Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1914 — QUEER SPRIGS OF GENTILITY [ARTICLE]

QUEER SPRIGS OF GENTILITY

Prince .Alexander of Servia is not, as many suppose, King Peter’s 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 banish <him to an inaccessible 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 pupil’s deeds. One morning they were busy at a Latin lbsson when a mouse ran across the room. Quick as a flash Prince George had it hy the tail. The next instant he was dashing off with it to the sentinel at the palace gate, and, bolding it up to the frightened man’s face, insisted on his biting off its head. Upon the other’s refusal he threatened violence, and would certainly have proved as good as his word had not the king arrived in the courtyard 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 assist. At a special meeting of the cabinet the then crown prince entered uninvited. King Peter promptly requested him to withdraw. Taking a seat, his highness refused, saying: “I am the future king and have a right to be here, t 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 altercation ensued, during which the ministers melted away, leaving the king and his hotheaded son to settle their difference: alone. On another occasion the prince was 'present at a birthday dinner given in honor of the czar 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 welcome that greeted these words was such that his highness had immediately to leave the banquet. This and other escapades caused such a revolution of public opinion that Prince George was finally compelled to renounce his rights of succession in favor of his younger brother, and certainly 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 summoned 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 prince’s apartments at the palace are very plainly furnished, there is a wealth of bookcases. He is a great reader, and is familiar with ths principal literary works of four countries