The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-03
EUROPE HAS MANY
 WIDOWED QUEENS
Strong Characters Back of Tot
 tering Thrones
LIVES ARE SPECTACULAR
England, Russia, Italy, Spain, Holland, Portugal and Even France Have Royal Widows-Some Are
 Still Powerful

London, July 2.-(Special)-Have the queens of Europe discovered the water of eternal youth? If not, what Is the se' cret of their long lives? At the present time nearly every court in Europe IS dominated by a dowager queen. True' many of their deceased husbands have been sent to an early grave by the hand of an assassin. and this no doubt ac- counts, in great measure, for the abund- ance of widowed queens.
 England, Russia, Italy, Spain, Holland, Portugal, and even France, have royal widows, and in nearly every case these women exercise a powerful influence tr court circles.
 | Alexandra, the queen-mother of Eng land, has become famous for her great beauty and youthful appearance. She is now in her 65th year, and is living quiet | ly at Marlborough house. London. She was the Princess Alexandra, eldest daughter of the famous King Christian | of Denmark, and was married to the late King Edward March 10, 1863.
 Queen Margherita of Italy has shared troubled throne, and even now, in her | age and invalidism Is a mighty factor in | the government of Italy.
 | She Is a daughter of the late Duke of Genoa, and was married to the late King Humbert in 1869. After her occupation of Rome by the Italian government, in 1870, she took up her residence In the Quirinal palace, where she has lived ever since.
 The difficulties with the Vatican and the attempts on the life of her husband by political enemies added to the hard ships of her royal position, but she achieved a popularity with the people that never waned.
 It was the influence of Queen Margher- ita that, according to accepted belief, prevented the marriage of Miss Katherine Elkins to the Duke of AbruzzL
 The Dowager Queen Amelie of Portu- gal is one of the most charming as we'll as one of the most tragic figures in Eu- rope today.
 She was a daughter of the Comte de Paris of France, and her marriage 70 King Carlos of Portugal was a very happy one But their throne was always tottering, and the good sense and charity of Queen Ameie was credited with do- ing much to hold the sympathy of the people.
 She studied medicine and obtained a de- gree, practicing incognito in the poor quarters of Lisbon. She is finely cour- ageous and once saved one of her boat men from drowning.
 But the supreme test of her courage came on February l. 1907. when in the streets of Lisbon her royal husband and the Crown Prince, her son, were assas- al ad n har nrn ota iv, her arms her second son, the present King Miguel, and prevented his death.
 Queen Amelie is still heavily burdened with affairs of state because of the youth of the present monarch. She is one of the most beautiful and intellectual royal women in the world.
 Marie Sophia Frederika Dagmar, the royal widow of Russia, Is a potent po- ltical figure She Is especially interesting by reason of the fact that she Is a younger sister of the now widowed Queen Alexandra, and there was always a deep affection between the two Danish prin- cesses who were chosen to ascend such mighty thrones.
 Queen Marie was born in 1S47. and a- though throughout her married life with the Czar Alexander III. she had great sorrows, and although since her widow hood. in 1894. she has passed through troublous times during the reign of her son, the present Czar she has remark ably retained her youthful appearance.
 She has always been regarded as all most equally influential with the Czar, her son, over whom she has considerable control. In times of stress in Russia she has been the emissary-under the veil of social vists-to other courts.
 A most interesting figure in Europe, though one who has always wielded her power so quietly as to be little spoken of, is the Dowager Queen Emma, mother of Wihelmina of Holland.
 This remarkable woman married the selfish, ill-reputed King William III. of Holland when he was nearing his roth year, but she conducted herself with such admirable sagscty that even he, dying, was able to recognize her ability in gov ernment and in 1888 provision for her regency during the infancy of their daugh- ter was enacted.
 Wfhelmina was then but years old The King soon died and for IA memor- able years, although herself an invalid Queen Emma directed the difficult af- fairs of Holland with master hand A foreign born princess, she won the deepest respect of her subjects. One of her most admirable actions was her complete retirement after her daugh- ter assumed the throne and was married. She still lives very quietly, but in the | enjoyment of the sincere regard of the people of Holland | A similar but far more difficult task was that imposed upon and accomplished by the Queen Christiana as regent of Spain. | She was an Austrian archduchess and was chosen to become the second wife of the absolute Alfonso XII. Spain was in an uproar of political intrigue at the time and when, In 1885, Alfonso died, the storm of revolution seemed likely to break about the head of the young queen re- | gent. | It became known, however, that she was about 10 become a mother, and the | revolutionary party decided to postpone action against the throne. Six months | after the death of the King son was born-the present King Alfonso of Spain.
 Throughout his infancy and youth | Christiana had the many cares of turbu- lent Spain upon her hands. but she ac- quilted herself so well that even the rev | olutionarie were quieted. The war with the United States was one of the burdens | she had to bear, and 1t is generally admit | ted that Alfonso owes his throne to his mothers wisdom and ability. Queen Christiana Is now fifty-two years 6 age
 100 Talking Machines Free
 Tuesday, July 5. we will give away ab-
 IN Vt-r- tw,A Af1n