The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-25
QUEEN DRAGA.
A WOMAN OF AMBITION AND
NO PRINCIPLE.
When Still in Her Teens, She Began
Her Ambitious Scheming That
Ended so Tragically.

Never was there man more infatu
ated than my dear, deluded son by thi:
petty, narrow-minded, narrow-heartee
Servian subject, fifteen years his sen
ior."
Such was the opinion OF Queen Ma
taiie of her daughter-in-law, expressed
not three years ago. Never was there
a contempt and hatred greater than tina
of Natalie for the woman who succeed
ed her on the Servian thrane, who tool
her only child from her, and who was
the cause Of the greatest royal tragedy
of modern times.
The wholesale assassination revolyee
about Draga. The hatred of her people
was shown when the officers pierced
and slashed her body with their sword:
after they had murdered her.
Queen Draga of Servia was woman
with a great ambition and little soul
She longed to be another Catherine, ant
she was not even a Pompadour.
She was a child of the people. Her
grandfather was peasant who lifted
himself out of poverty by his skill in
cattle trading. His son, Pante Lunje.
yitiza, became a 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. In .
land where few women are really
clever, where intrigue is 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 Lunievitza 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 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 Machin 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 pretty face and figure, and the fact
that she was really clever appealed to
him as we'll Long after he tired of her
he found her immensely useful, and he
was willing to pay the money she de-
handed for serving him.
As for Queen Natalie, the cattle deal
ar's daughter deceived her completely.
Natalie had a passion for politics. She
was continually mixed up in all manner
# plots. Draga Mascfin won her conf
ience by nlanifesting strong pro- Rus
sian proclivities, and she received the
coveted appointment of lady-in-Waiting
o the queen. This gave her the secure
position at court for which she long
lad schenled
She had many affairs, but immortality
5 not severely condemned in Servia.
fhey were necessary to maintain her
,osition. As a member of the court and
confdant Of the queen, who was only
Wo years her senior, she occupied a
lace higher than she had expected tol
each, bit her success only stimulated
ler ambition to greater dreams. She be-
an 70 long for throne
King Milan stepped in debauchery, |
2 ,lIlgoVerned gambler, yet not lacking
Z e certain diseernmellt, was safef
gainst the wiles 81 the most. ambitious
woman, because he was always an u1-I
srtain quantity. And woman for worl-
q afalies was more brilliant. ADLER
ban Draga Maschin.
hen little AAlleSarldier was proclaimed
ing at the age Of thirteen. Draga Mas
hin who vas then iaearIly twenty eight
aH 4 way Of reaching 4 throne She Be-