Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-08-15
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The United States is not without its
royal families, regardless of what pro-
hibitive measures congress and the
constitution have provided. The con-
quests Of 1898 brought us not only
new dominions to administer, but
among other things, full quota of
royalty as we'll.
The Island of Mindanao, Americas
furthermost frontier, is ruled and gov
erned under the tutorship Of American
officials by blue-blooded families boast
ing as old and spotless an ancestral
lineage as any dynasty in the far east.
These families are Mohammedan IN
religion and decidedly oriental in Gus.
tom, so much so that comic opera
writer would be in clover of operate
material could one but live to study
the varied curiosities of the royalty of
Moroland.
A great celebration took place in
Mindanao recently It was not when
Mrs. Longworth, nee Roosevelt, Wis
tied the country and, according to ru-
NOR, was offered an opportunity Of
marriage into the royal household of
the Moros by an over-zealous prince
"a sort of charter membership as it
were-nor was it when the Hon. Will
liam Jennings Bryan visited the island
paradise and out of pure Moro hos
pitality and respect was made full
fiedged Datto, a rank next below that
of prince.
Zambo, as the Americans say for
short, was in festal attire, mirth and
feasting for the popular Sultan of Ma
guindanao, the ruler of Margosa Tu-
big, a principally not unlike Timbuc-
too in great many respects, on the
occasion of his marriage to the
Princess of Cottobato. 1t was a ma
tional affair in Margosa and the cere-
mony was contaminated in full state
honors. Especial interest was dis
played by the people in this matri-
monial event owing to the great
wealth and rank of the princess who
comes from one of the foremost fam.
lilies of the Sulu archipelago. The
princess is the widow of the late Dat
to Tito, who greatly harassed the
Spanish authorities in the old days Of
strife and turmoil, and she was much
sought safter by the leading Dattos
and Sultans of the Moro provinces.
The wooing Of the dashing Sultan Of
Maguindanao was finally looked upon
with favor by the dusky princess and
the wedding was to have taken place
earlier in the year, but according tt
their mythology the date set was I'M
propitious, the fact having been made
known to the royal councillors by {
bird flying past the door Of the sui
tanate, and going in the wrong di
| rection. Mohammedans have thei
| full share of superstition and are al
ways prone to it's fanciful dictations.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood is the biz
| man in social functions that he is il
| matters military, and in order tina
the sultan, who, by the way has al
ways borne friendly air towpr,
Americans and American government
might attend his wedding in modern
state, the general gave instruction
that launch be placed at his dis
| p0sal to transport the bridal part,
from Cottobato to Zamboanga, tn
ancient capital Of Moroland. From
this it must be judged that the SUI
tans are minus their methods of waite
transportation. They are the owner
of many large and beautifully dec<
rated canoes, carved from the mos
precious woods in the east. The c:
noes are propelled by slaves, som
having as many as one hundred blacl
sleek oarsmen on occasions of stat,
But to be able to have steam vesse
of modern lines in attendance at
wedding was thing not enjoyed 8
every marriage and because of thi
compliment alone the wedding will b
one long remembered among the PEI
pie. It was a proud prince thu
brought his bride aboard the tootinI
fag-bedecked government launch.
At the ceremony the bride an
groom appeared in full state robes an
jewels, some of the latter of whic
would grace the parsonage of NOR
powerful peer. A wedding ceremon
as performed by Moros takes plac
In large embroidered marque of ric
and costly design, and is an alta