The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-21
QUEEN DRAGA.
A WOMAN OF AMBITION AND
NO PRINCIPLE.
When Still in Her Teens, She Bega'1
Her Ambitious Schening That
Ended so Tragically.

Never was there man more infatu-
ated than my dear, deiuded son by this
petty, narrow-1ninded, narrow-hearted
Servian subject, fifteen years his SEN
ior." -a-
Such was the opinion of Queen Ma
tale of her daughter-in-law, expressed
not three years ago. Never was there
a contempt and hatred greater than that
of Natalie for the woman who succeed
ed her OIL the Servian thrane. who took
her only child from her, and who was
the cause of the greatest royal tragedy
of modern times
The wholesale assassination revolved
about Draga. The hatred of her people
was shown when the officers pierced
and slashed her body with their swords
after they had murdered her.
Queen Draga of Servia was woman
with great ambition and a little SOUL
She longed to be another Catherine, and
she was not even a Pompadour.
She was child of the people. Her
grandfather was a peasant who lifted
himself out of poverty by his skill in
cattle trading. His son, Pante Lun;e-
#vitiza, became cattle dealer of import
.ance, for he had the gift of making
money. Also he was patriot, and he
gave largely to equipping the Servian
army in the warfare against the Turks.
That enabled his eldest daughter,
Draga, to meet many officers. To her
marriage was stepping stone. Tn a
land where few women are really
clever, where intrigue is a part of the
daily life, a woman who is early recog-
nized as a beauty and is troubled with
no scruples may climb high.
Draga Lunjevitza had many suitors.
She chose the one who best would fur
ther her dreams of power He was Col.
Maschin of the engineers. man of
some force, of great popularity, and
who already had a place in court. Only
in court could Draga rise to the place
she believed she should occupy.
She was seventeen when she married,
and the honeymoon had hardly passed
before she had many lovers. But Draga
Maschin was never a victim Of her
heart. Her affections were controlled by
her head. It was not part Of her game
to quarrel with her husband And he
loved her with all the intensity of his
nature
Draga Macfin sought to gain the
favor Of both King Milan and Queen
Natalie As for his majesty, that de-
based profigate was ever at the mercy
Of j pretty face and figure, and the fact
that she was really clever appealed to
him as well. Long after he tired of her
he found her immensely useful, and he
was willing to pay the money she de-
rlanded for serving him.
u As for Queen Natalie, the cattle deal
er's daughter. deceived her completely.
Natalie had a passion for politics. She
was continually mixed up in all manner
II plots. Draga Maschin won her conf
dence by manifesting strong pro- Rus
sian proelivities, and she received the
coveted appointment Of 1ady-in-waiting
q the queen. This gave her the secure
position at court for which she long
had selaen1ed.
She had many affairs, but immortality
8 not severely condemned in Servia.
They were necessary TO maintain her
position. As member Of the court and
i conhdant Of the queen, who was only /
.wo years her senior, she occupied al
olace higher than she had expected toI
each, but her success only stimulated |
1er ambition to greater dreams. She be-
gan to long for a throne.
King Milan, stepped in debauehery,
n tlrlgoyerned gambler yet NOT lacking
z g. certain discernrnet1t, was safei
lgainst the Wi1es Of the most ambitious
woman, because he was always an I'M
:ertain quantity. And woman for woni-
u, Natalie was more brilliant. ADLER
han Draga Maschin.
8 Wien little Alexander was proclaimed Il
ing at the age Of thirteen, Draga Mas /
hin who was then nearly fWenf eight.
aW = y ~ Of reaching i throne. She be-