The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-12
Upsets a Kingdom
Ruler Says He'll Mary
Whom He pIeases.

the New York Journal, says: Young Kin,
, Alexander Of Serv;a has astonishe,
Europe and thrown his country into con
WILSON'S by his determination to marry
The King is desperately in love witt
Nine. Draga Maschin, and he declare.
that neither armies nor revolutions shall
stop him from marrying her Immediately
The whole episode is more like 70
nance of the Middle Ages than of thi.
prosaic modern world. 1t Is "a Prisoner
of Zenda'' story in real life It should
be remembered that the Anthony Hope
1'cmances are laid in this quarter of tht
world. The Middle Ages, in truth, still
| finger in the Balkans.
Every exciting and picturesque element
Of romance enters into the courtship Of
King Alexander.
| The heroine is poor and beautiful, while
her lover is king, young and chival-
| rous.
He has assembled his whole army and
told them that he would marry the wo-
man of his heart in spite Of all opposi-
ton.
He has placed a guard Of faithful fol-
lowers around his sweatheart's house to
prevent her dastardly enemies from seiz-
ing her and carrying her away to some
secret dungeon in the Carpathian Noun
tains.
He has given orders to seize his father,
ex-King Milan, If he attempts to cross
thu frontier.
All this happens on top Of a brief
career that has been the most exciting
and turbulent in Europe
When he was a baby Alexander was
alternately Kidnapped by his wicked
father and his beautiful mother.
At fourteen he was accustomed to
throw grown men out Of the window.
At seventeen he personally kicked his
regents out Of the palace and took the
government into his own hands. At nine
teen he was wrecking homes. At TWEEN
ty- one he was drinking himself to death.
At twenty-four he has forsaken alcohol
and devoted himself to romance.
There are many reasons why King
Alexander should marry, but these.
strangely enough, are also reasons why
he should not marry Nine. Draga Mas
chin. The throne of Seryra is not by any
means securely fixed. 1t would require
but a little agitation to, tospple it over
Now, if the king were 3. respectable
married man, with a wife belonging to
a dignifed royal family and with chill
dren of his own, the throne would be
infinitely more secure than it is now.
Unfortunately Nine Fdasichin is not
wife who would give this stability. She
is Of spotless reputation, ut not of high
birth. and has many erlenl lies in Servia.
A great many families Z higher rank
than her own would feel offended because
she was raised above them. A foreign
wife of royal birth is considered neces-
sary for the peace of Servia-
About year ago King Alexander start
ed out I'm search Of such a wife. He
visited all the courts of Europe His
experiences were highl = discouraging. He
saw the King Of the Belgians and was
coIdlv but politely il Informed that he
need not look for a wifi e there. He went
10 Berlin, but the Empe sror made it clear
IN him that he was not desired as a
member of the Hohenzc llern family. He
would have gone to St. Petersburg, but
the car kindly intinla ted to him thas
he would save himself great deal of
trouble by staying away
Then he tried the court Of Vienna
He felt the Emperor of Austria. having
such a deep political interest in Servia,
ought 10 do something for him. The
Emperor has so many relatives that the
King thought he could spare a princess
from them The Emporer, however, had
been so thoroughly shocked by the
Young mans previous career that he
would have nothing to do with him.
The servians at one time announced
that an engagement had been arranged
between the Archduchess Christine.
daughter of the Archduke Frederick Of
Austria, and the King OF Servia- This
was denied with such energy and
nromntness in Vienna as to leave no
doubt of the Emeprors feelings toward
Alexander.
The king even attempted to secure a
rich American bride, but his efforts were
as futile as they had been everywhere
else.
Thus the unfortunate king had to re-
turn to Servia without a wife. He was
rejected and disgraced. He had sown a
good many wild oats between the age
Of fourteen and twenty-one, but that
was not the only reason for rejecting
him. His throne is very insecure, and
his family history has been disgraceful.
A king so dencately situated ought to
be on his good behaviour.
Alexander was in despair and he found
consolation. Living in Belgrade was a
young widow who had formerly been
lady in waiting to his mother. Queen |
Nathalie. This was Nine. Draga Mas |
clin.
She IS very beautiful. Her features
have purity Of outline that is class /
ically Greek Her hair Is black and /
her skin is as white as alabaster. Her /
eyes are a deep dark violet Her figure /
is superb.
Nine. Maschin was the daughter Of a
minor official and was married early in |
life to an engineer who has since died. |
Her life has been unhappy
Beautiful women are always unhappy. |
It was her beauty that caused Queen !
Nathalie to choose her as lady in
waiting and an ornament TO her court.
The young king. after his return from I
his fruitless quest for a wife. was rid /
ing sadly along a country road near the |
royal castle when he caught sight OF
the beautiful Nine Maschin She cleo
trifed him. He had known her before.
when his mother lived at the court. but
he had never realized how beautiful
she was.
why 90 I waste my time use,essly
counting homely princesses.' he asked
when this. divine woman lives at my
door,
From that moment he fell head over
heels in love with her He spent all his
time in attendance upon her. He shower
ed her with gifts. He gave her many
of the crown Jewels Of Servia At first
his minister and c0llrtiers tho,lrht thai
this was only another OF his passing