The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-01-08
SERVANTS WED no PRINCES.
Girls OF Europe whose neauty ana
cleverness Have Won Them
TITLES and Riches.


The transition from a lowly or eyeI
menial position to place among the
crowned heads is fight taken quite
often outside OF fairy tales, and in
stances in which pretty face hai
been fortune for its possessor are
comparatively numerous.
The American women who have woT
royal titles by their combined caar$
OF beauty and fotune need not le con
sidered at all. Their achievements
have been chronicled the world over
and, barring details, are known TO the
average intelligent person.
The stories of those who began with
nothing but their personal charms to
recommend them and rose to high es-
tates are more frequent in Europe
than elsewhere, for the obvious reason
that there are more members OF roy
atty there either at home or visiting,
says the Chicago Tribune.
Florence Maharanee, of Patiala, is
one notable example Of q sudden rise
from an obscure place TO the posi-
tion Of a reigning sovereign. She was
at one time nursery governcss in an
English home, and while travelling
with the family became acquainted
with the rajah of Patiala, who was alb
solute monarch over 6,000 square miles
Of the richest territory in the world.
She now has absolute sway over the
domain, and is the possessor of a
collection Of jewels calculated to
arouse the envy of even the most con
tented woman.
Another notable instance Is that Of
her royal highness the shereefa of
Wazan. She was at one time a hired
dependent in the household of which
she is now the mistress. She had some
positive opinions on many subjects
and a spirit Of independence that cap
tivated the shereefa. His admiration
for her was such that he married her
according to her ideas ON the sub
ject, and his first wedding gift to her
was the unconditional gift Of so slaves
of his household. She had not been
married long before she instituted re-
forms Of many kinds in the land of
Wazan. Two thousand slaves were
liberated by one edict at her direction,
and the treatment of the rest was rad
ically softened. Her wealth Is said TO
be something TO be wondered at and,
like the princes Of Patiala, she has
jewels in unlimited profusion.
Miss Bamba Muller, who became the
wife Of Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, was
poor girl, but wonderfully attractive.
She did not have a penny, and her mar.
riage 10 the maharajah created SEN
sation at the time, especially when II
was generally known that her royal
husband had presented her with $780,
900 on their wedding day, in addition
10 furnishing her with n bridal outfit
entirely in keeping with his regal
ideas Of splendor. The son Of this
pair, Prince Victor Dhuleep Singh, Is
known all over England as n famous
cricketer and won renown for him
self upon the polo field while at col
iege. lie profted by the example OF
bis royal father, so far as choosing an
English bride was concerned, but she
was not OF lowly origin.
The stage has also furnished its
share Of poor girls who have become
the brides of royalty, a notable case
being that of her serene highness
Princess Basetchitkoff, who began life
as serving maid, with wages amount
ing "a about si5a year and her lodging.
From serving maid she graduated to
the stage as dancer, and from an or
dinary dancer rose 10 be prima bal.
lerina Of the Eden theater in Paris.
Her husband was captiyated by her
dancing. and shortly after there fol.
lowed a wedding. which caused stir
In the French capital. The bride re.
ceived over 1000 presents. and among
them were 100 silver drinking cups,
oil fashioned like dancing slippers Of
different sizes. The wedding has not
turned out unhappily, and her royal
highness is popular and respected in
her domain.
One of these marriages that turned
out unhappily was that OF Princess
George Of saxe-Meniugen. who was
before her marriage Mile. Helenn
Franz, prima donna Of the royal thea.
ter az Dresden.
An equally unhappy marriage was
that Of Princess Chimay. who was Miss
Cla.a Ward. The story Of that union
was one that promised well NJ the
outset. Il was romantic enough 10
suit even a fairy story. but Il ended
badly.
Instances might be multiplied Of
girls Of humble origin gaining high
stations, but unhappily the number
Of cases where the matches proved
are equally as numerous.