The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-28

ssme Noblewomen OF Europe who Hold
Military Rank.


Military Rank.
No one in Europe now dreams OF
laughing at the practice that has long
been in vogue among the various reign
ing families of comforting military
titles upon empresses. queens and prin-
sesses of the blood. Indeed, there
ls scarcely royal lady of any im-
portance In the old world who does not
dgure on the roster Of some regiment
sither as captain, major or colonel-in-
,hief. Queen Victoria even--in her
younger days, it is true--reviewcd her
troops at Aldcrshot arrayed in the scar
let and gold lace tunic of a full general.
abstaining from the regulation cooked
hat, and wearing instead sort of
GAinsborough with a long, waving
plume. Moreover. she holds Mt the
present moment the colonelcy of the
First Prussian Dragoon guards, and
has occasionally, when receiving her
grandson, affixed the shoulderstraps of
that regiment to her drcas. Three of
her daughters-in-law hold commissions
as officers, the princess of Wales being
colonel of a Danish regiment of caval-
ry. the duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
colonel of a Prussia regiment of grena-
diers and of Russia dragoon regi-
ment, and the duchess of Connaught
commander of the Sixty-fourth regi-
ment of Prussian infantry. formerly
under the orders of her father. the
famous cavalry general, Prince Fred
ericlS Charles. Only one of Queen Vic
toria's own daughters possesses the
right to array herself in martial attire
and that is her eldest child. the wild
owed Empress Frederick of Germany.
She is colonel-in-chief of the Second
regiment of Prussian hussars, and, with
wearing it's busby and dolman, she
rode at the head of her corps through
the streets of Berlin on the occasion of
the triumphal entry of the victorious
army into the metropolis at the close of
the Franco-German war.
The empress of Russia is colonel-in-
chief of no less than four regiments of
Muscovite cavalry. while her sister-in-
law, the Grand Duchess Vladimer. is
forced to cantent herself with the COM
mand of II mere infantry regiment of
the line. The old and infirm Grand
Duchess Constantine, aunt of the car
(the lady who was robbed of her jewels
by her now exiled eldest son for pre-
sentation to the Philadelphian adven-
turess, Miss Hattie Blackford, alias
Fannie Lear'), is colonel of the Six
teenth regiment of dragons. Her
daughter, the widowed Grand Duchess
Vera, whose husband. Duke Eugene OF
Wurtemburg, is generally reported to
have perished much in the same way as
the late Crown Prince Rudolph of Aus.
tria, is commander of the Nijni-Novgo.
rod infantry regiment. Duke Eugene
was officially stated to have succumbed
to an attack of cholera at Dusseldorf
after few hours illness, this being
the pretext given for the mystery OBJ
served in connection with his demise
and his funeral, the latter taking place
in the dead of the night. According te
the story current in the various Ger
man courts he was killed by a husband
whose honor he had betrayed. Some
; say that he fell in duel. others agar
that it was in ambush, while according
to a third version it was his assailant'.
wife herself who gave him his coup dt
grace.
|
queen of Greece, enjoys the distinction
of being the only petticoated admiral
in Europe. having been appointed tt
that rank in the Muscovite fleet by he
cousin. the ear From her earlies
childhood Queen Olga has been accus
toned to the sea. a fact due in grea
measure to her father having been thu
sailor prince of Russia and the high ad
miral of the empire. Like the late Lad,
Brassey, Countess Andrassy and nun
ber of other sea-loving ladies, she ha
passed the examination and received
the diploma of full-tiedged sailin.
master. and is able to navigate boil
sailing vessels and steamships as if sh,
had done nothing else all her life. Sh
uses her yacht just as constantly a
other ladies do their carriages, and en-
. joys nothing so much as stiff breeze
1t was not only with the object of pay
ing gracious tribute to this state. bu
also with political object in view
that the czar appointed her admiral il
his navy the other day. Russia stand
sorely in need of port in the eastern
portion of the Mediterranean, wher
she can coal and provision her ship
, preparatory to making her eventua
descent upon Constantinople. which
within striking distance of the Pireus
, AS admiral-in-chief of the Meditel
! ranean squadron of Russia Queen dig
! can scarcely refuse hospitality to wha
are practically her own ships, fyin
her own pennant, and hence the czal
by means of this pretty compliment
really acquired Athens as IL convenien
headquarters for his navy in the east
ern waters of the great inland SET
/. Queen Olga's nomination is of quit
recent date and is as yet unique of ii
. kind; and it remains to be seen whethe
other sovereigns will follow the exam
pie of Alexander III. in the matter
Perhaps we may yet live to see not onl
! admirals, but also captains. lieutenant
! and common sailors of the fair sex wit
fat old boat women in the guisc {
boatswains. In that event it would b
i, well to change the shape of the nav;
ensign and to substitute in its plac
that flag hoisted on memorable occs
, sion by Midshipman Easy, flag t
which all mankind owes not alway
conscious allegiance-namely, fen
mime pctticoat.
OF all these royal and imperial ami
IONS, there are only two who have eve
D been under fire and won on the field {
I battle the right to don military attir