The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-02-09
Simple Ceremony Unites the
Royal Pair.
THE DUTCH DELIGHTED
The Queen Is Happy Bride-The Mar
riage Contract thousands Of
Spectators.

The Hague, Feb. Queen Wilhel-
mina's marriage to Duke Henry Of
Mecklenberg- -Schwerin, who today be-
came Prince Heinrich of the Neither
lands, was a huge family affair. All
Holland that could, came to The
Hague to participate. Those who
staid at their homes in other cities
and villages of the kingdom celebrated
with parades, decorations and ban
quets.
Never was seen more beautiful
and happy wedding. The popular
belief is that it was love match,
like that Of Victoria and Albert, and
this gives a romantic coloring to the
event, which is generally lacking III
royal marriages
The ceremonies were the same sim
pie and unritualistic rites of the Re-
formed church by which the humblest
of Queen Wilhelmina's subjects are
married. The whole spirit of the at
fair was plain and democratic, al
though the costly gowns and jewels
and the snowy uniforms of the distin-
guished personalities Of the high off
cials Of the kingdom the military and
navy, and representatives of the peo-
pie in parliament and the municipals
furnished fine sage setting The
venerable pastor administered to the
bride and groom a caution that their
nign positions would not shield them
from the common su1ferings and sor-
rows of humanity. Queen Wilhelmina
made very winning and human
bride. She blushed and became CON
fused over the ceremony with the
ring as all brides are supposed to d.
while her happiness and pride were
plainly deeper than mere matter of
form.
Prince Heinrich was an awkward
but manly figure. Either he was for
getful or badly trained in the part.
for the pastor had to give him two
or three hints as to how to carry him
self. Those sitting near enough TO
hear the responses describe him as
saying: "Jah, mein herr" when be
should simply have said "Jah." The
scene as the royal couple stood with
clasped hands before the chaplain in
circle of brilliantly arrayed person
ages, including British relatives AMI
people composing the highest fam
lilies of Holland and the neighboring
German principalities was wonder
fully gorgeous, the masses of varie-
gated colorings rendering more effec-
tive the blue, gold and white banked
up against the wall of the church. The
building itself is a cathedral in size,
but is as plain as Quaker meeting
house in furnishings. Tonight the pop
ulace is like multitude of happy chill
dren.
The queen and Prince Heinrich
have bound themselves by the statutes
to recognize the husband as the head
OF the matrimonial union and to pro.
vide for and educate the children of
the union. The husband assumes
the responsibility of representing the
wne in all civil actions and of ad-
ministering her property, except as he
is restricted by the marriage contract,
by the terms of which he renounced
the right to sell or mortgage her land
ed property. The wife promises 20
obey the husband, but by recent act
of the Dutch parliament she is exempt
ed from the usual promise to dwell
with him wherever he deems it best
to live
The contract also provides that the
queen shall allow the husband inter
est on 50,O00,00O guilders. and that
he shall receive no income from the
state except in the case of the queens
death. 1t is further provided that
the queen shall yield obedience to her
husband as wife. but not as queen,
and the husband relinquishes the right
to administer the wife's property.
Luncheon was given in the palace
after the church ceremony and the two
families, ministers of state and wit
nesses attended. The tables were
loaded with state plate, gold and sill
yer, and beautifully decorated with
white flowers. The queens mother
toasted the young couple and Prince
Heinrich responded.