The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-05-24
SERvIA'S UNHAPPYNATALIE
Story Of the EX-Queen That Reads Like
Chapter from the Middle Ages.
Dissolute King Milsn's Wooing and Winning
Of . Russian Bride, and the Train Of Sin,
Sorrow and Suffering That Followed.

The life of Natalie, ex-Quuen of Servia,
who has just been expelled from the king
dom over which she once ruled, and where
her SON is to sit on the throne when he
comes of age. is crowded with romance,
vicissitude and sorrow such as have fallen
to the lot of but few women in the closing
years of the century. The narrative reads
like q chapter from the tragic records Of
the middle ages when, as a rule. kings and
queens moved in an atmosphere of intrigue,
conspiracy. plot and counterpart, eventu-
ating. as the fortunes of war or diplomacy
ran. in dethronement, exile or death. Years
ago Natalie was compelled to pass through
the bitter and Illuminating tribulation of
being forced from the throne by the hand of
q brutal husband, on what are believed to
be trumped-up charges of dishonor that
ave no foundation, or at the most a fimsy
one, In fact. Banishment, too, she has
more than once suffered. SO that in the
chalioe of affection there is only very little
left for her to drain.
Natalie is the daughter of Colonel Kech-
ko, of the Russian Imperial Guard. and one
of the richest of the residents of the prov
lnce of BeSsarabia. In outhwester Rus
STA. In 1875 there was considerable excite
ment over Bulgarian affairs in Servia and
In Russia The Turks were committing
0utraRes and atrocities without mum Der In
Bulgaria. and the Servians were loudly
clam0rIng for war in support of their suf-
fering brothers. Milan was only twenty
one years old at the time. His reputation
for courage was not of the most exalted
character, and he hesitated about entering
into q conflict with the Ottoman power.
HIS people, however. were pressing him
hard on the subject, and finally he so far
yielded to their demands as to visit the
Gar and ascertain II he would have the
sympathy, if not the support. of Russia in
the event of Servia declaring wal against
Turkey. On his way to the Russian capital
Milan stopped at the fine old castle on the
Pruth, of Colonel Kechko, whose wife
Stourdza, q relative OF the great Gorsscha-
koff. who was the Cars Premier. Colonel
kechko received the young ruler of Servia
In royal style. Milan was then very popu.
Servians were engaged in the revolt In
Bosnia and Herzegovina against the iron
rule of the Sultan, and Milan was DESTROYS
OF exDelling the Turks from Bosnia and
uniting that country to Servia, proclaim
ing himself King of the two lands.
THE COURTsHIP ND MARRIAGE
While Milan was the guest of Colonel
Kechk0 he devoted himself exclusively to
Natalie from the very moment of his intro
ductl0n. She was then between sixteen
and seventeen years of age. and was noted
for her beauty over nearly the whole en-
pire. The attentions of her royal sutton
she received with marked coldness. She
had, it il said, set her affections on a
young Russian officer, and declined to
listen to- the overtures of the young.
Servian ruler. however f1attering thew
might be. But Milan was not to be dis
.-..- @- .Ir.A H. r. -
daughters hand in marriage. Colonel
Kechk0 was far from Insensible
to the advantages of the alliance
held QUITO his house and promptly over
ruled all the objections that were
raised by Natalie. The betrothal took
place and was celebrated at a series of fes-
tivities which were attended by all the
mobiles within a radius of many leagues.
Prince Milan then continued his journey to
st. Petersburg. The anne of his conquest
of the beautiful Natalie had preceded him
and he was kindly received by the Car.
who, in addition. aided him in his political
designs. The marriage took place in the
summer of 1875 and Natalie threw herself
with the utmost enthusiasm into the cause
of her new country when war was declared
against Turkey the following spring. She
made q personal appeal to the Gar for as
sistance. interested herself in the hospitals
and the widows and orphans, for all of
which Servia almost adored her. Then
came the war between Russia and Turkey,
IN which the latter power was badly
beaten. Servia was free and powerful and
Natalie had become a mother. the child
being christened Alexander. He was born
Aug. IA, 1876.
All the Unborn depravity in Milan's nature
nov began to develop itself. He neglected
the beautiful and accomplished woman who
had done so much for hnm and his people,
and plunged. into debaucheries too gross
even to be named. Natalis conferred all her
affection on her child. and on the Seryi-
ans, who reverenced her, while they pitied
her for the sorrows she was compelled TO
endure. When young Alexander became of
that age when it was necessary to deter
mine on the method of his education. the
reach between Milan and his wife became
wider and deeper. Natalie desired that he
should be educated by Russian teachers.
TheAking decided that Austrian tutors
should have the care of the young Prince.
In the bitter quarrel that followed she re-
preached her husband with the scandalous
life he was leading. This, according to one
set of chroniclers. led him to set a trap Tor
his wife, the result of which should leave
her reputation very little better than his
own. One day, the story goes, che received
a visit from the Metropolitan Bishop
Michael, who said he came in answer TO q
note she had sent HIM. She was indignant.
and declared that d conspiracy was on foot
to destroy her. The Kings miDions were
close at hand and the Bishop was arrest
ed for alleged intimacy with the Queen.
Al tue same time the hlDg applied to
the synod. Natalie, while protesting
against the insult. decided, for the sake
of her child. to prove her innocence, but
after this she never lived with him. She
never went near him until one day in 1884.
when she besought ciemency for some
soldiers who had revolted. He returned her
the brutal answer that they should be par
doned If she would come and live at
the palace. and be chambermaid to one
of the women no was then maintaining
around him.
+ ENEMIES AT WORK
The enemies of Natalie. on the other hand.
assert that she has been engaged in numer-
Gus l~iaisons, tbemost notable of which was
one with q former Austrian envoy at Bel
grade, Count Rudolph Khevenhuller. She
denies each and all of them. Finally. in the
spring of 1887, after hearing that the King
had openly accused her of improper re-
lations with Nj. Ristics. a Servian diplomatic
devoted to Russian interests, she took
the boy Alexander with her and fed
from Belgrade to Russia, where King
Milan's agents tried to kidnap the child.
The King managed to obtain a divorce.
which Natalie has never ceased to declare
was wrongfully obtained. Bismarck.
anxious to please Austria. finally compelled
her to surrender the child. after which
Milan abdicated and had the boy crowned.
providing at the same time q regency until
he should become of age. In September.
1883. when the Servian Premier proposed
TO her an arrangement. by the terms of
which she and the ex-KiDg Milan were only
IN visit RAIvraAo ~ fha r-o g. 49,