Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-03
ROYAL FgNANcIERS
Crowned Heads of Europe With Fine
Heads for Business.
ARE LET IN on GOOD THINGS
Many Millions Invested in Amer.
can Securities.
NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PARIS, Jnly % 1901.
There was trouble in the chateau Het
Loo when Wilhelmina learned the extent
of her young husbands debts. Though a
very small prince and several times
younger son, Henry Of Mecklenberg-
schwerin had piled up imposing liabilities.
1t is family talent, one of his uncles haV-
ing had himself declared a bankrupt
few years ago.
1T is the regiment that ruins these
young fellows explained to me the ether
day an Austrian acquaintance OF the prince
passing through Paris incognito AND II
is mistake to think being quartered IN
some little country garrison can save them
from disastrous competition with rich men.
In great city like Berlin poor young
prince with high social position hnds MS
time taken up by legitimate society, out III
these out-of-the-way stations there is aoth-
ing but gamble, drink, go racing ana pay
court to the young actresses ana DINERS
who come hunting. There are always some
very rich noblemen who set the pace, ana
the sporting business men or the nelgh-
borhood, willing to spend lavish1y to keep
In such society, confirm it. His family al
lowed owed Henry OF Mecklenberg perhaps maps
to understand how the money lenders got
hold of him.
Before leaving for he Hague Prince
Henry had come to an understanding with
certain of his Berlin. Potsdam and Frank
fort creditors. Within a month AFTER MS
marriage he was to pay into the hands OF a
syndic of their appointment third or the
sum total of their claims.
The month passed, but the prince gave
no signs Of life. Then the syndlc, having
an acute idea of his responsibility, ac-
dressed himself directly to the young queen
and bride.
Hollands Queen is Rich.
The revelation ended the honeymoon.
WiIhelmina is one of the richest soverelgns
Of Europe. Her palaces are hlled Win
pleasant and precious treasures. Her PIC
lures, porcelain, plate, old carved furniture
and tapestries are the accretions OF three
centuries They have never been looted In
times of revolution and never broken into
to make marriage portions for poor rela-
tives Her civil list is 100000 year, the
crown lands bring in 100000 year and
she has the immense fortune Of her late
uncle, Prince Henry of the Netherlands.
He made a will in favor of his wife, Sis
ter Of the Duchess of Connaught, out II
could not be found, SO that his fortune
went to Wilhelmina's father, who died
shortly after inheritng it.. Wilhelmina
could pay her young husbands depts,
therefore, without feeling it; and they say
1t is not mere prudence that Wltnneio
her. But she was shocked; she had thought
she was getting a different kind Of hus-
band-"not like other men,, her apoiosists
say; and, therefore, her refusal to pay be-
came the sign of much more serious
complication.
In any case, the syndfc in despair OF ar
irving at an arrangement decided at last
to negotiate the papers on the Dourse OF
Amsterdam There they float today, de-
spite all reports that the affair is arranged.
Iin Got yan
that his prncipals-usurers one and all
have made good speculation. AS Tor
Henry, he has simply Amsterdam creditors
where he had Berlin Potsdam ana FRANK
fort creditors, andas he has been dote' by
the Dutch state, he will be able to pay the
notes one by one.
The fact is that the young Queen Of Hoi-
land, like all women when they put them
selves seriously to 1t, is a very good money
investor. and the story of how she got in
and out of certain not-too-brilliant combi-
nations of her cousin Leopold, King Of the
Belgians, makes instructive reading.
Own American Securities.
There have been a number of cases Of
ouiet. drawing American business men,
who In return for the social favors that
amused their wives, put royalty ION to
good things. Thus the Emperor Of Rus
sia is a stockholder in the Pennsylva-
mia, the. Northern and Canadian racine,
Central railroad companies to the amount
of Sc. 600 600, the most of 1t invested WITHIN
the last four years on the aoVice OF q "eA-
known American diplomat. ON 1t ne draws
an average of 100000 annually, or PEI
cent interest on his money.
king Edward VII has found means to
put 100000 in American industriais:
They are said to average him IL
flee In view Of the low European rate
NJ interest. It Is even told how he borrow
cd a large part of this capital to make
these tnyestments-with regard to whose
stability the (now no longer) American,
Mr.. Aston. had the most natural interest In
the world to advise.
The Duke Of York. the kings Of Italy and
Greece. Denmark and Belgium, the sultan
and the Shah OF Persia nave salted down
great sums from their private fortunes In
the American securities which give such
large returns and are so safe and far
away from European complications. Even
poor Spain-i:e., the rica en- queen regent-hg,
old isabella, who continues to live SO gay
life in Paris, an experience of the present
writer's youth gave him a startling insight
into her foresight.
II was fifteen years ago, In a court house
Of the county seat Of Elk county, Pennsyl-
yania during escheat proceedings brought
nv way of an 'information' against the
Erie Railroad Company of New York and
certain Pennsylvania companies, in whose
name II was alleged the former held great
stretches of coal and timber lands in def
ance of the statutes of mortmain and for
efgn corporations. In this way there was
question Of the real ownership of other
tracts. whose titles were vested in Phila-
delphian as trustee.
..For whom do you hold these proper
ties?'' he was asked. and the judge, after
much debate, allowed the question
II hold them for her majesty Isabella.
ex-uueen Of Spain, was the reply.
William as . Business Man.
When we come to William H. Emperor
of Germany-in a way perhaps the great
est business man of them all-it is found
that. in spite OF his ,outspoken disapproval
Of all things American except buckwheat
cakes and other breakfast dishes, he has
81 600 COO invested in Atchison and Topeka,
Illinois Central. Huntsville and Nashville
and Union and Northern Pacific railroad
COMPANIES stocks. - The Empress Augusta
Victoria has $500, 900 and the princes of the
house of Prussia have 100000 in the
same securities. dt
Two well-known Berlin fnanciers have
promised Wilhelm aid to- a new and colos.
sal combination from which his imperial
highness expects great personal relief. Not
only in Berlin but all over Europe they
are wondering how, the emperor Is to re-
ward Count WaldeEsee on his return from
Pekin. The old feudal aristocracy objects
yehemently to his being nominated prince
IN account of the bOurgeOiSe origin of the