The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-06-19
Romance of a Cattle Drivers Daugh-
ter Who Became Queen.
Prior to Ascendency to Throne She
Was Lady in Waiting.
King Milan Had Record Not All
to Be Envied.
He Was Wise Enough to Give Up a
Crown for 100000.
(From The Chicago Tribuue.)

The reign of Alexander l., King OF
Servia, began in a coup d'etat at mid
night March 6, 1898, and ended in as
sassination at midnight June 10, 1908.
How Milan came to lose his throne and
how his son Alexander came to lose it is
told in the events of one of the most
disgraceful chapters in the history of
modern Europe.
King Milan was married October II,
1875, to the Princess Natalie daughter
of Russian, Col. Kecho, who had es-
poused the daughter of Prince Stourd-
naof, the late reigning family of Media
via, before that province was united to
Wallachia, to form the present kingdom
of Roumania. When King Milan met
Natalie he was twenty-one and she sew
enteen. Her beauty had made her fam
Gus over the empire. Milan fell des-
perately in love with her, but his suit
found no favor in her eyes. She had,
moreover, set her affection upon young
Russian officer, but her father, flattered
at the prospect of an alliance with royal
ty, overruled all her objections.
Natalie threw herself with the utmost
enthusiasm into the cause of her new
country when war was declared against
Turkey. She made a personal appeal to
the Gar for assistance, interested herself
in the hospitals and the widows and or
phans, for all of which Servia almost
adored her.
The eX-Queen of Servia was considered
the most beautiful of all the scions of
the reigning families of Europe. She is
above the middle height, with an elegant
" moulded FORM black eyes and hair,
brunette complexion, almost faultless
features, and manner that wins its
way at once the hearts of all whom her
majesty endeavors to please.
Two children were born to their males
ties-the eldest, born August IA, 1876,
was named Alexander, after the Emperor
Alexander II. of Russia, who was god
father to the young prince; the younger,
born two years later. only survived a
few days.
After the birth of Alexander all the in
born depravity of Milan's nature began
to develop itself He neglected the beau
tiful and accomplished woman who had
done so much for him and his people and
plunged into gross debauchery. Natalie
centered all her affection on her child
and on the Servians, who reverenced her,
while they pitted her for the sorrows she
was compelled to endure.
When young Alexander became of that
age when it was necessary to determine
on the method of his education the breach
between Milan and his wife became wider
and deeper. Natalie desired that he
should be education by Russian teachers.
The King decided that Austrian tutors
should have the care of the young prince.
In the bitter quarrel that followed she
reproached her husband with the scandal
GUS life he was leading. This led him to
set a trap for his wife, the result of
which should leave her reputation little
better than his own. One day, the story
goes, she received a visit from the met
ropolitan Bishop Michael, who said he
came in answer to a note she had sent
him. She was indignant and declared
that conspiracy was on foot to destroy
her. The Kings minions were close at
hand and the bishop was arrested for al
legged intimacy with the Queen. At the
same time the King applied to the synod.
Natalie, while protesting against the in
suit, decided for the sake of her child to
prove her innocence, but after this she
never lived with him.
In 1888, Milan divorced Natalie and
kidnapped her son, Alexander, who was at
this time twelve years of age. But the
scandals of Mian's reign had already
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