The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-27
HAD HIS CROWN IN HOOK
auT THE KINGS SUBJECTS RE-
DEEM THE ROYAL LID.

4 et,u the Perverse Cards Keep on
Going Against the Play of His Nibs
and Ee again Proceeds to SOAK"
+he Jeweled Headgear.
From the Neto York Herald
4 PARIS. Nov. 22.-Politics are not aIway:
amusing, and Just now, when statesmen ii
sverv part of Europe have so many and
.uch grave cares to conceal, we owe some
latitude to moharchs like King Milan, who
Al something to divert their fellow,
creatures.
To Judge from the speech of Count Kal.
rokv to the delegations. Servia may yet
nroye brand of discord which will kindle
a great European war. But King Milan is
constant Joy to all familiar with the
secrets Of contemporary politics.
As YOU know. King Milan abdicated two
wears ago in favor Of his son.
For some time past he has been living In
Paris and enjoying himself.
You might not recognize him in the short.
stout, stylishly dressed man with gray whis-
kers whom you saw driving past you on the
boulevard In a hired brougham or
barouche.
At night if you met him at his club (he
affects the Cercle de la Rue Royale) losing
maybe half million francs
AT BACCARAT OR POKER,
You would feel that the destinies of Servia
were unsafe in his hands.
Queen Natalie must have had hard times
with her spouse. His love of pleasure is un-
ceasing and unsuitable. When he is not
driving or gambling or supping at Bignon's
and Joseph's (his favorite haunts) he may
be seen in the stage boxes of the fast thea
tiers ogling actresses and basking in the
smiles of third-rate singers.
You could not say that King Milan has
done much to increase the prestige Of the
crowned heads Of Europe. This royal scion
Of a race of hog-raisers once elbowed empe-
rors. He literally flung away his money.
Last year he hired O special train to take
him to Carlsbad. That cost him 40. 600
francs. The other day. at the wedding of
the daughter of a Jewish banker, he spent
5000 francs on banquet of orchids.
His prodigality was at the root OF all his
troubles when he reigned in Servia. He
thought nothing of running up to Vienna
FOR GAME OF CARDS.
And one night he was so thoroughly
cleared" out in that city that he had to
put his crown in pawn.
This got to the ears OF the Emperor of
Austria.
few hours later Milan's debts were all
paid off. The royal delinquent went to
thank the emperor, and promised he would
never play again. By midnight he had lost
100000 forms more, though, and his crown
had once more gone to the pawnbrokers.
That day he forfeited the protection of
Austria. A year later. after having in
volved himself in all kinds of financial
scandals and domestic difficulties with his
ha forrad m oh p,,Rb ~
was smart enough to make his terms before
he quit the throne. He did not abdicate
till he had been guaranteed 1000, 900 francs
TO wipe out his debts. The Servians were
so glad to get rid of him that they jumped
at the bargain. Heidi not leave, however,
till some six months later, and when he had
spent every cent of his two millions he
drifted back to Belgrade, where he in-
trgued against his own son.
The Servians soon grasped the situation.
They asked him how much he would take
to get out His majesty replied that he
would go for million.
THEY GAVE HIN HIS MILLION
On condition that he would leave politics
alone, and he departed. But ere another
year had passed Milan came to the conclu-
sion that he could not live without seeing
his dear son.
IAN right" said the Servian regents, 1--WE
will send your son to Paris for month";
This did not suit King Milan's book. He
asked permission to realize his Servian
property, which had been seized by the
regents as guarantee of his good behavior.
The regents hesitated but at last consented.
Milan promptly mortgaged his rights in the
Danube fisheries and sold the mansion he
owned in Belgrade, with the estates and
parks and jewels of the crown. These
brought in two more millions, which he
squandered.
fortnight ago he appealed to the re-
gents for further sum of four millions. In
exchange for his promise not to cross the
Servian frontier and his abandonment Of
all his private and public rights in the
country, even to his citizenship, they ex-
pressed their willingness to pay him the
money. But before he got chance to COL
ecr 1t his creditors bounced down on the
king. They saw that he
HAD COME TO THE END
OF his resources and that his ex-subjects
would do no more for him. They attached
the money, and If Milan gets half million
OF his four millions he will be lucky. His
majesty, of course, is deeply incensed at this
treatment, but the Servians are happy and
the public is amused.
The political results of the affair may be
serious. For although he abdicated, King
-HAAah as tuo nelr apparent TO the SerVieu
throne, and In the event of the child's death
might yet succeed him. A revolution in
Belgrade would be disastrous to Servia.
1t would be easy to overthrow the little
KING, who has no strong following, and
this would make a breach for Russia. who,
as every one knows, has always wished TO
re'establish her influence In Servia.
Austria, on the other hand, could not
iook on at such a change unmoved. She
holds Milan in reserve as a last card. II
the Russophiles were to overthrow the
Telgnlng child king, Alexander, and
hussia would hurI her troops into Servia
on the pretense Of restoring order. Austria
would be forced to make a counter stroke,
war would be declared, and from Servia it
would spread all over Europe.
France, too, would be dragged into the
quarrel 1t would be impossible TO pre-
vent her from helping Russia. The Empe-
TOT OF Austria no doubt had these grave
contingencies in his mind when he let fall
Ihose pessimistic words the other day. In
aris, at all events, this is believed to be the
teal explanation of the imperial speech
4, IL seems sad that the lives Of countless
thousands Of men should be endangered be-
cause King Milan is hard up and needs
| more money.
WTENTNc OAy