The times., 1898-09-04
EuRopEs ROYAL BELLE.
Many suitors for the Hand of Hol-
lands Queen.

lanU3 queen.
In spite of Queen Emma's good moth
erly advice, the wishes of the Dutch
government and the hopes of loyal sub
jeots, her eighteen-year- majesty or
Holland has not yet signified her choice
of consort. Not since Princess Victoria
of Kent became Queen of England, sixty
years ago, has so interesting and ro-
mantle feminine figure appeared on a
European throne, and there Is no doubt
at all but that Wnhelmina thoroughly
appreciates and enjoys the charms of her
position in the eyes of all the ambitious
and marriageable young grand dukes
and princes.
If anyone wants to know why she now
hesitates to give the name of her con-
sort. the reason simply ds because she
has not yet selected him. From her
childhood up she has entertained a pro-
found respect for Queen Victoria, and
two years ago she asked permission TO
read some novels. Her governess and
mother gave her careful choice from
Dickens, Miss Edgeworth, and Miss
Younge. Having pursued these romances
she informed her mother that she intend
ed to only marry a man she could love,
and as Queen Victoria had pursued that
policy with success, she demanded a
similar privilege. Since that time she
has entertained at intervals various pos-
sible suBtors al her palaces in Holland.
As invariably as they came rumors flew
about to the effect that here was the man,
but as invariably the princeling rode
away apparently with his hand, heart
md 10 S.ff rn hos
L have heard 1t stated, and on the best
of authority, that the Mite lady is kind to
ALL stands good deal on her dignity
and openly says that as the proposition Of
marriage must come from her, she won I
speak until her heart dictates
So far nobody, no. even worried Queen
Emma, has been able to discover the
especial type of young man Wilhelmina
prefers, but If you talk to the simple
Dutch folk themselves, they openly ap-
plaud their young sovereign's sentiments
and they are fond of telling the story
of her retort to her mother. There had
been a degree or two of heat in an argu-
ment over this marriage question and the
mother chose to disparage very good
young duke as ineligible because OF his
comparatively humble title.
"Oh, title and money are all very well,
replied Wilhelmina, with toss of her
title and my money are all sufficient. II
/ loved a good man, though he We're a
humble Dutchman. l would marry him
and make him noble"
Among the Dutch people themselves the
two most popular candidates for the
Queens hand are Prince Harold, of Dem
mark. and Prince Bernard. Of Wei
meF- -Eisenach Holland and Denmark
are friendly neghbors and they are one
in their dislike of Germany. Prince Harold
is nice boy, twenty-one years Old, heal
thy. good-natured and not unhandsome.
He is tall like all his brothers and has a
commission in the Danish army.
Though her young majesty says she
has the money for two, still the hard
headed Low Countrymen would like to
have a king consort with a little pin
money of his own, and Harold's mother.
the crown princess of Denmark. is very
rich woman. To every one of her children
she has given fine marriage portions, so
that Harold is a decided parti. Metha-
phorically he and Wilhelmina made mud
pies together and if they have never been
lovers they have always been excellent
friends.
Bernard of Saxe-Weimar is another
good boy, IN his twentieth year, a lieuten-
ant in a Prussian infantry regiment, and
the heart of Holland warns to him be-
cause his grandmother was one of the