The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-22


from Cattaro. in sight of the outskirts of
Montenegro's capital.
why of course?' -
Il understood your Honor wished for an
audience with the prince. AS his Royal
Highness owns the hostelry he might take
offense IL you patronized another inn"
So to ths Grand we went. 1 saw a long
stretched one-story building, once the royal
residence OF the Gospodars of the Black
Hills. and the manager awaiting me outside
with a well-set French speech Amiable
mai. he insisted upon showing me to my
room--a very clean and comfortable apart
ment. where. by the way, the present Queen
Of Italy first saw the light. A quarter Of
an hour later bell was rung, and a spruce
little Buttons" conducted me 10 the dining
room that up to few years ago ranked as
throne hall Of the principality. took my
seat at one OF two immense tables with a
number Of well-dressed men who introduced
themselves successfully as his Excellency
the minister of justice, his Excellency the
minister of education. his Honor the private
secretary to the prince, his Eminence the
Catholic archbishop of Antivari, his Excel
lency the minister OF finance and his Excel
lency the secretary general Of foreign af
fairs.
When presently the hotel keeper ap-
preached to ask whether had any further
commands. whispered: II hope l am not
intruiing upon a ministerial council"
mo fear" answered he with a bland
smile; ''you are more than welcome. You
see, all the notables of the capital dine here
In order to meet distinguished visitors
But 1 am only newspaper man."
''The more honor to my house. Charmed,
] assure you" So was I. A stranger in
a strange country and falling in with all
the high dignitaries OF the place the mo-
ment arrived-it was almost too good to
be true. Their Excellencies were most af-
fable and interviewed me with a degree of
thoroughness. "Jim'' Creelman would have
been mad with envy IL he had seen them.
Indeed, II Jim had ever got so many facts
out OF a single person, as these ministers
Of state wormed out of your correspondent.
he would have so much to say about his
own cleverness that there would be no room
left for the subject on hand.
CHICKEN-CoOP MINISTRIES.
Next morning 1 left my card at all the
MINISTRIES, white-washed little chicken
coops of rooms, sanded floors, secretaries
a
teeth (no. not between their teeth, except
after meals. but right handy for all that)
When sat down to dinner a second time
the secretary general of Prince Nikits did
himself the honor-his own words-to invite
me to breakfast at the palace at IL in the
forenoon. His Royal Highness will be de-
lighted"
A royal coach and pair was at my serv-
to-
ness was out. In making the appointment
he had forgotten all about the graduation
exercises at the Russian school. Would I
come there to see him. The exercises
all Greek to me-lasted until after one and
concluded with the singing of the Monte
negran and Russian national hymns which
all heard standing, prince, ministers of
state. grandees Of the realm, children
teachers and the correspondent. Then the
excellency Of foreign affairs took me to
lunch at the Grand Cat my expense) and
when, to be polite. 1 commented on the
superior bed furnished me he said: "Ah.
You must speak to my colleague, M. Bule-
Itch"
do you refer to the hotel keeper"
Yes, he is our Minister OF Roads, Trav-
els and Communications" There, / had
been hobnobbing with another excellency
and did not know 1t.
Present arms" cried the officer on duty
when ! drove up at the palace a second
time At the grand entrance stood the
court marshal, all gold lace, medals and
toy sword. like a newfangled American
ambassador. and conducted me to the
throne room which is not bigger, but loftier
than the old one where take my meals.
1t has three or four windows In front and
contains two master pieces In oil, Zichys
admirable portraits OF Car Alexander III
and Of Emperor Francis Joseph The amia-
BILE court marshal treated me to cigarettes
OF the finest aroma and to lot of interest
Ing small talk. He had looked in and van
ished into an adjoining room.
His Royal Highness."
The court marshal seized the lighted can
Ole and went out. After a few minutes he
returned and beckoned to me- On the
threshold OF his room stood Prince Nikita.
entirely blocking the doorway. "Come
into my study" said his royal highness.
stepping backwards and at the same time
offering me a handful of cigarettes. He
helped me light one by the candle from the
throne room and settled down in a chair
The few minutes OF silence that ensued al
lowed me to study the outward character
istics OF ''the great old man of the Ralk-
ans"
NOT A ROYAL FIGURE.
The father OF queens and grand duchesses
Is the type Of a mighty peasant-soldier.
such as the Black Mountains only bring
forth. His nose Is as broad as Tolstofs.
and his hardhewn features are rather
oloated. Bushy brows over small, cunning
eyes. not over-broad. wrinkled forehead
wniskers and mustache grayish white
ne wore the national costume, a purple
jacket richly and wonderfully embroidered
IN gold. and blue cloth pantaloons. His
supra-vtst OF white silk glittered with
medals. the Russian order of ST Andrew
the Legion OF Honor, the ST Stephen of
Austria-this latter in my honor. He said
politely: do remind you of anvbodv In
particular" he asked
~ was thinking of Bismarck when 7
noticed your highness's commanding height
and figure
Nikita smiled and began to talk Of his
Elena. the Queen OF Italy. 1 shall have
10 speak seriously to her when I GO IN
Rome IN May. Two girls are too much
My wife treated me to as many before the |
heir 10 the throne arrived. Thereupon I /
called the second 'Stana.' which means |
Enough Nature took the hint and the |
next time son was born 10 US. Ny son-in- |