The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-28
FOR LOVE-, Or NEVER
WiIheImina's Platform on the
Matrimonial Question.
TEN ELIGIBLE PRINCES
All Rejected for Humble
Prince William of WED.

New York, Oct 27-The Journal says:
The most desirable bride n Europe
! Queen Wilhelmina Of Holland-will soon
have bridegroom
| The fortunate man is Prince William of
| WED. He is only twenty-five years OF
| age. about four years older than the
! Queen. He is handsome and debonair.
Like most German Princes, he is an off,
Ger in the army.
The engagement will shortly be an
nounced officially at the Hague. It is
considered proper that such events should
become known few weeks before they
are formally published.
The news was a great surprise in
Europe. 1t was agreed in Court circles
that she would have TO marry one of ten
young princes who were present at her
coronation She has chosen none of them.
She has become engaged TO a young
Prince Of comparatively humble family,
who was entirely forgotten in the inter-
national gossip.
At the time of the Queens coronation the
Sunday Journal indicated the ten young
princes. one Of whom it was expected she
would marry. They all occupied promi-
nent places at the coronation. They all
looked forward to rivalry with one an
other, but they were haughtily confident
that no outsider would snatch the prize
away.
They are now ten highly eligible, thor
oug4lly disguised princes Of the most au-
gust royal families. They have lost the
best chance that offered OF a comfortable
situation for life, with pretty wife. much
dignity and unlimited income. Hence
these tears of royalty.
Queen Wilhelmina is one Of the most
interesting young women in the world.
Certainly among royalty she is above
comparison.
Not since Queen Victoria sacended Eng
lands throne, sixty-two years ago, has
there been such a match to make Never
in our days have so many princes sued
for one lady's hand.
1t is absolutely imperative that the
Queen should marry without delay. The
security of Holland, the permanence of
dynasty and the continuance of the coun-
try in quiet, monarchicaI ways depend
upon this event. She is the last repre-
sentative in Holland Of the ancient and
iIlustrious house of Orange, which is for
ever endeared to the Dutch people by the
service Of William the Silent. All her
near relatives are decended on the pa
ternal side from some German house
The young Queen early showed symp-
toms of independence in the matter of
choosing a husband. She rejected her
cousin, Prince Bernhard of Saxe-W eimar,
because he was so ugly. Nevertheless. it
was confidently expected that she would
finally marry man indicated to her for
reasons Of state. She mas upset all these
expectations by becoming ged to the
Prince Of Wied, whom no one had thought
Of
The law requires that she shall marry
a Protestant. 1t was Furthermore ex-
peeted that she would marry a prince of
a. reigning family. The Prince of WED
fills the former, but not the latter quail
fication, although he mas rights of equal
ity Of birth with the reigning families.
Young Queen WiIhelmina is not hand
some, but decidedly attractive She has
fair hair. a graceful figure, an open. kindly
sensitive face. Her training has been
that of an ideal Dutch housewife.
On August 81 she was eighteen years
old, and. being legally OF age, began to
reign. On August 81 she was enthroned
at Amsterdam with splendid ceremonial.
The Queens chief palaces are at Am
sterdam and The Hague. Her favorite
country house is Soestdijk, The House
of the Woods"
The Queen receives salary of 1000 900
guilders ga ,O0o) a year from the nation.
She has great private property. both IN
Holland and in the East Indies. In the
latter place the Dutch possessions include
7S3. 900 square miles and "a. 900 600 people.
The annual revenue is upward of $50
Oo0. 600.
To be this Queens husband is the best
position that a prince without a throne
can hope TO obtain. He will enjoy thu
second place after her in the kingdom.
He viii necessarilybe next to her on all
State occasions. He Will share her in
come. His children will inherit the
throne.
On the other hand. he viii certainly not
be real king. He may be called Prince
Consort, after the example OF Queen Vic
toria's husband. or he may even be called
King Consort. That is a matter OF future
decision. The position Of Prince William
of WED viii he all the more acceptable
in Holland. because he is connected by
blood vita the House of Orange.
The Prince Consort's position will be a
somewhat anomalous one. Although tie
VIII have the second rank in the king
dom. he viii have no real authority. In
this respect an ordinary member Of Parl-
lament viii be more important. II ne is
tacttul he may make himself an imnor-
tant parsonage in the kingdom. as Queen
NictoTia's husband did. If not. he will
be nonentity or "a nuisance
Queen WiIhelmina's choice Of \ husband
was very restricted Yet. as far as she
was able. she has shown a strong dis
position 70 act according % the dictates
Of her own heart and judgement. Many
a prince has visited her palace with birb
hopes in his breast. and goae away with
out them.