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Show RULER OF SMALLEST STATE J i By the death of William Alexander, Grand Duke of Luxemburg, which occurred oc-curred recently, a demure young woman not yet 18 becomes sovereign of that little principality. She is the late ruler's eldest daughter, the Grand Duchess Marie. Luxemburg is a state of 998 square miles in the angle where Germany, Franco and Belgium meet. It has about 230,000 people. From time Immemorial it has been an appanage ap-panage of the House of Nassau. It was therefore virtually part of Holland, Hol-land, though separated from it until the death of Queen Wilhelmina's father in 1S90. Then it followed the male line to the father of the grand duke just dead. In 1907 the succession succes-sion in the female line was instituted by a family statute. At a time, some years ago. when it Eeemed likely that Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, would be childless, she designated this young grand duchess as heir to the throne of the Nether- lands and was about to ask the Dutch states general to pass the necessary legislation to this end. Shortly afterward, however, the hopes of the Dutch people for a direct heir to the tiirone were gratified by j the birth of the little Princess Juliana. j ; The grand duchess is described as an unusually pretty girl, impatient of I idvlce, quick tempered and impulsive characteristics wiich greatly dijpl.as ;he royal busy-bodies who are already occupied In selecting lor ner c iit-I iit-I ble husband. 1 |
