Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-06-18

Seryian Assassination a Natural Result.
HgsEIE

The recent terrible events are the
! logical outcome of a long course of
wickedness and degeneracy Alexan-
der was a precocious youth with no
moral character. When he was not
more than fifteen years old he fell I'M
der the fascination of Nine. Draga
Maschin, who had been a lady in wait
ing to his mother She was an am
bilious and brilliant woman, gifted
with considerable Leauty ana the
daughter of a cattle dealer in Belgrade
named LunjevitZa. When only seven
teen years of age she was married to
Colonel Maschin of the Servian army,
who obtained a divorce from her be-
cause of her scandalous relations with
the young king, which began when he
was a mere boy, and since that time
she has resided in the palace and absO-
lutcly controlled him. The dowager
queen Natalie, again and again at
tempted to bring the boy to his senses
and break off the relations, but Nine.
Draga had more influence than the
mother and actually compelled the lat
ter to leave the palace and the king
dom of Seryia. Natalie is now resid-
ing at Biarritz, very much respected
and beloved, although she made her
self very unhappy.
Draga was naturally anxious to share
the throne with her youthful paramour,
although she was nearly twice his age,
but her high aspirations were stub
bornly opposed by the ministers of
state and Che leading politicians of
Seryia. During his minority Prince
Alexander ruled the country through
three regents, all venerable and patri-
otto men, and ii became necessary for
4 Draga to get rid of them for her own
safety and the success of her schemes.
She found the young king a willing
tool, and one night, when he was only
seventeen years old. he invited the re-
gents to dine at the palace. While
! they sat at dinner they were arrested
upon a charge of treason and thrown
into prison, while he proclaimed him
self king. This coup detat was sue
cessful, for the army admired the au-
dacity OF the youngster and sustained
him He then married his mistress,
and She has been the most interesting
figure in Seryan politics.
King Alexander was a degenerate.
He looked as If he had escaped from an
asylum for the depraved but was by
no means feeble of mind or body On
tho contrary he had a vigorous consti.
F., tuition and on two or three occasions
showed a nerve Of power Of command
which wuld do credit to a great gen.
eral Unfortunately. he inherited the
depravtv Of his father. the late King
Milan. who was probably the worst
ruler Europe had seen for a genera
ton but at the same time the son pos.
sessed 8 physical and moral courage
that Milan never displayed
Draga Maschin, the daughter of the
Soryiar cattle dealer, reached the
throne by a series of sacrifices and in
trigues more sensational than have
ever occurred outside of fiction litera.
ture and yet she was not happy For
their sins she and her youthful hus-
band We're hosnotted bv all the courts
of Europe. because Of the vulgar com.
edy by which she reached the throne;
and Queen Victoria was so Disguised
that she wanted 10 emphasize her lis.
approval by Withdrawing the British
minister. There have been a good
many scandals in royal families. as ev.
cry one knows. but there has been
nothing for generations so nasty as
that of Servia.
In order to compel Alexander tc
marry her. nraga conspired With q