Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1915-10-22

the cleverest trick ever played in all
the annals of international relations.
and by no less a parsonage than his
highness, Prince Niklas of Montene-
gro, or Chernagara as the inhabitants
of that barren district call their coun-
try
Prince Niklas has always been, for
me at least, one of the most fascinat-
ing personalities in Europe. 1t is the
complex nature of the man that ap-
peals to me, that is to say the many
characters that he possesses and that
crop out in him at unexpected mo-
ments. A warrior ruler, bearing the
scars of innumerable battles, poet
of high renown, chivalrous, ardent,
the hero of his little people, he is also
famed for his financial necessities and
his willingness to accept monetary as
sistance from any quarter in which it
presents itself.
The greatest coup Of his reign was.
of course, the arrangement of the mar
riage of his charming and accom-
plished daughter Helena to the crown
prince of Italy, Victor Emmanuel, now
ruling as Victor Emmanuel III. By this
master-stroke of policy he secured one
of the great powers as a firm prop for
his rather unstable throne, and bound
the dynasty of Italy securely to the
wheels of the chariot Of his own for
tunes.
Ever since the marriage Victor EN-
manuel has allowed his father-in-law
certain fixed annual stipend. There is
nothing indiscreet in mentioning this;
it is a matter of common knowledge.
When war between Germany and
Austria, on the one hand. and France.
and England on the other was seen to
be inevitable, Niklas was in great per-
plexity.
Austria had also invaded Serbia
and bombarded Belgrade, the capital
Montenegro, allied to Serbia by blood
and treaty, had not yet declared her.
self upon her side, as she was shortly
to do. And the cause of Niklas' hesita-
ton was that Italy, as the third part
ner of the triple alliance, was ex-
pected to take sides with her Teu-
tonic confederates. If she did so, the
first fruits Of the alliance would be
the invasion of Montenegro by Italian
troops.
Of course we all know now how
promptly Italy disavowed her RESPONSE
bilities toward her allies, on the
ground that the triple alliance was for
defense and not aggression. We know
how ardently Italy's decision to re-
main neutral was greeted in France
and England. Still, the unpre1ud1ced
person may candidly confess that
ltaly's game was very shreWd one,
and dictated more by fear of the Brit
Ssh fleet than by qualms Of conscience.
Perhaps Italy might legitimately have
stretched a point in favor OF her part
ners. So, at least, thought Victor
Emmanuel III.
In those first days of the war Italy's
decision was awaited with the most
intense anxiety by all the warning ma
lions. And it is an open secret that
King Victor was in favor of carrying
out. at any sacrifice, what he cons1d-
cred to be his treaty obligations.
Picture, then, the Quirinal. rent by
dissension, the Marquis di San Clio
vanni upon the anxious seat and irres-
olute, Victor demanding war, and his
own household, in the person OF his
gracious consort, frantically appealing
to him not to engage in struggle
which must mean the invasion OF her
fathers little country. Upon this
scene enters old, rugged Prince Niklas
of Chernagara, bent upon securing
Victor's neutrality.
got the story of his exploit from
friend of mine at the Italian court
one of the Black aristocracy, that is
TO saw. a sponsor of the Papal claims
who with a foot in either camp, OUR
final and Vatican, was not averse from
telling a tale for the confounding OF
King Victor. Pietro Della Campaigns
clever Italian mind was, In fact, the
first to penetrate the mystery OF the
Montenegrin cipher, before the dis
patch from the Italian minister at
Vienna convulsed the Quirinal-all ex-
cept King Victor-with laughter. But
I had better tell the story imperson-
ally-for the first portion, at any rate.
You see the spectacle in the OUR
final: Victor pressed on all sides TO
declare neutrality, and obst1nately re-
solved 10 vindicate what he consid-
cred to be his country's faith, by join
s,ing Austria and Germany; Di San Glo-
vanni prophesying revolution should
- oonopixy. ond tha beautiful queen
for the first time in her life at odds
with her husband. Enter, then, old
Niklas, who, with the suaveness OF a
father-in-law and the leverage OF
fellow-ruler, demanded audience.
He got it, two hours after his arrival
In the large audience room in the west
wing of the Quirinal, looking out down
the muddy Tiber. The Marchese oil
San Giovanni was the third of the