JUHE 2-6, 1903.,
Commoner.
15
I
Story of Alexander and Draga.
The lcign of Alexander I., king of
Servia, began in a coup d'etat at mid
night, March 6, 1889, and ended in as
sassination at midnight, Juno 10, 1903.
How Milan came to lose his throne
and l'ow his son Alexander came to
lose it i& told in the events of one of
the most disgraceful chapters in the
history of modern Europe.
In the year 1900 King Alexander
started on a tour of Europe in search
of a bride. He visited all the courts
of Europe. His experiences were
highly discouraging. 1-e saw the king
of the Belgians and was coldly but
politely informed that he need not
look for a wife there.
The king even attempted to secure
a rich American bride, but .his ef
forts in this direction were as futile as
they had been everywhere else.
It is at this point in the reign of
Alexander that the woman Draga
Maschin entered the history of Ser
via and began the career of petty in
trigue that ended with her assassina
tion. Draga Maschin years before had
made Alexander her slave. She was a
voluptuary and a degenerate. She
ruled his life absolutely, and he was
only too willing tp make her queen of
Servia. "
Alexander assembled his ministers
and announced that he proposed to
marry Draga Maschin. He printed
the announcement in the official ga
zette. It raised a storm in the coun
try. The cabinet ministers protested
violently. They told the king the
consequences of his act might ruin the
dynasty.
"I am the king," said Alexander.
proudly, "and I can marry whom I
please. Attend to your duties and
do not meddle with my private af
fairs." With that re dismissed them. They
went away and resigned in a bbdy.
Ex-King Milan, who was then a
general in the Servian army, was at
Carlsbad taking the waters for his
hopeless liver, when he heard of his
son's determination. He immediately
started for Servia, swearing that he
would prevent his son from marrying
at all costs. He had a large following
in the army and might have caused
trouble. King Alexander ordered him
0 be stopped at the frontier. Ex-King
Milan resigned his command in the
Servian ar.my. At the same time his
mother, Queen Natalie, cut Alexander
cut of her will and left her large for
tune to the church.
From the day of his marriage to
Queen Draga, King Alexander rapidly
fell in the estimation of his people.
The door of every royal house in Eu
rope was closed in his face.
Alexander was the last of the Ob
renovitch family and his union with
Queen Draga was childless. Draga
attempted to secure the succession of
the throne to her brother. That was
the beginning of u.2 end. Alexander';
life, that of his queen, his ministers
and his household went out Jn the
final tragedy in the palace of Bel
grade, and the dynasty of the Obren
cvitch was extinct forever.
Draga was at Biarritz with Queen
Natalie when King Alexander first
saw her. That was seven years ago;
he was 17, and she was well Into her
30's, a widow, and an experienced wo
man of the world, of whom the gos-
The First Battle
BY-
W. J. Bryan.
A Story of the Campaign of 189G, Together with
a Collection of His Speeches and a Biographical
Sketch by His Wife.
ILLUSTRATED EDITION, PRICE, $1.50.
I have purchased of the publisher all unsold
copies of "The First Battle," numbering 350
copies, and offer them for sale at the low price
of $1.50 per copy, sent postpaid on receipt of price.
These copies are handsomely bound in Half Mo
rocco, printed on heavy paper from clear type,
contain over 600 pages. Orders will be filled in
their turn until the supply is exhausted. When
these copies are sold the book ivill bo out of
print. Address
M. T. HOWEY,
611 So. 11th St., LINCOLN, NEBBASKA.
sips had much to say. "Wlion ho on
tcred the room to greet his mother, ho
encountered the flashing dark oyes of
the fascinating lady-in-waiting staring
boldly and steadily at him. Ho saw
nothing in the room but those oyes,
paid attention to no one but Draga
and upon that day ho becaino her
willing slavo forever after.
When she returned to Belgrade from
Eiarritz a fow months later, her pow
er over the boy king was already rec
ognized. Queen Natalio allowed it,
mindful of xtussia. Milan fostered it,
delighted at tho prospect of knowing
his son's movemonta through such a
trusty source and influencing his mind
for Austria. And Mme. Maschin quiet
ly and skillfully maneuvered, not for
Natalio or Milan, neither for Russia
nor Servia, but always for herself.
In less than a year her hand was
shown in Alexander's first coup d'etat
Ho had' not yet attained his majority,
and his kingdom was governed by
three regents. These dignitaries were
feasting one night with him when tho
room was suddenly barricaded, the
king announced that tho authority of
tho regents was ended, and they were
kept prisoners until ho had been for
mally proclaimed before tho army.
After that no one dared ignore the ex
istence of Draga Maschin in political
affairs.
Alexander established Draga In a
palace which was as splendid as any
in Belgrade. There the court flocked
for gaiety; there tho Russian and Aus
trian diplomats held secret confer
ences In turn, each trying to pay more
than the other. There the king often
mingled with the guests, speaking to
no one but Draga, dancing all the
evening with no ono but Draga, throw
ing confetti to no one else, and
frowning darkly upon anyone who at
tempted a word with her.
Tho court did not wonder at her
sway over the king, who had toiler--ited
the vices of his father and tho
weaknesses of his mother, without tho
military braver of the former or the
personal goodness of tho latter. Mme.
Maschin was never counted a beauty,
she was dark enough to be almost
swarthy, and In repose her face was
cunning and treachorous. But her
fascination could not be doubted; she
was a bewitching talker, and while
talking became a beauty. She was
tall and slender, and beautifully
formed, of the oriental tvne. with
masses of soft black hair and liquid
eyes full of subtle flattery. Before
she assayed the .role of queen she was
frequently seen in the Paris salons,
where she was known for her perfect
taste In etiquette, as well as for her
wit and social diplomacy.
The Servian people and court wanted
their king to marry. After his mother
and father had unsuccessfully begged
the hand of many a pretty princess,
they were willing for him to marry a
commoner. But they never thought of
his marrying Mme. Maschin- they
would have opposed that Alexander,
however, did not consult them, no
even his own ministers or his council
of state. Ono flno morning in July,
1000, the people of Belgrade awoko to
discover that tho king's second coup
d'eotat had taken place during tho
night. Upon tho walls of the city was
a long proclamation signed by tho
royal hand, In which ho mado known
his betrothal to Draga Maschin, a
daughter of tho Servian people, whoso
homo would bo a pattern to all Serv
ian homes, and who would bring hap
piness to the country, as did the wlfo
of his grandfather, also from the peo
ple. Absolutely no Servian ofllcial seems
to hayo known of tho proclamation be
forehand. The capital was In a tur
moil of excitement, cabinot ministers
gathered in agitated meeting, tho
council of state assembled to declare
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