Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-11-06

the am bilious laughter Of Ssrvisn
cutie dealer.
ServIa is little country on the Bal
kan Peninsula. Once il belonged to
Turkey. since winning freedom it
has been jealously watched by Aus
tria and Russia. IT is a "DuffeI state,
from political point of view, and is
inhabited by crude, primitive, semi
Oriental ;eople. Its history TO the
past century has been of a comic opera
sort, inlerspersed here and there with
horrible tragedies. Nearly every ruler
has been murdered or dtposod.
In 1869 KING Milan came TO the
throne OF 5ervIa. He descended from
A peasant aud was one of the most dis
solute men in Europe. He governed
aoomiusbiy, aud mal,reated his
Queen, Natalie.
Alexander, who was next procisim-
ed King, was brave and Of powerful
build, but he wi $ as wicked as bis
father ana far IN re ignorant. When
liz " 40 hit ulolS IMAM iouitS~u bc ltlI
under the influence of Drsga Maschia,
d beautiful and fascinating wonan
who WAS double his own age and only
two years younger than his own
mother. Draga had begun lite with
small. prospects but poundless ambi-
tlon. Her father was cattle dealer
nano5 Juo;cyiiz. Whom tho uirI
was seventeen she MARI ed Col. Mas
chin, of the Servian Army. Next, she
managed to win the favor of Queen
Natalie and became one of her ladies
il waiting. That WAS how Draga hap
pened TO meet Alexander. From the
first she set herself, heart and soul, to
win the way ward boys affections. She
succeeded, and acquired mastery
over his mind that made him obey
slavishly her slightest whim. Thus
began in 1891 tweIve-year romance
that was the scandal of Europe. 1t
was finally Dfaga Maschin, not Alex
ander. who really governed Tor mis-
governed) Servia.
During Al1xa. .der's boyheod the af-
fairs of state were IL anaged by coun-
Gil of Regents One night When he
was seventeen, Alexander invited
these regents to dine with him at his
palace IN Belgrade. After uinner lie
arose and ANNOUNCED that henceforth
he would not require their services,
but would rule Servia to sHit himself.
The regents protested. Alexander had
them arrested on charge of treason
and proclaimed himself King. The
trick amused the Servians and
they stood by the plucky boy, not
knowing the whole idea was Draga's.
But his mother. Natalie, realized this,
and, seeing how dangerous and in
fuenco Drags had gained over the
young King, begged Alexander to
Danish the woman from Belgrade. He
refused. Draga, hearing Of the req est.
easily persuaded him to order his
mother out Of the country.
With Natalie no longer near Draga
ran affairs as she chose Through her
meddling, Alexander won the ill-will
of the army and managed 10 grew
daily more and more unpopular with
his people at large. 70 make matters
worse, Col. Maschin, In grief over his
wife's oesertioa of him, committed
suicide. His brother, Alexander Ma
schin, swore revenge. The climax of
the love story came in 1900, when
Alexander formally made known his
betrothal to Draga. The Servians were
furious. But, on Aug, Il of that year
the marriage occurred Alexau de
loved Drtga madly and was wholly
under her spell. Moreover (like Ma
poleon IlI.), he could find no Euro
pesn princess willing to be his wife.
Ills father, Milan, hearing Of Alex
auder's proposed marriage, came III
Aas te to Servia TO demonstrate with
atm, but was turned back by soldiers
i he IL, u ief.
Iue marriage of King descended
rom a peasant though he was to al
ventures # low birth like Draga
The niue-day gossip Of every cap
a. All europe 90, couea the couple.
e urt ~ ould receive them; no ruler
Ell .he,. .asi~auons, They we've
.tl,,e,t uu,cas,s rhs Servians,
ere b 1.nlug 10 hate Draga.
Quee ne "a rs paying courtie's
,ueHy for rnuos she had received in
Her days was wreckhg the land s
sif4ge, helping her own relatives to
jgh Offices and (b9ing chlldless per-
-l4diug Alexander 10 name her own.
.eofaec his successor 70 tbs throne. Yet
| 10 fnnlin,.- ..,nnnrri 1vnrshinnad her.