The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-21
A oUEgM,s PRIVILEGE.
Wiiheimina Of Holland Must Select and
Propose tn Her Consort Herself

"
wiiheimins of Holland Must select sns
Propose Ia Her Consort HERSELF
One OF thef first matters likely to en-.
gage the attention OF the young queen
OF Holland Is the choice Of a husband
She has just passed her 18th birthday
and the crown. h is un'
questionably a good-looking. healthy
spirited and sensible young m sh'
has been well raised. which Of itself I,
a good start In life. Wilhelmina Is
now at liberty to look over the list OF
engines n must also make the pro-
posal. though of course a perfect under
standing Is established before this point
Is reached. A queen would feel abashed
N the prince to whom she told her love
could offer nothing more than to be "A
brother. The queen OF England, when
but little older than Wilhelmina, went
through a similar ordeal. History re-
cords how Prince Albert. who had en-
toyed "A preliminary acquaintance with
victoria, was granted an interview
with a clear knowledge Of what was to
happen. Probably the youthful sover-
eign did little more than to extend her
hand with a beaming look and the af-
fair was quickly over. 1t was a wise
choice. Prince Albert was an ideal
royal consort and the queen OF the
Netherlands will be most fortunate II
her intuitions serve her as well in Sc
lecting a companion and helpmate in
the functions of royalty.
But in one respect Wilhelmina Is
worse on than any of her fair subjects.
She must marry a Protestant prince Of
some European reigning family, n
the list OF eligibles is therefore restrict
ed to 10. There is something of irony
In being a queen with the right to pro-
pose and yet to be limited to 10 men
belonging TO certain families. Among
the number are several grandsons or
great-grandsons of Victoria and the
late Queen Louise of Denmark. But
the idea of any limitation must be dis
tasteful. Elizabeth OF England might
have married IL no such barrier had ex-
listed. She knew men who in her mind
quite eclipsed all the princes of Europe.
and as h could not marry one of them
she remained unwed, though not fancy
free, as the great contemporary poet
said. Even less OF happiness would
ave been hers, If. with her tempera-
ment, she had chosen a royal spouse.
Nothing i'm history tends to confirm the
idea that queens find their matrimonial
of much practical value. a
proposal is chiefly a social and legal
formality. Means of indicating a pref
erence are not unknown to the feminine
half Of creation. The late queen of Dem
mark was called the greatest match
maker in Europe. She must have dis
posed. whoever proposed. When she
was ready the proposal came as a mat
ter of course.
Wilhelmina is a fin girl with a tidy
and a thrifty little kingdom that
Is peacefully disposed and enjoys the
consideration of other nations.
The Hollanders have the rare knack Of
making colonies nay and of keeping
them reasonably well contented. 1t is
to be hoped that the bright and popular
young queen VIII take from among her
10 young men ms who will not disturb
the calm good humor and solid enjoy
ment of the Dutch people. But IL is by
no means an easy ask to perform. Ra
not be there. No American maiden
would care to be penned up i'm any such
manner. Compulsion is a little hard,
though qualified by Lear's word
heavenly Yet the example of Victo-
ria is encouraging. and German princes
are in the majority in Wilhelmina's list.
She will at least choose for herself. and
That her Dr)pOs sal may result Joy fully
will be the general wish.-St. LOUIS
ilCbe-DemCcrat.