The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-26


/ PRINCESS MARIA, WHO MARRIED.
THE GRAND DUKE OF RUSSIA. mi
OF Greece. He had much TO do with
louhdlng the agricultural department..
ana has rendered great services to the
farmers Of the country. He has large
farms of his own, and am told tina,
II Is now possible to buy butter and
mix In Athens which come from His
Majesty's dairies.
lie has Danish farmers TO manage
nus estate. and has imported Danish
uatryinaldS to snpcrintcnd the butter
making S. He has large vineyards, and
the kings wine is regularly sold in
the markets. 1t is about the best made
| IN greece, and can be bought at tho
leading hotels.
am told that the king has made
money money OUT oil his estates, as we'll as in
| speculation Of various kinds He Ects
an allowance from tho government of
little moro than 100000 q year. and
nc has about 100000 more from
france, England and Russia, by whom
nc was put on the throne, and who
a1e 20 a certain extent the protectors
( or me Kingdom Of Greece. This money.
is to keep up his palaces and maintain
ms court. but he has lived simply and
mas invested the surplus. SO that he is
SAID 70 be millionaire. He owns
STOCK In railways, vineyards and mines
nc mas feet of mcrchan, vessels
which trades at the various Mcditcrra
mean ports. and he has also money in
vested In American securities, which
| ne buys and sells on the market
ING halser once castically re.
marked to King George that the max
ns OF money was hardly beftting
hlhe' whercupon George replied y
see nothing unroyal in the making OF
money and l can tell you that would
! rather be rich merchant than a bank
rupt King" ~.
| How George Got the Throne.
| ana THIS brings me TO the tenure Of
once OF this remarkable monarch. He
mas Heid the throne for forty light
years. although his predecessor was
expelled from it, and IL the people
were much dissatisfied It is doubtful
"nether ne could retain It to- day The
r'ler OF Greece has not a drop of Greek
oiood In his veins. He Is the son Of
mrs tan, tho late King OF denmark,
and lie was placed on the throne al
the suggestion Of the great movers
which protect Greece He was elected
oy the National Assembly here, and nc
cepted the crown through his father.
acung as guardian. This was In 1853,
When George was only eighteen. a
rev months afte rthis the National AS
scmhly Of Athens declared him of age.
and he came here to rule. He has been
on the throne ever since, and one of
his family. although it is doubttuI
whether this Will be the crown prince
Will succeed him.
Inc king was married shortly after
nc ascended the throne to Olga. the
eldest daughter OF the Grand Duke
constantine Of Russia and brother OF
the late Emperor Alexander IL By her
lie has had six children and he also
has number OF grandchildren. the
most Of whom live here at Athens.
The. King is related to nearly all the
chief monarchs Of Europe One OF his
sisters was the late Queen OF England
and another has been Empress Of
Russia.
Ills Majesty is Lutheran. and this
is permitted by the terms OF his ac-
cession, but 1t is provided. that the
children must belong TO the Greek
church. which is also the church or
Queen Olga.
An Unpopular Queen.
am told that the Queen ia not
liked by the Greeks, and this notwith-
standing her charities, which Include
hospitals. schools and other bcnevo-
lent institutions. The Greeks are SEN
sttive and Her Majesty Is said to
tavor the Russians and to want to In
troduce Russian methods into the Gre.
cian relglon Both nations are Greek
catholics. but there are some d1frar.
|
1uss about revising the New Testa-
ment. which caused what was known
as the gospel riot On this occa sion
the Russian priests got out an edt-
ton. of which the Greeks did not an.
prove Her Majesty distributed some
OF the Russian Tcstaments among the
sotolers' ana this brought mob to the
palace, who yelled, Down Win ths
russian" meaning tho Queen. It as
SAID that The Queen visits the Russian
war vessels whenever they come ~
the Piraens, but that she will nor po
on Greek vessel except when she Ia =
TO travel from one port to ano,uer
20 altogether She has gotten the i'll
Will of her subjects
NeVertheless Her Majesty has earn
co the right to be popular, for she is
always doing something for the wo,na,,
! OF Greece. have visited schools or
hers Where Greek girls are taught ~
embroifer, make lace and weave ciotb
Shc is one Of the chief promoters of
| inc Grand Evangelical Hospital and
she goes there every week to visit the
SICK and pray with the dying. She
| is patron OF the Orphan Asv1,,n,
and of the Society for Poor won,en
| and also the founder of a store for he
sale OF womens handiwork She is
, inc President Of society for the re !
lief Of female prisoners, and, in con
rection with the Greeks of Constant
| nope, she has had to do with a reform
scnool for young criminals.
Hor Majesty is a fine looking wo-
'n .1I one mas sweet, wemanly face,
with classic features, hair being brnah :
ed We'll back from tho forehead. Sho
dresses simply, but has many magni-
f1cent jewels which she wears upon
state occasions. She is a fnn linsuist.
speaking with fuency a half a. dozen
lansuages Including the Greek. am
told that English is her favoritc TON
que. and tho one which is used in tho
family
Life III tho Palace.
During my stay here have learned
something Of life in the palace The
home of the King is in the very CEN
tire Of Athens. not far from tho leading
| hotels and cafes. and on n hill which
overlooks n great part of the city In
front of 1t Is the Place de la Constitu-