The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-29
Court Gossip of Interesting
Events on Two Continents

King Nicholas of Montenegro. though
he has lived his three score and ten. has
yet to learn the devious ways Of Euro
pean diplomacy. And the shock admin
istered TO the willy old warrior of the
Dalmatian Mountain Businesses came
from a source where he had a right to
expect quite a different treatment; for 1t
lis his powerful friend and near relative.
his standby, whose backing formed the
very backbone of the bold stand taken by
King Nicholas and his handful of men
among the Balkan allies who, with his
co-signatories of the triple entente. is
making common cause with the powers
of the triple alliance in the demonstration
to teach Nicholas the lesson that 1t Will
not do to ignore the decisions OF the con-
cert of the great nations Of Europe. HIS
sarcastic and defiant attitude is likely to
cost him his throne, and / am not at AL
SURPRISED to hear that Nicholas may alb
dictate his throne, that Montenegro may
effect a union with neighborlng SerVls'
and that King Peter of Servia is TO RUE
over the thus united states. with the pro-
viso, however, that the right OF succession
to the double throne revert to the Monte
negrin family the Niegochs).
Montenegro has a population or only
It's mountaineers are intensely patriotic,
and II must have thipned the ranks of
it's men folk to a very great extent to
send a force Of $1,000 into the field.
They are at their best as fighters, after
the manner of the Scottish Highlanders.
Their traditions are Of the sword-in-hand
variety.
To CAPTURE Scutart was beyond their
resources, and the Montenegrins request
ed the loan Of a Servian division. The
Turkish flag is flying over Scutari. and
the powers have served notice on Monte
negro that the next flag to the raised
above the fortress will be that OF "au-
tonomous Albania" which Albania will
be operated from Vienna.
King Nicholas is in the last ditch.
Even those who condemn his Judgment
must admire his pluck. He stands alone
with FIVE Goliaths opposed to him, and
Russia acquiescent in their purpose. He
awakens the sympathy of the world but
nothing else, for active support would
cost blood and money. The situation is
striking, but not novel In 1878 the Ber-
lin treaty worked a Reimbursement" Of
boundaries In consequence Of Russia s
triumph over Turkey. They robbed both
Russia and Turkey. They gave some
thing to the Balkan states, but not much.
Back Of the public treaty of Berlin was
secret treaty, in virtue of which Aus
tria was licensed to convert its trustee
ship Of Bosnia and Herzegovina into an
nexation whenever the conversion would
not be destructive of the balance OF
power.
There was a good deal of buster in
IL ~ "a
but nothing happened. because Russia.
still suffering from her severe attack OF
"Japanitis," dared not fight, and none OF
the other powers cared to pick quarrel
with Austria, backed by Germany.
WILL ere 1t be too late. any one came
to the assistance of the headstrong but
brave old Nicholas? If the powers fall
out among themselves, perhaps Monte
negro may find a champion. but he VIII
charge commission. If the allies and
the powers quarrel about peace terms,
there may be scramble for territorial
fragments, in which something may
come to King Nicholas. Some power may
finds it worth while to build up Monte
negro to curb it's rival, but alone and
unaided Montenegro must prepare to &C
cept' accomplished facts.
Lady Dorothy NeviI achieved quite
record for London resident by dying in
a house in the Berkeley Square section.
In which she lived sixty-six consecutive
years Like Curzon Street, its near
neighbor, Charles Street affords amusing
Contrasts dingy inn standing next
door to the house Of the wealthiest men,
Der OF the Greek colony Of London But
in Lady Dorothy's early days its most
distinguished resident was Sir Bulwer
Lytton, one Of whose drawingrooms was
an exact fac-simile, as regards furniture
and decorations, Of room in Pompeii.
Lady Dorothy is said to have remem-
bered the last sedan chair used In Lon
don, but many younger persons no doubt
have shared this memory. Lady Lucy
Pussy, who died in 1865. chung to this
form Of conveyance until shortly before
her death. There WAS q sedan chair
kept far use by thA mothoe - Dr.. Puoovs