The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-19

bestowed upon her a Russian education
with a view to her possible union with
the nelr to the Muscovfte throne. Many
penoluers fancy they detect a shade of
melancholy on her face, and interpret it
as confirming the truth Of this fleeing
romance.
A MADONNALIKE FACE.
She rs thought to resemble the Byzan-
tine madonnaS Of ancient icons, and, like
her compatriots, has a regularity and
| straightness Of feature and height and
sienderness Of figure suggesting Greek
ancestry, notably differing from the
Servfan women, who are of low stature
and heavy proportions, with the square
face and short nose characteristic of
| most modern Slavs. After the downfall
| of the Servian empire, in 1889, the flower
| of the Servian aristooracy took refuge in
| the Black Mountain. Here, too, followed
| for safety at various times Greek and
Roumanian refugees, and their intermar-
| riage with the Servian highlanders is sup
posed to have produced the present SUI
| perior type Of Montenegrin
Elena has a delicate, dreamy beauty
| and finely chiseled features. AS we look
! upon her, whether strolling anna palace
| gardens or receiving at a court funcllon'
! or driving in state, watching per
Pormance of music or drama, we note
most frequently an expression or languor
and seeming lack of initiative
! Nothing could afford a greater contrast
| than her presence, half wistful, hall ap-
! stracted. beside the vivacious and bril-
| liant Queen Margherita who summons
her, as it were, from moment to moment
| to smile, to speak, to wake to more re-
| sponsiveness toward her surroundings.
Elena's unassertive air also contrasts
| with the commanding grace and stronger
physiognomy of her mother, the Princess
! Milena. AS we sometimes see them, sit
ting beside each other, we recognize the
fila. puIchra, mater pulchrior, and under
| stand what an inspiration the elder is SAID
| to have been to poet and painter.
SHE LOVES THE CHASE.
| If the new queen has seemed some
| times lstless and not inexhaustible at
| ordinary social functions, those who
| have seen her on the hunting field can
| testify to her transformation Her dark
| ewes then glow with unsupported entnu-
! siasm. She loves a spirited horse and
| bard-won quarry. Firm in her saddle,
| she dashes across country, following the
hounds with special ardor when big game
| is the prize Of the day. None are more
| fearless or more sure of aim. Like
| her brother, Danilo, she inherits pas
| sion for the chase from a long line or
| hunting ancestors.
The hunting and fighting tastes Of the
Petrovicz family are directly parallel
| with those of the Savoyard dynasty. The
| Savoy princes, holding their mountain
| guarded domain against powerful neigh
bors through ages of valiant resistance,
suggest 6. poetic affinity with the unhum-
| bled Montenegrins, who have driven
back Turkish hordes and baff1ed Turkish
pretension until the Black mountain
| country Is accorded a place among ma
tons.
But the proud patricians Of immemorial
! italian lineage indulge in much Wh1S-
pered grumbling over the Montenegrin
marriage To them it seems an alliance
| too modest for the House of Savoy, with
its eight centuries Of renown. The Pc
| trovicz have registered over zoo years Of
sovereignty; still, as history goes, that
is a fair beginning and precedent for
| persistence.
With the italian people at large the
| marriage has been popular. Every one
| knows the story of Price Victor Emman-
uel's first meeting with Elena at Venice,
| and his immediate determination to make
| her his wife. They met again in st.
Petersburg, and he became more enamored
| than ever. In a few months the mar
rage was arranged, and the eager lover
found his way to Certinje, to see his
| bride and sign the marriage contract.
Elena consented to renounce her mem
| bership in the Greek church, and was
| formally received into the Roman Cath
Ollie communion at Bari shortly before
her wedding, which occurred Oct. a. 1896,
| That was a gala day in Rome, bright
| with soft autumn sunshine, and astir
| with thousands of visitors from all
/ Italy.
81 BJ1TROTHAL CEREMONIES.
The Piazza dele Terme. with its encir-
cling seats, resembled a vast amphithea-
ter, packed with spectators on every
round. Everywhere wreaths and banners
and decorations betokened the fiesta"
A beautiful double-columned facade was
| improvised for the Church of St. Mary
of the Angels. The pope refused the use
of any one of the great basiltcas for
| the marriage ceremony, but Santa Maria
| degH Angel is government property, as
1t is a portion Of that vast public monu-
| ment, the Baths of Diocletian, and so
Beyond the pale Of papal interference.
On this classic ground. old Rome and
| new Italy made a trySt Of undyfng
! memories and ever renewing activities;
an appropriate spot for the nuptials of
| the prospective sovereign.
The bride, with her diamond tiara and
| white satin robe, brocaded with silver
| margueriteS, was very fair to see, and
| her modest, dignifed bearing won gen.
eral admiration. Since their marriage
| the prince and princess have resided in
| the old Bourbon palace at Naples. Re-
Gently King Humbert ordered the cree
ton Of a new residence for them in
Rome. He little dreamed that it would
| never be needed and that his own palace
| in the Quirinal was so soon to be re-
| signed.
Humbert, the preux chevalier, without
fear and without reproach, and Marg-
herita, adorable as woman and queen,
leave places difficult to fill. Their sue
cessors are different in temperament and
in promise, but with sterling qualities
acquired both by inheritance and cultiva-
ton.
Those who best know the new king and
queen believe them well fitted to meet
| the need of the hour and to win fresh
laurels in promoting the veal of the
! Italian people.