The Washington herald., 1911-07-16
KING PETER OF SERVIA
ON MATRIMONIAL TOUR

the Kings never-ceasing nightmare II
there Is anything In the way Of mischief
or rascaiity that he is not doing, 1t Is
simply because he is unable to do II He
is a scapegrace to whom nothing is sa-
cred. Here is one instance which amply
will illustrate that royal scion's' ten
dencies:
On the morning of one of the religious
festivals common among the servians, at
which the monarch and the great body
of the clergy were present, the crown
prince suddenly appeared at the review.
ing stand in carriage, accompanied by
half a dozen dance-hall women in span
gled skirts and low-cut bodices. The
princes military cap was perched on one
girls head, another wore his coat. and
his riding boots were on the forelegs of
one of the horses. When the procession
passed, the prince arose in the carriage,
with bleary eyes, supported on either
side by the danc0z. and at sight Of the
King saluted. His effort to cheer upset
the prince who fell through the bottom
of the coach, where he stuck. The King
caught one glance of the scene, but did
not turn his head. When the dignified
clergy passed, the prince raised an empty
bottle and aimed 1t at a bearded high
priest. 1t fell short and hit sentry.
Before the King could take steps to cut
his heir on he was taken I'll. The prince
thereupon organized a court from among
his underworld companions and drove
them in state to the palace. A banquet
was spread and his gay companions were
given titles as they took places at the
table They sang the Servian national
hymn to words Of blasphemy and drank q
ribald toast. Next came an audience in
the throne-room, the prince, posing as
the monarch, marching there under a
canopy which but a moment before had
been one of the young women's dresses.
Arriving at the ante-chamber, the pro-
cession of roIsterers halted and the bogus
king and his immediate attendants en-
tered first. At a trumpet signal the others
were admitted. There, upon the throne.
without a stitch of clothes, sat the prince,
with a red pasteboard crown upon his
head and a wine bottle in his hand as a
scepter. He made a speech to his sub
jects, and as they passed the throne he
insisted that all should kiss his toe.
This disgraceful proceeding forced the
King to summon medical council, which
decided that the prince should be re-
moved to a sanatorium. The prince dared
the King to undertake to put the deci-
sion into execution, threatening to tell
the story OF the assassination OF King
Alexander and Queen Draga-
Twice the prince ran away from Bel
grade with singers. Once he and show
girl went to Vienna, where they bought
gypsy outfits and took to the highway as
fortune tellers. The King managed to
get the prince to return, where his status
as a prince was changed by decree and
the younger son became crown prince.
Thereafter Prince George was banished.
but he wouldn't stay banished. Y He re-
turned, had another escapade in the
palace, which ended in his shooting a
sentry who refused to bite the head on
live mouse that the prince dangled by
the tail.
Notwithstanding his disgraceful con-
duct, the shameless prince is the real
idol OF the reckless crowd which domi-
mates the army. FLANEUR.
copyrighted, 1911, by Court Gossip syDdicste.l