New-York tribune., 1919-10-28
Lllxen1b'lr'g's
WOnenCetVote
Without Asking
Grand Duchess Charlotte
Signs Suffrage Measure
"'Because 1t Seemed Her
Subjects We're Fit fot 1t

LUxEMBURG, Sept. % (By The As
soeiated Press).-The Grand Duchess
Charlotte. ruler of Luxembourg less
than year. signed a law granting
outrage to women before they had
asked for It because. she told the
Associated Press corresp spondent, "it
seemed the time to do it."
SO far as | know the Grand
Duchess said "the women never made
any special demand for the vote There
IS a movement throughout the world
for such things and it seemed the time
10 do It. The women have come UP
step by step until l think they are
ready Tor 1t.
The matter OF submitting to the
people choice of retaining the Grand
Duchy. under her or some one else, or
OF establishing republic. she admitted
with smile. caused her little anxiety
though she signed the law for q pleb-
iscite also II felt the people would
vote for me. she added.
The vote was about four TO one to
retain the Grand Duchy and the Grand
Duchess Charlotte as ruler.
The Grand Duchess received the cor
respondent in the morning, an hour
sfter the government began counting
the ballots that decided in her favor,
but before the first results Of the ref
erendum reached her
The ruler of Luxembourg is of the
House of Nassau, one of the richest
reignng families IN Europe, but the
simplicity Of her manner has been re-
marked by many of those who know
her. The former Princess Charlotte
tooh over the government upon the
abdcation OF her sister, the former
Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide, Of
whom the peace conference at Paris
dsapproved
The present Grand Duchess is
twenty-four years old. She is Of
medium heighth, slender and girlish
with most complimentary eagerness
TO listen. Her rather small face is
broad across the forehead and tapers
very slightly to fine small chin. The
triangular effect is emphasized by the
fashion Of dressing her chestnut hair
rather fiat on her head and putfed out
At the sides. Her face seems to light
up and her eyes to become perceptibly
more brilliant, in flash, as something
interests her.
The chateau of the Grand Duchess is
al Coimar, nearly twenty miles from
me city. but much of her time is spent
=
correspondent was received. She chose
10 speak English during the audience
and, contrary to custom, encouraged
questions. "Politlcs' was taboo by
direction o. the Minister of State.
Concerning the decision of her sub
jects between Grand Duchy and a
republic, she said:
Il hope the vote will be favorable
Being ruler is very interesting
but without the responsibility, OF
course, life would be very much frec1
and quieter. | am sure the people
voted Tor me because it is the sures-
way 10 preserve the independence OF
the country. But it is not for myself
that hope, for l don't like politics. In
politics there is so much that is false
Il is all false, false. You read one
thing and it is not true; then another
and You do not know what to believe
THIS was said with little burst OF
enthusiasim that made the Crane
Duchess seem like one of millions OF
other girls who did not have 10 sigr
big, windy documents for careful
Ministers Of State. 1t emphasized the
air Of simplicity the Grand Duchess
had when. receiving the spondent
she stepped forward half way to meer
the American young man, saying, 81
am glad TO see YOU" and shaking hand!
IN manner that seemed to eliminate
The necessity of addressing her q.
Your Highness"