own country, and only those who have been in a similar position can realise the sorrow she must have suffered as her country was dealt blow alter blow by the Italian forces. From England she l was hoard throughout the world in a moving appeal broadcast to women, whose sympathy she enlisted in her country's cause, which she said was a righteous one which must ultimately bo triumphant. Many New Zealanders who listened in on that occasion will remember this moving appeal broadcast, in broken English by the Empress of Ethiopia. Her youngest daughter. Princess Tsahai, showed equal independence ol spirit and modernness of thought when she broke with the tradition ol the Imperial House, with her lather's consent. to become a volunteer worker for his army. Attended only by a single guard, the Princess arrived in her motor-car at the headquarters of the Ethiopian Women's Work Association in Addis Ababa. The Princess donned a white smock over her flowing robes and in less than two minutes was rolling bandages tor the wounded men ol Iter lather's army. The Princess trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital when she was with her parents in England.

GOLDEN WEDDING

REMUERA RESIDENTS MR. AND MRS. C. A. WHITNEY The r.O'.b anniversary of tlieir wedding tti.i I,' quietly celebrated to-day by Mr. and Mrs. ('. A. Whitney, of Victoria Avenue, Remuera. Mrs. Whitney was formerly Miss Mary 101 lei j Wilson, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. .1. 1,. Wilson, of "Roselle." Remuera, Auekland, and has lived all her lite In Auckland with the exception of visits abroad. She lias taken an active interest, in the work of the Y.W.C.A. and al.-o <l:< 1 iniieh patriotic work during the (Jreat War period. Mr. Whitney came to Auckland as a young man with his parents, the late Major and Mrs. John Wh niiey, of I lerelordsh ire. England. who settled at "Woodbind-," ('! eer K> n . Mr. Whitney has been in business in Auekland for uianv years and is chairman ot directors ol the (dlonial .\ in in ii rii t ion t'onipany. I.muled. The wedding, wlueh was celebrated on .lanuary I'l'. 18'Jl, took place at the Lower I (cut mi'a Mission Hall, which has since been moved to Victoria Avenue. The R.-v, William Gittos performed the ceremony and the six bridesmaids were the Misses ,\L, V. and A. Whitney, M. Tillv. E. I.aishley and M. II Utile. \ e-.se b Klllg 111 tile hat'lll) lII' were decorated with binning iu honour of the wedding. There are three children, Messrs. John Cecil "Whitney, William ('hisholm W hitney and Mrs. W . W. Dove, all o| Remuera, Auckland, and five grandchildren. MR. AND MRS. G. S. JON lIS [ill* TKI.KdRA I'll i'li K>S ASSOI lAtlOS'] OA MA HI", Tiirsday Tho third golden wedding in three generations was celebrated at Oamaru yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. George S. Jones. Mr. Jones' father, tho late Hon. George Jones, and the hitter's lather, also named George, celebrated their gulden weddings, all three at Oamaru. .Mr. Jones and bis lather were both born m New Zealand. .Mrs. Jones, sen., who is aged 91, attended yesterday's celebration.