The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-15


+ ~ little freedom Of choice. She can only
make her proposal Itlol lonle OF handful
Of men.
She must marry prince OF relgnlng
family VINO Is also a Protestant. She
cannot marry the man she loves, however
weII-born, handsome, or gifted he may be.
unless ne has the two qualifications men
toned. Her parliament, her family, and
imperious royal etiquette Will only per-
nit her TO marry one Of certain approved
young men. The queen may now love a
man Of non-royal birth, who returns her
feeling, but they are helplessly separated.
The poorest girl in Holland enjoys more
freedom in the most important matter of
all than the world-admired, much-sought-
after queen. The American girl, with her
untrammeled freedom, may well pity the
young queen.
The list of the princes whom the young
queen will be permitted to marry Is now
known. Their names are as follows:
Prince Bernard of Saxe-W eimar.
2.-Prince Harold Of Denmark.
3.-Pnnce Nicholas of Greece.
4.-Prince Alexander of Teck.
5.-Prince Max of Baden.
6-Prince Alfred of xe-Coburg-Go-
tina.
Prince Eugene Of Sweden.
S.-Prince Frederick Of Prussia
9.-Prince Bernard Of Schaumberg-
Lippe.
1O.-The Duke Of the Abruzzi.
All of these princes are suitors for the
young queens hand. Their names are
printed to some extent in the order of
their chances of success. Nearly all Of
them were present at the coronation, sas
representatives of their families and
countries. They were on exhibition, as it
were, before the queen and the people.
Why is it, many will ask, that all these
princes are so eager to become the hus-
band Of the young queen? 1t is hardly
because they love her, because most Of
them hardly know her.
VIII the queens husband be a king?
If not, what else can he be? All these
questions shall be answered.
The princes desire to marry the queen
because she is the ruler of a rich and
prosperous land. Her husband will enjoy
the second place after her in the king
dom. He will necessarily be next to her
at all state ceremonies. He will share
throne. 1t is the best position prince
without a throne of his own can hope
to obtain. Younger sons of royal houses
are often not well endowed with worldly
goods.
On the other hand. the queens husband
will certainly not be king in the true
sense. It is probable that the queen will
follow the example of Victoria and give
her husband the title of Prince Consort.
That is a matter of future decision. Even
if he were called king. MS wife would
still be the only sovereign.
The prince consort's position will be
somewhat anomalous one. Although he
will have the second rank in the kingdom,
he will have no real authority. In this re-
spect an ordinary member of parliament
will be more important. If he is very tact
full he may make himself an important
parsonage in the kingdom. as Queen Vic
toria's husband did. If not, he will be a
nOneutity or a nuisance.
It has been said that Queen Wilhelmi-
mas choice of a husband is very restrict
ed Yet, as far as she is able, she has
shown a strong disposition to act accord
ing TO the dictates OF her own heart and
JtN LllSAAts -fAdAig Il bAA4lOC nos '4EeANC aiNA
palace with high hopes in his breast and
gone away without them.
Her marriage will only be legal with the
consent OF the Dutch parliament. Without
this. all the churches in Holland could
not make Queen Wnhelmina wife. 1t is
not likely that parliament would permit
her to marry a man not of a reignins
family and a Protestant by religion. II
she observes these two conditions. she
viii be practically free to exercise her
own choice. guided by her mother.
The queens personal characteristics
may now he noted. If appearances are
justified. she Will make an ideal wife.
Though not handsome, she is decidedly
attractive. she has fair hair, a shapely.
though slight figure, an open, kindly, sen
sitive face.
on August 81 she was eighteen years
old and became legally OF age. Her
mother then ceased 10 be regent and
Queen Wilhelmina began 10 reign.
on September s she was euthroned in
the New Kerke At Amsterdam. The Ger
emory was simple. but splendid. Ire
young queen bore herself with wonderful
grace.
eyewitness, was occupied in the cere-
mony. which might wei stand as a model
n simplicity. dignity and solemnity for all
grea; state functions. Tee impressiveness
Of il ali came solely from the personality
Of the maiden who was lis central figure.
Yesterday sfe was a delightful girl. who
enjoyed 10 tne utmost her first taste OF
the sweets OF power. she was unaffected
~ glad that she was queen. Today she
was a woman who already felt the weight
o. responsibility. The tone Of her voice
showed tha- she appreciated the burdens
as well As the privileges OF her station
Never before today perhaps. has Queen
WIhelmina been a beautiful woman. but
As she stood before the throne with up
lifted hand. repeating IN solemn. fervent
tones the words % her oath Of coasecra-
tioa 70 the Dutch people, she made a fig-
ure that was not only beautiful but noble
and even imposing"
the royal insignia 81 TIE ancient House
ot orange we're used in the ceremony.
The crown IS ot dull gold only the edges
being polished L consists Of a crimson
velvet cap Enclosed fl a circle set with
sap3hires and emeralds. The imperial
arches terminate in sixteen points. eight
OF which are suFmouEted by large single
pearls and the other eight. bent toward
the center and there crowned with the
globe and cross. are Sc with nine pearls
each which are sra s-rgraa IN Ssva -