Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-07-05
King Milan and queen Natalie,

King Milan and Queen Natalie.
little over month ago it was an
nounced that King Milan had taken back
his wife and that he and Queen Natalie were
completely reconciled. Butthey could new
er get along together The cause Of the last
separation was said to have been the equiv
oca diplomatic relations of Natalie to Count
Khevenhuller and NJ. Ristitcb. Queen
Natalie has been long regarded as the most
beautiful woman in the kingdom, and she
has also been considered petticoat diplo
matst Of very meddlesome character. She
was never happy except when meddling in
the-stfairs of State. In SO doing she has of
ten compromised her reputation in q most
unpleasant manner,
Several years ago when ali the Great
Powers except Russia had accepted az fait
accompl the union Of Eastern Roumelia to
Bulgaria, which had been brought about by
Prince Alexander's coup d'etat, the King of
Servia, urged on by his wife, suddenly de-
clared war on the Prince, demanding large
slice of Bulgaria as compensation for the
latter's increase of territory. Contrary to
rybody's expectation, the Bulgarian
troops were victorious in every engagement,
and the invading Servian forces, completely
routed, retreated toward the Servian capi-
tai, closely followed by the Bulgars, whose
Prince asserted that he would only sign the
terms of peace ir the Royal Palace ct Bel
grade. King Milan who always prudently
remained twenty miles distant from the
scene of conflict, appealed in vain to the
Emperor of Austria for help and was met by
the most decided and curt refusal.
al f6r nfel,r in
another, the most intimate relations possi-
BILE existed between Queen Natalie and
handsome Count Rudolph Won Khevenhul-
Ter. the Austrian Minister Penipotentiary
at the Seryian Court. The too susceptible
envoy was summoned to the rescue, and, to
the establishment of rybody, he rode the
following morning early into the Bulgarian
camp. There he verbally informed Prince
Alexander that if he continued his march
on Belgrade an Austrian army would enter
that city at his heels. Taking into consd'
Grafton the high diplomatic rank held by the
Minister and the official nature of the COM
n.uncation, the Prince had no reason to
doubt its authenticity. Accordingly Prince
Alexander brought his victorious army to
halt and withdrew from Servian territory,
creating thereby the most intense surprise.
The whole OF the European press was mysti-
fed about the matter, and the most outland
ish reasons were forgiven for Prince Alex
ander's course of action. 1t was only when
too late that the latter discovered that
Count Khevenhuller bad not only been with
out the slightest authority to make any such
communication as he had delivered, but that
he had even acted in direct opposition to
the instructions and wishes Of the Austrian
Foreign Office in so doing. Naturally the
Queen was not ungrateful, hut Emperor
Francis Joseph was not slow to show his
disapproval of the petticoat policy of his en-
voy, and Rudolph Won Khevenhuller was
soon able TO mediate in his forced retire
ment on the difference which exists between
the gratitude of Queens and that OF Emper-
ors.
Then the influence OF the Queen over the
King began to wane, and finally ended in
the application for judicial separation, on
the ground of an nsuperabe aversion to his
wife.
Queen Natalie, who was born on May IA,
1859, was the only daughter of the late Rus
sian Colonel Keczsko, who possessed ex-
tensive domains in Wallachia and Bessara.
bia; her mother, who is also dead, was
the Princess Pucherie Stourdza. She is re
lated to the family of the late Prince Gort
schakoff. She received at Paris varied
and sufficiently complete education, and
speaks several languages with fuency. She
was formally betrothed to Prince Milan at
Vienna, in August 1875, in the apartments
of the Prince in the Hotel Golden Lamb,
and the marriage took place at Belgrade on
October II of the same year. Thither the
bride travelled by steamboat, and drove di.
rect from the steamer to the cathedral,
where the ceremony was performed. She
brought to Prince Milan dowry of 6 100000
rubles, but it was by her high spirit and her
great beauty that she secured complete do.
minion over him. She is described ss per-
feet picture of healthy womanhood, with
face of ideal beauty, set off by an abundance
of luxuriant black hair. She has always
been thoroughly Russian in heart and spirit,
however, and as long as she could thorough
ly dominate her husband in political affairs
all went well.
Milan and Natalie have but Que child, the
Prince Royal Alexander, who was born on
August Il, 1876. He is now with his moth
er ut Wiesbadep but the King has sent
Gen. Proti to bring him back to Servia.
Syrup Of Figs
Js Noture,a nvn true laxative 1t is the