Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-12
Scandalous History Of the
Tiny Mountain Monarchy.
COMIC OPERA PLOTS
DISSIPATION AND MURDER PUNC-
TUATED EVERY REIGN.
Weak Alexander the Tool Of the I'm
scrupulous and Designing
Queen Draga.


and his queen were murdered by the re-
voting army. The meat of the story fol-
lows:
Servia for a century or more. has been
sort of comic-opera country with an oc-
casional tragedy in the royal palace.
The politics of the country has been furn-
ished by the rivalry between two families.
representatives of which have alternately
occupied the throne and conspired against
each other. The founders of both these
families were peasants, the most famous
having been swineherd named George
Petrovitch George, the son of Peter, bet
ter known to history by his nickname
Kara (black) George, because Of his dark
complexion and raven hair.
Servia's Greatest Hero.
He is the greatest hero of Servian his
tory. and to him the country owes Its in
dependence from the Turks. He was
very able man and was generally respected,
but was absolutely illiterate, being unable
to read or write and could not even sign
his name. When he became king he used
a peculiar cipher mark with a pen In the
place of his signature to show his approva!
of state papers. But he had great natural
ability and sagacity; his Integrity was
never questioned and his sense Of justice
allowed his own brother to suffer the death
the authority of the government.
While King of Servia he wore the ord1-
nary peasant garb, because. he said, 1t was
more appropriate to his ignorance and
simple character than a robe OF state, and
he lived with the same frugality as when
he was tending his pigs in the mountains
At the old country palace in Belgrade they
show you a kitchen in which he often
cooked his own meals.
Man of Ability.
His grandson Peter Karageorgeovitcn,
who has been proclaimed King of Servia,
is a man of very quiet tastes. excellent
abilities and good character, who has been
living at Geneva, Switzerland, for many
years in exile, engaged in scientific pur-
suits He is about fifty-five years old,
graduate of the University Of Vienna and
has taken a degree at Zurich During his
exile he has had no part in politics and
has always refused to participate in the
plots and conspiracies of his partisans
His late wife, who died in 1887, the
Princess Zorka, was daughter OF Nicho-
las, the reigning prince OF montenegro,
sister of the present Queen of Italy and
of the wives of two Of the grand dukes
of Russia. He has two sens In the Rus
sian army, under the immediate patronage
of the dowager cZarina, who paid for their
education and has looked carefully after
their morals and their advancement in
military affairs.
He appears to have had no ambition to
govern Servia. but his name has always
been used as a shibboleth by the members
of his party in Belgrade when they were
trying to raise revolution.
King Alexander, who was assassinated,
was the great-grandson of the house
servant of an aristocratic family at Bel
grade named Obren. His father was call
ed Tescho, but, Is comman among the
Balkan peasants, he had no family name,
and when he became conspicuous enough
- l. IT,
and the founder of the recent reigning
house of Servia became known MiloS
Obren.
Drove Out the Turks.
Black George drove out the Turks and
establish liberal monarchy in Servia. He
organized a school system, introduced
courts of Justice and gave the people
good government, but was surrounded by
conspirators, and In a fit of Indignation
he abdicated the throne and retired to the
mountains, where he had left his herd
of swine.
When Karageorge abdicated M1Ios OBJ
rem, who had served beside him in the
war for independence against Turkey, was
the most influential man left in the city
of Belgrade. Fearing that a popular move
nent would recall his benefactor to the
throne, he hired professional assassin to
murder him while sleeping in the shep-
herds hut in the mountains. Thus began
the feud between the two families, which
continues until the present day.
Milos ruled as king for twenty years,
and was an autocrat He abdicated at
the demand Of an outraged people, and was
succeeded by his eldest son, Milan, who
died a month later, and his second son,
Michael, was placed upon the throne
Michael was a good king. He was liberal
and just progressive and introduced many
modern improvements into Servia. He built
a fine system of roads and highways, erect
al ont
parks built an opera house and an art gal
lery all of which were excellent things in
their way, but cost money and made higher
taxes necessary.
Peasants Choose King.
The peasants who have always ruled in
Servia, objected to what they called Ger
man IDEAS" drove Michael from power and
elected as king In his place Alexander
Karageorgeovitch. son of Black George
the national hero. Alexander had held
humble position in the Servian army. was
modest. quiet and reserved, and during his
reign Servia enjoyed peace for several years
and made rapid progress, but the partisans
of the Obrenovitch family succeeded in or
ganizing the dissatisfied elements, obtained
control of the parliament, demanded the
abdication of Alexander and called back
old Milos. who had been in exile in Austria.
The old man lived for two years. and 1t
was good for the country that his life was
not prolonged, because ne ldDOTeQ unQ6T
the delusion that his recall was vindi-
cation of his previous autocratic policy, and
his rule was worse than before. Upon mis-
death Michael, his son, again came into
power.
During his exile he had travelled much,
had studied the art of government In sew
eral European capitals. had learned foreign
languages and foreign affairs. and this edu-
cation and observation. with his natural
abilities made him a safe and prudent SOW
ereign. He was altogether the best ruler
Servia has ever had but there were con.
tinual conspiracies against him by par.i-
sans of the Karageorge family, and, being
unable to secure control of parliament, they
removed Michael by assassination.
Michael Murdered.
He was murdered one evening while walk
ing in the garden of his country palace,
about nine miles from Belgrade. 1t was
the intention of the conspirators to pro-
claim Peter Karageorgeovitch. who was
proclaimed today. simultaneously with the
announcement of Michaers death. but the
carriage in which the assassins were riding
broke down on the road to Belgrade.
The servants of King Michael reached the
capital before them and notified the secre-
tary of war; who took prompt action, sent
out squad of soldiers to intercept and ar
rest the assassins. and had them locked up
in the dungeons of the citadel while their
fellow conSpiratorS were anxfOuSly await