Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-06
OF King Peter Pronounced by Servan Prophet of Reputation

no worse than it had been at many pre-
vious period In Milans reign; on the con-
trary, there was comparative peace, no
question was pressing for immediate solu-
ton and the kings ministers were united
in his support When he called them to-
gether and announced his intention of alb
dicatlng they sought him unanimously
to remain on the thone and for hours piled
him with arguments.
At the end he made a brief speech in
which he admitted that he could not dis
pute their arguments or advance any in
reason to justify his course.
you are right. gentlemen" he said, but
1 cannot do otherwise My abdlcation must
take place Mijatovich knows why"
After the meeting the ministers turned
inquiringly to Mr.. Mi1atovitch. who re-
minded them of the PEASANTS prophesies
and OF the fact that Milan became con-
versant with them in 1874. Some were in
clined to laugh. but the upshot OF the dis
cussion was that all members of the cabinet
became convinced that Milan abdicated be-
cause he believed the peasant OF kremnd
left him no other alternative.
The fulhllment of other prophecies fol-
lowed quickly on Milan's abdication. His
son Alexander. 10 years old. succeeded him.
ruling for a time under the direction OF
regents appointed by Milan.
There was turbulence enough to justify
a phalanx Of prophets in the heated strife
OF political parties. and conspTacies to do
away with the regents and the boy king
himself were forever forming only to be
discovered and frustrated just in time
And one day Alexander efiected a coup
d'etat than which none is more dramatic
in Servian history.
He was then less than Il. According to
servian law, he would attain his majority
on his eighteenth birthday. and ne had lit
tie more than a year therefore. to wall
before he would become king in earnest.
But Alexander was impatient He had
not only an exalted idea Of kingship, but OF
his own Importance among the mOnarchs
of his time. He was eager to feel his OWL
force and to make II felt by others
This beardless. half educated boy invited
his regents and the cabinet ministers tC
dine with him at the palace and naturally
enough all accepted the invitation. 1t wa.
supposed to be a social function merely
or Mn It's most serious aspect a feature il
the education of the lad, for he would b'
Informed. II not enlightened, by the In
formal discussion of state affairs tina
would be sure to take place.
At just that Juncture the cabinet en-
joyed a breathing SPELL for by method
not unknown in some other countries
the government had obtained a workin.
majority in the skupshtina and the legis
lative program looked possible IL not cas-!
OF accomplishment. The ministers wer
inclined TO joviality and there was mucl
laughter over jokes at the expense Of thei
recently defeated adversaries
The boy king did not laugh. lie sa
silent and cold as was his wont, but tn
ministers remembered afterward that h
frequently consulted his watch.
The dinner consisted of typical Servial
dishes. King Mian's Partisan chef an
his menus having been banished with
view Of imbuing the young ruler Wit
genuine patriotism by way of his stomach
Service was extremely slow and II anybOd
noticed that the host consulted his waite
the presumption must have been that
was meditating trouble for personages 1
the kitchen.
At length the kings FIRST aide-de-cam
entered. STROBE across the banquet ehambe