Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-25

II was only fair that I should comply. but
as / took my time about It the fellow saw
that temper was not the proper quality
TO display. l walked over with him. took
a card from my case and presented It to
the officer, a colonel. who could not read
Latin characters, and had to send for a
younger man who spoke French. A whole
battalion Of rough looking peasants, whom
one might take for brigands in another
section Of the Balkans, and who carried
rifles and bayonets, surrounded us. but
they were only amused; not a murmur or
threat came from one of them, though
for days the papers had been giving long
accounts Of the Austrian system of espion-
age and Of the capture Of Austrian spies.
including Servian officers brlbed by Count
Forgatch.
While we waited for the French speak
ing officer to come the soldier explained
TO the colonel in a theatrical manner that
l had pretended to take pictures of some
gypsies, but that anyone could see this
was only a ruse and that I was after a
photograph OF something else behind them.
The incident ended with an apology and a
salute, and I went on taking pictures of
the same battalion.
with Mad Prince.
But I must admit that 1 felt distinct un-
easiness when 1 encountered two days ago
the ex-crown prince in the back street in
which his house stands. As was nearing
the place I saw Prince George dash out
Of the gate afoot in his usual hurried
manner, followed by an aide-de-camp. The
two were in cavalry uniform, with long blue
military great coats open and flying in the
breeze created by their quick steps.
Close to me he crossed the street to
speak to a r~uffianly looking fellow who
might have been his servant, and forthwith
!, not intending to lose this chance, opened
my kodak and prepared to take a snapshot
Of him But he spied me and was at me
in three long jumps. The sentry at the
palace saw the possibility of an encounter
and called out his companions.
1t would have been interesting to have
a bout with this i'll tempered, active young
man, who is said to be very strong, but
the soldiers might have used their bayonets,
not understanding, that a mere foreign
newspaper correspondent would have no in
%tention to injure the heir to the throne,
The prince. however, gave me a graceful
way out of the difficulty. Restraining his
temper when near me, he said in French:
ITO do that one must ask permission"
I was so much surprised by his dash that
my French was not equal to the proper
reJcinder: Your highness is a public
character and is out afoot upon the open
street" But instead Of this 1 saluted and
asked permission, which was curtly re-
fused, the young man then turning upon
his heel and making off rapidly toward the
palace of the king.
Killed His valet.
Prince George was not so shy of cameras
until a week ago, when the papers began
a campaign against him because of the
death of his valet from serious wounds
about the head and body, said to have been
inflicted by the prince in one of his RACES.
The government version of the affair is
that the valet fell down the steps in the
dark; and the doctor who took charge of
the man at the local hospital declares tina
he was in a very bad state of health and
that death was only FASTENED by the
wounds. But not a great deal of faith is
placed in such statements and there are
many who believe that the story of two
years ago that Prince George killed a
sentry while trying to shoot a cigarette
from his mouth is also true.
The friends Of this young man, who are
all of the war party, excuse him by saying
that he has not had a fair chance, his
character having been affected by an opera
ton performed upon him after an injury
had been left too long unattended. Men
who are neither enemies nor friends de-
clare him mad. Partisans of the Obreno-
witch dynasty, on the other hand, say that
he inherits the instincts of his father, the
king, by whom the line Of O~brenowitch
came to an end.
Feud of Brothers Brewing.
These last also say that this change OF
heirs to the throne is likely to cause a new
dynastic quarrel, splitting the already
divided country into further factions, one
Of which at some future date will support
one brother against the other.
Alexander, the second son of King Peter
who has become the crown prince, il
studious, silent, ~reticent and few know
anything of his inner character. Servian.
say that he will be an ideal monarch
thoroughly constitutional. leaving the gov.
eminent entirely to the people.
But King Peter does that now. He Il
called a constitutional king and he doe.
not Interfere with the will Of the people
nevertheless the people do not govern; 1
Is the "regicides" who control both then
and him. and under their dictatorship man,
men have been unfairly imprisoned an(
some have been slain for too strenuousl,
opposing their will. 1t seems to me tina
II might be better for a people like tn,
S~ervians to have an autocratic governmen
with a good prince strong enough to def,
the rival political parties with which tn,
country has hitherto been cursed.
FREDERICK MOORE.