New King People's Idol.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 19, 1913:
Constantine Favored for His Democracy and Justice Toward Masses.
    Like his father, the Crown Prince, who succeeds King George of Greece, has had his ups and downs in the favor of the people he is to rule, and has grown acquainted with the quick-changing likes and dislikes of his subjects. He is now 45 years old.
    Prince Constantine was born in Athens and received his early education from foreign tutors, who taught him to speak German, English, French, Latin, and Danish. At the age of eighteen he was graduated from the military academy with the rank of sub-Lieutenant in the army.
    He was then sent to Germany, France, and Denmark, attending the military manouevres in each country and acquiring practical knowledge about their armies.
    Until the war with Turkey in 1897 he had had little military experience, aside from participating in the annual military manoeuvres of the German Army, but he was considered a thoughtful, cautious leader and enjoyed the implicit confidence of his troops. In 1894, when the Prime Minister, Trikoupi, aroused popular indignation by his domineering methods, a demonstration was arranged to petition the King for the removal of the Minister. Trikoupi ordered the Minister of War to bring out troops and disperse the masses before they could reach the King's palace. Prince Constantino was at the head of the troops in Athens. Although subordinate to the Prime Minister, he refused to obey the order, declaring that if the people wanted to see their King they should at all times be permitted to do so. In this he was upheld by his father, and from that time on his standing with the people seemed assured.

Saw War Was Coming.
    When The Crown Prince in 1896 saw his country drifting into war with Turkey he warned the War Department at Athens that the army was utterly unprepared for a campaign. The infantry was armed with condemned French rifles which had cost $2 each; the cartridges were fifteen years old; there was no cavalry; the artillery was obsolete, and its officers few; there had been insufficient drill. Nevertheless the country decided upon war. The result was disastrous — a humiliating defeat for Greece. Immediately the popular tide turned against its rulers, whom it denounced as foreigners who could have little in common with the Greeks. The King and Queen were hooted in the streets, and the officers turned their backs upon the Crown Prince.
    A similar spirit was roused against the royal house when in 1909 King George tried to oppose the popular clamor for the annexation of Crete, knowing that Turkey was eagerly awaiting such an excuse to bring a second crushing defeat upon Greece. This time the clamor almost became a revolt, and the King was obliged to yield to the demand of the Military League, both for a reorganization of the army and for the dismissal of the Crown Prince as Generalissimo and of his brothers from active commands in the army and navy.
    The Crown Prince left Athens. But two weeks after he had issued orders for the removal of his belongings from Athens to St. Petersburg, where he was to accept a command in the army of the Czar, the tide turned again and he was notified by his father to come back. Three months later Constantine returned to Greece on the invitation of the National Assembly and the municipality of Athens, where he was received with great acclaim.

Restored as Head of Army.
    He was restored to his former dignities, and after having undergone a severe trial was restored to the command of the army, with added prestige and influence. At the outbreak of the present war in the Balkans he led the advancing Greek forces and captured the City of Salonika from the Turks. With a force of 10,000 Greeks, he caused 25,000 Turks to lay down their arms. His popularity from that time has been tremendous throughout Greece.
    It is said that Constantine aims to restore the former grandeur of the ancient Hellenic Empire, and that he is a believer in the old national prophecy that under the reign of a Constantine and a Sophia the Eastern Empire shall be called into life again and the cross restored on St. Sophia in place of the crescent.
    The Crown Prince's wife is Princess Sophia, a sister of the German Emperor. Their marriage on Oct. 27. 1889, was a most spectacular event, and was attended by the Kaiser and members of the royal families of every Court in Europe. Soon afterward Princess Sophia renounced her Lutheran religion, and took that of her husband, thereby deeply offending her brother, the German Emperor.
    Prince Constantine, like his father, and his brother, Prince George is of herculean stature, more than 6 feet tall and magnificently proportioned. He has three children, Alexander, George, and Helen.