The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-04
Tho Late King OF Holland.

William H., King Of the Netherlands,
WAS born Feb. 10. 1919, and succeeded
his father. William H., March II, ls49.
He was direct descendant Of willism
the Silent, founder OF the hose of Or
ange. His mother was a sister of Nicho.
las, L., Gar of all the Russ.as. Vim.
married In 1889 the Princess Sophia,
daughter OF the King of Wurtemburg. by
whom he had two sons, both of whom
are dead The old Queen Sophia should
be remembered by Americans as the firm
friend of John Lothrop Motley, who
wrote much Of his history of THE Rise
of the Dutch Republic" In her beautiful
chateau the "Huis In t'Bosch (the house
In the wood on the road between The
Hague and Scheveningen. Queen Sophia
died in 1877. aud on Jan. I. 1879, William
married Emma Princess of Waldeck Pyr-
mont, a beautiful, amiable and most able
woman, who speedily made herself be-
loved by the Holanders. In 1850 she
gave the old King q daughter, the Prin-
cess Wilhelmina, who will, If she lives,
become Queen of the Netherlands, but in
the meantime Queen Emma will be Re
gent
On Oct. -, 1890, the Dutch Pertinent
considered the question regarding the fit
ness of the King to govern in view of
conditi IN OF his health, in accordance
with the section OF the constitution pro-
vdingifor a declaration by Parliament 10
the event of the King becoming incapaci,
tatated. BY vote of 1903 to g. Parliament
declared his majesty was incapable Of
governing. The Council Of State was
temporarily invested with regal powers,
after which Queen Emma was made re-
gent the deposed King going to his fav-
orite castle Of Loo. As a result OF the
death of the King, the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg Ia lost to Holland.
William IL drained the sea of Harr-
lem, stuoendous undertaking. He fos
tered education, the arts and sciences
and did at least as much for such inter
ests as any Of his contemporary sover-
eigns. Despite his pleas1re-loving ways
and spendthrift ways he did not squan.
der public moneys nor increase the taxes
on the people. On the contrary he hab.
itually and voluntarily returned half OF
the civil list to the treasury. His second
marriage, also, was an act of good will
to the nation, for it was done solely for
The purpose of providing q successor to
the throne. The two sons who we're born
to his list wife did not turn out we'll
The younger, Prince William, wassan am
liable and high minded youth, but he died
of consumption. The elder, the Prince
of Orange, who was commonly known a.
"Citrou" lived largely in Paris, and was
probably thu most uniquely and thorough
| ly debsuched prince OF the century.
King William was in his early days q
musical enthusiast. He had much natur-
al talent for that exquisite art and was a
favorite pupil of Malibran. All his life
he maintained deep interest in musica
matters, deighting In nothing more thar
in getting up great musical festivals oil
patronizing operate ventures. He grant
ed ms any liberal subsidies also to various
academies Of music. But in other mat
tiers he WAS not highly educated, and new
er took much personal interest in literar,
pursuits One that score lie differed
widely from his frst wife. She was {
highly intellectual woman and aimed tc
mike the Dutch court the literary anc
philosophers centre Of Europe.