Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
Special Correspondence of The stnr.

bpeeial Correspondence of The Stnr
VIENNA, November %, 1905.
A FAIRS IN Servia are in bad way
"a King Peters accession and the
"a bloody removal of the Obrenovic
4 y dynasty have not brought the
blessings which the nation was led
to anticipate. Discomfort prevails every
where. The traitOrous assassins Of Alex
snder and Draga are themselves disap-
pointed, even to the extent of admitting
that they made mistake. The common
people are beginning to speak of the good
qualities of Alexander. The external rela-
lions of the country are no better. The
powers maintain without exception a dis
tinctly unfriendly attitude. King Peter has
not yet been able TO arrange a visit TO any
foreign court. At home and abroad the
outlook is gloomy Everybody is asking
what will be the outcome. VIII the king
abdicate, and who will succeed him? The
crown prince would be even worse. Per-
hsps Prince Mirko of Montenegro may be
the next King of Servia
King Peter is regarded as an amiable
man, but not a particularly clever one. by
no means clever enough for the extremely
difficult position he has to fill Many things
are against him. To begin with, he has no
private means, they were all used up in
his forty years exile. According to COM
mon report the last remnants of his for
tune went in forwarding the conspiracy
which resulted in the assassination of Alex
ander and Draga. King Alexander had not
much money It Is true only some $50, 900 a
year; but it better than nothing, and
King Peter would be very glad If he had
much. His income as sovereign Is only
$4,000 year, which is not very great
sum for the maintenance Of royal house
hold.
at
first to give the king a cordial welcome.
But when it was seen how completely he
was under the influence of the conspirators,
and the news Of his Implication in the
bloody tragedy gradually spread through
out the land, popular opinion began TO turn
against him. His want of tact and clever
ness has made his position still worse.
Only recently on his ''name-day" he en-
tertained some seventy officers at BAN
quet, and every one, without exception,
belonged to the conspirators party. Only
these officers, too, have been honored with
the royal decoration of the Karageorgevic
star. BY thus restricting the royal favor
TO the ConSpirators the king has caused
much discomfort.
But his ma jesty's sorest trial and worst
misfortune is ths crown prince, whose fu-
ture accession to the throne is viewed with
positive alarm and apprehension on all
sides Prince George has many failings,
but the worst is his ungovernable temper.
This has already led him into innumerable
troublesome slight and some more seri-
Gus. Neither King Peter nor Major Lavas
seur the princes governor, nor anybody
else has the slightest influence over him.
In vain has the king given instructions to
Iavasseur and the officers of the house
hold TO deal severely with his son and heir.
All is of no avail.
Only the other day the prince wanted to
ride his bicycle round the palace gardens.
The gate was locked and the officer on
duty offered to fetch the key. The prince
Immediately became furious, and vowing
he would not wait rode madly at the gate
with his bicycle. He came bad cropper
and smashed his machine. This enraged
him still more, and he struck the unoffend-
ing officer in the face, who promptly re-
turned the blow, and only the intervention
of another officer prevented a serious fight.
It was lucky for the officer that the
prince did not shoot him. for revolver
shooting IS Prince Georges favorite pas
time. The walls and ceilings of his apart
ments are covered with bullet marks, which
are particularly numerous in the door lead
ing to the royal quarters. The reason for
this is that the prince, in order to keep his
governor from coming into the room, takes
the door for target.
Just now, however, there is no princes
governor. Mai Lavasseur who is a dis
tinguiShed French cavalry officer. has had
enough of his post and went away two
months ago. He left once before, Disguised
with his royal pupil. and It was only
through King Peters Intervention with the
French ministry of war that the gallant
officer was induced TO Eeturn to Belgrade
Incidentally, King Peter had to make a
substantial increase in the majors honor
arium as well.
X
Prince Georges revolver is the terror OF
all his neighbors who have dogs or cats
Scarcely pet animal is left in the vicinity
The crown princes bicycle is particular
Iy fine American one, and he is immensely
proud OF H. He told all the palace servants
that. with the exception of God. his father
and himself nobody has any right even to
touch It. One fine day his younger brother,
Prince Alexander. who was ignorant of this
strict ordinance went to the royal stables
took the bicycle and rode over TO the Top
chlder Park, Just outside Belgrade. Mean
time the crown prince thought he would go
for a ride, and he sent his servant for the
wheel.
The man came back saying that Prince
Alexander had taken 1t. The crown prince
flew into a violent rage, started for the
stables and struck the first man he met
there with riding whip and almost cut
out his eye. Maddened with pain, the serv-
ant seized a shovel and aimed a blow at
the prince The princes valet. however.
seized the man and called for help. The
servant was discharged and given three
months wages.
Prince Alexander recently left Belgrade
and entered the corps of imperial pages at
st. Petersburg, and 1t is said this was owing
entirely 70 disagrsements with his elder
brothes. They were continually quarreling
and in fact II frequently came TO open
fights. Prince Alexander is intellectually
far superior 10 the crown prince and. of
much better character altogether
Although only just past his eighteenth
birthday, the princes adventures with the
fair sex have already attracted attention.
Some time ago a new actress appeared at
the Belgrade Opera House, certain Des-
anka Gyorgyeyits. The lady was formerly
aha wife OF Servian diplomat In Bueha-