The Washington times., 1895-01-27

siderable talk and speculation in society, rs
many regard the present trip abroad as hav-
ing direct significance in connection with
the rumorad engagement Of Miss Pullman to
King Alexander, OF Servia- In all the lead
Ing capitals OF Europe the prominent papers
! have already published the rumor as fact,
and assert that King Alexander is On the eve
OF marriage with the wealthy American
heiress. Just how much truth there is in the
report remains to be seen.
1t Is, however, a by no means unimportant
fact in the case that socially there would be
no bar to this union, as there are no statutes
hedging about the King OF Seryia from
marrying any woman upon whom his fancy
may fall. As late as the early part of the
present century the King OF Servia's ances-
tors were OF the humbiest origin, common
swineherds in fact, so that although
Acknowledged as a sovereign by all the courts
OF Europe he has no ancestry upon which to
base any exactions in the matter of family of
the wife ne shall elect to marry.
When several years since, during the visit
OF Prince Isenburg- -Bierstein TO this country,
1t became generally known that he was
Suitor OF Miss Pullman and an aspirant for
her hand in marriage there arose some con-
siderable difficulties in the matter that now,
according to foreign authorities, have proven
Insurmountable. These foreign authorities
apparently do not take into account the
trihlng little matter that from the very first
Miss Pullman 3 father has been violently op-
posed to his daughter contemplating a mar
riGge with the prince, and to that end has
sterDly refused to make the settlement of
ducats required by the noble scion of the old
and princely house of Isenburg. What the
European authorities have continued TO reit-
crate in the matter is that the question of
rank Is the insurmountable barrier TO the
marriage. The Isenburgs for hundreds of
years were soyereigns, even up to the begin
afF1fr rrFN %l.rS
fore the prince OF that name is hedged about
with the pomp and state that are usually ac-
credited as the portion OF kings.
The woman whom he shall marry must have
a long and distinguished ancestry one in fact
equal to his own, otherwise none but a
morganatic marriage could be contracted by
him. The statutes are recognized as valid
by the courts of Berlin, Vienna. and all the
minor German capitals. AS young, good
looking, and enormously wealthy American
girls OF the present day and generation can
do decidedly better than contract any such
frail tenures OF marriage, with the possibility
ahead OF them OF such future shadiness OF
recognition IN society. it is hardly to be Won
dered at that Mr.. Pullman should have OBJ
jectei to a morganatis son-in-law.
The state OF affairs in the Pullman matri-
moniai line has now become decidedly more
interesting since the advent of the King OF
| Servia as possible and very probable hus-
band Tor the Chicago heIress-
bride and groom whose marriage recently
took place in this city, with all the attractive
festivities attendant upon fashionable wed
ding. returned few days since fondlY but
delusiveIy imagining that they had gradu-
ated from the shower OF rice that followed
them upon the departure for the honeymoon
trip. The very evening OF their return to
Washington they were invited to n dinner
party given at the home OF the bride in their
honor. With all the bravery OF the wedding
| garments in their newness upon them they
| innocently set out to the dinner and sInil-
| ingiy received the congratulations of the
! guests gathered in their honor.
| With the proud determination to deport
/ themselves strictly after the manner of old
/ married people they seated themselves at the
/ places assigned them at table and nonchal-
| antly proceeded to give heir napkins a little
! whisk as they placed them over their laps.
! That little whisS proved their undoing, for it
! sent abroad shower OF rice that distributed
! itself in the most generous manner over
nearly every one at table and covered the
bride and groom with such confusion that il