The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-06-19


neither for Russia nor Servia, but al
ways for herself.
In less than a year her hand was
shown in Alexander's first coup d'etat
He had not yet attained his majority,
and his kingdom was governed by three
regents. These dignitaries were feasting
one night with him when the room was
suddenly barricaded, the King announced
that the authority of the regents was
ended, and they were kept prisoners un-
til he had been formally proclaimed be-
fore the army After that no one dared
ignore the existence of Draga Maschin in
political affairs.
Alexander established Draga in a pal
ace which was as splendid as any in
Belgrade. There the court fiocked for
gayety; there the Russian and Austrian
diplomats held secret conferences in turn
each trying to pay more than the other
There the king often mingled with the
guests, speaking to no one but Draga
dancing all the evening with no one but
Draga, throwing confetti to no one else
and frowning darkly upon anyone who
attempted word with her.
The court did not wonder at her sway
lover the king, who had inherited the
vices of his father and the weakness of
his mother without the military bravery
of the former or the personal goodness
OF the latter. Nine Maschin was never
counted a beauty; she was dark enough
to be almost swarthy, and in repose her
face was cunning and treacherous. But
her fascination could not be doubted
she was bewitching talker, and while
talking became beauty. She was tall
and slended, and beautifully formed, of
the oriental type, with masses of soft
black hair and liquid eyes full of subtle
fattery. Before she essayed the role of
queen she was frequently seen in the
Paris salons, where she was known for
her perfect taste in etiquette as well as
for her wit and social diplomacy.
The Servian people and court wanted
their king to marry. After his mother
and father had unsuccessfully begged
the hand of a petty princess, they were
willing for him to marry a commoner.
But they never thought of his marrying
Nine. Maschin-they would have opposed
that. Alexander, however, did not con-
suit them, nor even his own ministers or
his council of state. One fine morning
i'll July, 1900, the people of Belgrade
awoke to discover that the kings second
coup d'etat had taken place during the
night Upon the walls of the city was a
long proclamation signed by the royal
hand, in which he made known his be-
trothal to Draga Maschin, daughter
of the Servian people, whose home would
be pattern of all Servian homes and
who would bring happiness to the coun
try, as did the wife of his grandfather,
also from the people.
Absolutely no oevian official seems to
have known of the proclamation before
hand. The capitol was in turmoil of
excitement, cabinet ministers gathered in
agitated meeting, the council of state
assembled to declare against the pro-
posed marriage; the president of the
Skupshina and the metropolitan, The
head of the Severian church, went down
upon their knees before the king and
begged him to be wise. There were
threats among the people, and Nine.
Draga's house had to be carefully guard
ed. The king ignored all entreaties, and
drove boldly through the streets every
day in an open carriage with his future
queen by his side.
Finally Alexander and Draga were
married, and from that day Severia's
woes began.
Queen Draga might have made her
hold on the Severian throne secure had
she presented King Alexander with son.
Alexander was the last of the Obreno-
witch dynasty. The only hope of the ma
ton was in Queen Draga. Realizing her
failure, she sought by subterfuge, COM
mon enough in cheap fiction, to deceive
the Severians by presenting as her own
child of unknown parentage.
This was in May, 1902. Queen
Draga's physician, DR.. Caulet, announced
that Servia might expect an heir to the
throne. The announcement was made in
the official gazette and celebrated by
an illumination of the capital and a pa
rade of the troops in Belgrade. The
car telegraphed his congratulations and
promised to act as godfather.
As time passed it gradually dawned
upon the minds of the Servians that the
report of the queens condition was pre-
mature. Then suspicious were aroused
and the fraud was exposed by the car,
who demanded an official investigation
The Russian minister at Belgrade in
formed the car that the queens physi-
clan had been mistaken. DR.. Cantacu-
zene, the famous Roumanian specialist.
was sent for by the car to continue the
investigation. His report convinced the
Servian public that Queen Draga had at