Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-15
WEDDING OF A PRINCE
Second Son Of Prince Nicholas
Weds Daughter Of Powerful
servian Family.
Wedding Of Montenegro and Ser.
via the Dream of Groom's
Parent.
Marriage Not Love Match, but
a very Desirable One
Politically.

i
manifested here in the marriage of
Prince Mirko of Montenegro and Mile.
Natalie Constantinovitch, which took
place Sunday.
| 1t was believed at one time that the
| young prince would persist in dis de-
sire to we'd Leitie Bonaparte. widow OF
prevailed and the handsome young
prince was induced to give up the
Duchess Lieitia, who, by the way, was
fifteen years his senior.
| From political point of view his I'M
ion with Mile. Constantinovitch is a far
better match.
In fact, the marriage of the twain will
mark definite point in the history of
the races of the Balkan peninsula.
There are five states which have in
this century been carved out of the OF
toman empire, and of them Roumania,
Greece and Bulgaria are governed by
foreign dynasties closely connected
with the great reigning families of Eu-
rope.
Only Servia and Montenegro are gov
erned by native dynasties, neither of
which was related to the imperial fam
lilies of Europe until the comparatively
recent weddings of the Princess Helene
of Montenegro With the young king of
Italy. and of the crown prince of Mon
tenegro with the duchess of Mecklen-
burg Strelitz.
Having strengthened his position by
these alliances, the astute Prince Mich
jolas, ruler of the principality, looked out
for a consort for his second son and at
the same time with an eye on the future
prosperity of his country.
During recent years he has often cast
an eye across the barren mountains of
his own principality to the fertile plains
adjoining.
He would Alike nothing better than to
see his son Mirko ruling over neigh
boring kingdom so desirable Servia.
Circumstances strengthened Prince
Nicholas hopes. For is not Servia un-
accountably cursed as regards an heir
to its throne? Queen Draga is childless.
The principal Servian pretender ka-
ra-seergeecitch, an old man and Il
boolworn,, prefers not to leave his quiet
library in Lucerne to rule over chaotic
Servia. His two sons have been edu-
Gated for military career in Russia.
Still another pretender, Prince Alex
ander karageorgevitch, prefers Paris to
Belgrade.
Therefore Prince Nicholas believes,
not without apparent reason, the day is
nl,i hn "a
greater servia, controlled by two of his
sons.
The alliance of Prince Mirko with
daughter of one of the most popular
families of Sevia certainly seems to
strengthen the situation.
The young Montegrin prince. indeed,
may find the future made for him in
less time than his father had dared to
think for the report comes that King
Alexander's throne even now is totter
ing and Servia may soon be searching
for new and more popular ruler.
Prince Mirko has inherited the beauty
of his mother, considered. not only in
her youth, but even now, the handsom-
est woman in the land.
He is atall young man of "a. typical
Uetrovitch, and very accomplished. His
tastes run to music Che composes and
plays welD and bacteriology.
He has large palace near Podgorica
in the fertile valley of the 1eta, of
which province he is the voivoda or
duke.
His bride is just II, tall, slender and
q blonde. AT home she is known as Lily
Prince Mirko met her only few
months ago in Vienna and fell in love at
once. Her father, Colonel Constanti-
novitch, saw much service under Prince
Alexander of Battenberg.
Marriage is peculiar institution in
Montenegro, and it is to be hoped that
the fair bride will not be subject TO the
same humiliating customs as are the
rest of her sex in the little mountain
principality.
When married a woman may not sit
at her husbands table when he has
guests. but must take her meals in the
kitchen.
If he meets her in the street, he
passes her by a stranger. or, if, after
some days of separation they meet in
public, She will not dare to greet him
with a kiss on the mouth. but in loken
of subsection she will kiss twice above
and below the elbow of the arm he
thrusts out to her in condescension.
1t is true, however, that the position
of the women of the better classes is
improving for there is already a college,
presided over by Il Russian lady, in Get
TIME, and here the daughters of the rich
attend. But they are few, and their
privileges without precedent