The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-12
QUEEN DRAGA
WAS VERY
UNPOPULAR
Her Actions Aroused the Hos
tiIity Of the People Of SsrVia.
Was a Handsome Woman.

The lives OF the murdered king and
queen OF Servia were stormy. eventful
and fraught with incident and adventure.
Though comparatively young. the king
crowded into his life eccentric acts, one
after another. which made Europe aIsi
the world cape.
The young king as soon as he found
himself in power began TO search for
wife. None OF the princesses OF Eu-
rope was willing to form an alliance with
him, and the search continued for a year.
Then on Aug. 8. 1900. he married Mad
anne Draga Maschin, a widow and for
mer lady-in-waiting TO the king 5 mother.
The new queen was nine years the senior
OF the king, and the marriage caused
much comment.
The next incident I'm the careers OF the
monarchs was of startling nature. IL
was authentically stated, within a year
after the marriage, that the queen was
about TO present the king with en- heir.
The arrival OF the child was eagerly
awaited, and in anticipation presents py
the thousand poured into Belgraoe. ~
came out later that there was no pros
pect OF child being born, but that II
had been the intention OF the queen 10
foist on the king the child OF her sister
Much doubt existed as to whether the
king had been hoodwinked. or whether
he was party TO the plot to supply the
throne OF Servia with false heir.
The court physicians. acting probably,
on definite Instructions, tried their ut
most TO stop the rumors OF conspiracy.
They reported the case as most peculiar,
and finally II was announced that tne
queen was seriously i'll. and that all hope
OF birth had been abandoned.
Europe talked of the matter for months.
and much condemnation was showered on
the heads OF the king and queen For a
king was reported as extremely angry.
vowing that instead OF suffering from
hysteria as had been reported. the queen
had deliberately tried 10 deceive him. lie
Threatened to divorce her and to abd-
cate. There were many. however, who
believed that the king had been cogni-
zant OF the plot all the time.
In disgrace, and snubbed right and left
by other monarchs of Europe, the Queen
threatened 10 commit suicide. on one oc-
casion IL was reported that she actually
had taken poison. Later she became con-
verted TO the Church OF Rome, the cere-
mony taking place in the chapel OF the
Hospital Cain Perochaud, at Berek
PLACE a French watering place.
Afterward she visited Rome and had
an interview with the Pope. who per
suaded her To delay taking the VEIL she
having stated that it was her intention
to do So
The Queen was very unpopular with
her subjects and they lost no opportunity
To show their hatred. They sneered audi
bly, when she passed In her carriage, and
on one occasion she prevailed upon the
King To take her into his carriage, and,
with the aid OF the troops, force the pop
ulace TO cheer for her.
Queen Draga. In spite of her unpopu-
larity, was known as pure woman. No
hint of scandal was ever associated with
her name This. in spite OF the fact that
she was surrounded by the most evil In
huences, and received great provoca-
ton a the hands of her husband.
She was born at Gorgimilovatz on Sept.
IL. 1867. her name being Lougnevitza. Her
father was a Colonel In the Russian
Army, and II was through his influence
that sho obtained her place In the court
OF Queen Natalie. From the date OF her
marriage, July 23 1900. her influence over
her husband was very great. IL has been
said that there was no doubt that Alex :.
ander and Draga were deeply In love at
the time of their marriage.
The wedding was strenuously opposed
by the former King and Natalie. and was
generally regarded by Europe as a mesal-
lance For n short time Draga was we'll
liked. owing To her grace and beauty
and to her apparent success in weaving
the young King from the bad habits he
had acquired. This did not last. however.
and the unfortunate incident OF the
child buried her deep In disgrace.