The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-11

said: st will never marry. I will reign
alone like Elizabeth of England"
Again, when her mother wished her tc
go to bed early. she said: Il will go out
! on the balcony and tell the Dutch peo-
| pie how you ill-treat their queen"
From now on the subject of matrimony
will be inseparab bly, associated with the
queen. She is going to marry for love.
Who will it be? She is good looking, ac-
| complished, amiable, rich beyond compu-
ia ton. He will be a fortunate man.
Queen Wilhelmina IS ike Queen Victoria
| in that she inherits the throne afaer a
| monarch notorious for his depravity. Vic
| toria's ascension was separated by only
| few years from the death OF George
w, the worsa debauchee in Europe.
Wilhelmina's father, King William III.
who died in 1889, left an unsavory repu-
tation behind him as the Dutch Don Juan.
His intrigues were the talk OF the world.
He had his favorits, like Louis XIV. He
was proud of abe scandals to which he
and they gave birth. He frequented the
concert halls, where obscene jokes were
made about hs adventures. He laughed
as heartily and applauded as vigorously
as any one. He had no sense of shame
no conscience. no scruples, no domestic
affections. He was a standing satire upon
monarchy.
His firsa wife, Sophia, daughter OF the
King Of Wurtemberg, whom he married in
1889, when still Prince of Orange, succeed
ed in keeping him within prudential
bounds for half score of years. Then
the old king died and Prince William of
Orange became King William III. of
Netherlands, with a foutune of 100, 900, OOO
forms. The honor and the wealth were
too much for his weak brain. He resumed
his amorous career. He passed from ac-
tress TO actress long before his first wife
died.
At the age Of sixty-two, however, he
fell desperately in love. This was in 1879.
The object of his antiquarian affection
was Princess Helen of Waldeck-Pyrmont
now the widowed Duchess of Albany. She
was only twenty-five, and she laughed at
his suit. King William was sadly hurt
While still suffering from the smart he
overheard the Princess Emma, her youn-
ger sister, saying reproachfully: Helen,
I should never refuse 40 become a queen"
William turned to look at the speaker
He saw a tall and rather pretty girl of
nineteen. His volatile heart was once
more snitaen. Seeking the first oppor-
tunity, he asked her:
"Since you believe your sister was
She natvely answered that she would.
The preliminaries were speedily arranged
and the marriage took place before the
year was over. The young queen was as
frank and simple a a child. When she
arrived at The Hague and saw abe royal
site in which she was henceforth TO dwell
she laughed and clapped her hands and
danced like a school girl. The solemn
ushers of the Golden Rod and the Royal
Sticks in Waiting frowned portentiously
at ahis lack of dignity. They had little
love for the Germans, and they were in a
critical mood. King William himself was
shocked. He led his young bride by the
hand until they stood before the portrait
of his mother, abe grim and asture Anna
Paulovna, daughter of Paul, Car Of all
the Russas.
she never laughed" he said. "a queen
should never dance in public"
She accepted the rebuke gracefully
Since that time no one has ever had oc-
casion to complain of her department
Despite afe difference in years she
proved a true and loyal wife, voluntarily
and without a murmur renouncing all
a musembents and diversions In which her
aged husband could not share.
BY his first wife William had two sons
The elder had initiated the dissipaaed ca
reer of his father and had died prema-
turely in Paris. The other was afflicted
with an incurable spinal disease, and also
died.
Consequently the people Of Holland, !
who had grown to love their young queen, |
were delighaed when the news came that /
an heir was expected. 1t was something |
Of a disappointment when, on Aug. 81. 1850. |
that heir proved to be a girl. She was |
baptized by the name OF Wilhelmina He |
lena Pauline Maria. II is doubtful |
the loyal Netherlanders would |
today exchange her for any male royalty /
N Europe.