The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-10
QUEER SPRIGSO OF GENTILlTY

Prince Alexander of Servia is not, as many sup
pose, King Peters eldest son. The latter Is
Prince George, and was known as the crown
prince until his wild escapades compelled even
the indulgent King Peter to deprive him OF all
rights to succession, and Danish him to an in
accessible part of the kingdom. His doings both
before and since would fill a book. A French
tutor, returned to Paris after two months at the
Konak, tells many queer tales of his pupils deeds.
One morning they were busy at a Latin lesson
when a mouse ran across the room. Quick as a
fash Prince George had it by the tail. The next
instant he was dashing off with it to the sentinel
at the palace gate, and, holding it up to the fright
ened mans face, insisted on his biting off its
head. Upon the others refusal he threatened vo-
lence, and would certainly have proved as good as
his word had not the king arrived in the court
yard at that moment from his morning ride,
Not that King Peter ever had much authority
over his eldest son. Servian statesmen have
never forgotten the painful scene between father
and son at which they were once obliged to as
sist. AT a special meeting of the cabinet the
then crown prince entered unlimited. King Peter
promptly requested him to withdraw. Taking a
seat, his ~highness refused, saying: Il am the
future king and have a right to be here. l must
know what happens and so shall take part in the
council" Once more King Peter ordered him
away, but the other as stoutly refused, and a
heated alteration ensued, during which the min
listers melted away, leaving the king and his hot
uSdNS SUI 10 SSIIl6 their uLueTelCe alone, On
another occasion the prince was present at a
birthday dinner given in honor of the car at the
Russian ministry. After toasts had been proposed
to Emperor Nicholas and King Peter, Crown
Prince George arose and drank to the union of
Bosnia, Herzegovina and Servia. The icy wei.
come that greeted these words was such that his
~highness had Immediately to leave the banquet.
This and other escapades caused such a revo-
luton Of public opinion that Prince George was
finally compelled to renounce his rights of sue
cession in favor of his younger brother, and GER
tainly the country has benefited by the change.
Prince Alexander is a decidedly different type
from the other. A little tot of three when his
mother died, he and his baby sister, today the
wife Of Grand Duke John Constantinovitch of
Russia, were at once taken off to st. Petersburg
to be brought up by their aunt, Grand Duchess
Peter. There he received a sound education and
was for a time one of the czarina's pages. He
would probably have entered the Russian army
had not the dreadful events of 1903 completely
changed his plans, AS soon as King Peter was
settled on the throne his three children were sum.
moned to Belgrade. At the palace, however, he
continued his studies. Two officers were engaged
to give him private lessons on law and military
science. Servian, Russian and French he speaks
perfectly, and lately he was working hard to
brush up his German. Though the crown princes
apartments at the palace are very plainly fur.
nished, there is a wealth of bookcases. He is a
great reader, and is familiar with the principal LIT.
erary works of four countries.