Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20
Royal roubles in an
Unhappy Country
Copyright in the United States and Great Britain
by Curtis Blown. All rights reserved)

Copyright in the United States and Great Britain
by Curtis Blown. All rights reserved)
VIENNA, January 10, 1906.
Unless some sudden upheavel
should previously remove the
Karaseorgevic dynasty once
~ more from Servia, there seems no
doubt that King Peters second
son. Prince Alexander, will be the next
sovereign Of that unhappy country instead
of his elder brother, the Crown Prince
George.
OF late the latter's wild excuses, of
which 1 wrote some time ago, have be-
come more frequent and outrageous and
have gone far to substantiate the reports
that he Is mentally deranged and utterly
unfit to rule his country. These reports,
of course, are officially denied, but mad or
sane, it appears certain that George will
never be permitted to succeed his father on
the throne 1t is indeed now stated def
nitely in court circles that the succession
will pass to Prince Alexander, who Is as
popular as the crown prince is disliked and
execrated.
Just eighteen years of age, Alexander is
handsome youth with good figure.
Physically he strongly resembles his elder
brother. but In temperament and mental
equipment he presents a striking contrast
to him. George has the ungovernable tenn
per of a maniac. Alexander is always ami
able; George is lazy, Alexander is studious;
George is stupid, Alexander is clever;
George Is coarse Alexander is refined;
George Is a dissolute rake, Alexander leads
a clean life 1t is one Of the puzzles Of
heredity that two such utterly different
types should be born of the same parents.
Like his brother, Alexander was sent to
the famous School for Imperial Pages in
St. Petersburg, but the rigors of that north
ern climate proved too severe for his con-
stitution and he was forced to leave the
Russian capital. Before he did so symp-
toms of pulmonary trouble began to mani
fest themselves. but happily these have en-
tirely vanished since the princes return to
Belgrade, and he is now in excellent
health. Despite that fact, it is significant
that King Peter has decided not to send
the palace at Belgrade. Recently he has
been delegated to assist at several func-
lions at which the crown prince was con-
spicuous by his absence. When the king
appears In public he is usually accompanied
by Alexander. He seems to feel that the
lads popularity affords him some measure
Of protection on his lettering throne
There can be no doubt that the people of
servia would hail with delight the substi
tuition of Alexander for George as the
heir to the throne. That was made appar-
ent even at the coronation banquet, when
a toast was acclaimed with tremendous en-
crown should pass to the ableSt member
of his majestys family No stronger hint
could have been conveyed that the crown
prince was not wanted.
Meanwhile King Peter has lost whatever
nerve he may have possessed as young
man. He is more closely guarded than ever
King Alexander was, even when plots
against him were daily discovered. Though
only sixty years of age, he has the appear
ance of a very old man. When he reached
Servia after the murders he looked like