South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-29

keuSs kOStrltz.
\ Hasty Wedding.
She arranged marriage be-
tween her and Ferdinand, the latter
hoping that by accepting it, he
would ingratiate himself still fur
Their into the good graces Of Rus
STA, which it was his policy 10 con-
ciliate at this particular moment.
and forgetting i'm consideration OF
this advantage. the lack Of youth
and faded looks OF his future bride
The marriage was performed at
Gotha. but the princess. who hap
pened 20 be a most pious Lutheran.
stipulated that she wogld be allow
cd tho free exercise of her faith.
and never be called upon 10 attend
any religious service, except of an
official nature of the Greek church.
In sofia, the new princess of Bull
garia soon became very popular.
She was extremely good and chari-
table. attended TO the wants of the
population. with "a self-devotion and
Ia care that won for her genera!
wars. and later on. when King
Ferdinand joined the world conflict
at the side of Germany, she worked
indefatigabIy al the relief of the
sick and wounded, and showed her
self an excellent organizer in all
the hospital work which she under
took. Her stepchildren were very
fond of her, but her marriage
otherwise turned out an unhappy.
miserable union, the prince treat
ing her with such a want OF kind
ness and even attention, that her
existence became "A burden 10 her
more than anything else
Though she more than once act
ed as her husbands messenger in
Vienna and Berlin. and that il was
thanks 20 her efforts that on several
occasions King Ferdinand cOntrived
10 surmount certain prejudices
against him that had been aroused
by the too evidently double game ne
played so often. yet he did not show
himself grateful TO his consort. and
not only neglected her in the most
ostensibie manner, but publicly
spoke Of her in terms that could
not but shock her and make her
very unhappy. Her health broke
down and she was obliged 10 spend
months in a sanatorium near Ores
den, where il was hoped that she
might get stronger. and overcome
the nervous prostration which seem
ed to have overpOwered her.
TIE Queens Beauty.
Yet she did not rally. and when
she returned at last about one year
ago To Sofia her friends were quite
alarmed at the change which had
taken place in her looks. But moth
ing would rouse the king or make
him show more attention TO the
wife who was but too evidently
passing away from him: he went
on in his unusual callous way.
scorning the advice of those who
asked him 20 remain i'm Sofia. and
not TO absent himself from his cap
ital more than was absolutely nee
essary. At last. whilst he was en-
joying the summer at his wonder
full palace of Euxinograd on the
I Black sea. he was recalled in haste
to the capital, by alarming news
concerning Queen Eleonore. but
when he arrived there il was al
ready too late: she had passed away
during the night.
Ferdinand decla-e himself in
consolable and prc eeded to cele-
1 brate in the most sumptuous way
possible the Obsequies of the consort
whose life he had made so entirely
miserable. The ceremony, how
ever, was hurried as quickly as pos
sible and the first queen of Bull
garia laid to rest beside the FIRST
wife of Ferdinand. and his prede-
( cessor on the throne. Alexander of
Battenberg. So far so well. but it
appeared that while she had been
IN the sanatorium near Dresden.
whittier the doctors had sent her.
Queen Eleonore had made her will.
in which she had expressly asked
for her body 10 be brought back to
her native Germany and buried in
the family vault of the princes of
Reuss. at KOstritz
Her brother thereupon asked
King Ferdinand TO comply with
this wish OF his dead wife. and when
the king refused he appealed TO the
kaiser. who for once abandoned his
political ally and declared that the
desires of the late queen ought TO
be accomplished. This TO the eN-
treme modification of Ferdinand.
who fnds himself at present he
tween the devil and the deep sea
and does not well know what TO do.
placed as he is between the con
viction that his prestige in regard TO
his subjects would be seriously inn
paired If he allowed the mortal re-
mains of queen Eleonore 20 he con
Neyed 20 Germany and the knowl-
edge that if he does not comply
with the orders of the kaiser il
might be of incalculabIe harm 10
him m the further development OF
his political career and schemes.
For the present the war furnishes
him with "a preteNt for delay. but
"a ffaru.arF