New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-20
CARMEN SYLVA'S WOE.
INTRIGUES AGAINST THE ROYAL FAMILY
OF RUMANIA.

OF RUMANlA
Vienna September 2.
Russia's intrigues in Rumania arc prospering,
and il now seems not unlikely that the much-
talked-Of royal romance will find its ending In
TRAGEDY There are many rumors extant about
the King and Queen, some of them contradictory
But on one point all are agreed that the Queens
health is in most critical condition, and that
moreover. highly important political issues are
being forced npon the kingdom All Rumanla
is aritated deeply. revolution could not more
stir ND the popular feelings. The people are
divided into two bitterly hostile parties. The
KING md his Ministers are at odds What day
may bring 20 pass, no one eau say. 1t may be
death it NAV be war, 1t may he abdlcatlon
Certainly there never was great canse for
anxiety for tn. welfare of Rumania there is
now.
One widely circulated rumor may be dismissed
peremptorily as miserable SANDER. That Is, the
story that King Charles has been moving for
divorce from tire Queen, and it was her knowl-
edge OF that fact that threw her into her present
deplOrable condition. True, pressure in that dlrec-
tion was brought to bear on him. 1t was part
Of the Russian scheme to cause dissension between
husband and wife That was the game in Servia,
and il WIS successful there But Milan was
wretched brute, and separation was not I'M
natural. The King and Queen of Rumania, now
ever. are tenderly devoted to each other. Neither
has any fault to find with the other; at any rate,
none sufficient to warrant O separation those OF
| the Kings Ministers who are under Russian IN
auence however. urged il upon him very strongly.
They at first did so on grounds Of State policy
Failing to convince MIN in that way, they put
| the case on personal grounds They accused the
Queen of political wrOng-dOings, and at last OF
actual personal immoralities The most infamous
| and upmentionable insinuations were made against
her based on her friendship with Mile. Helene
Vacorcsco and her interest in that estimabe young
lady's love affair. They told the King that
sclf-respect required him to get divorce; tnat
If he did not he would stand pillOried in disgrace
before the ewes of the world Charles Of Hohen-
| 7oIprn however, was not made of such stutt as
| could be moved by such appeals. When they
argued for divorce political grounds, ne lis
tened patiently, and then seid Gentlemen,
why take all that trouble? It would be much
simpler much easier, for me to abdicate. And,
moreover. | would abdicate a thousand times
before I would divorce her once" When, how
| ever. they went on TO assau the Queens good
| name, he interrupted them. Please to under
stand, gentlemen" he said, that you are no
| lunger talking TO King about ms
! Queen. You are talking to man about his
y oPS"fN
that wife you will be personally accountable to
that man" Even under the potent persuasion
of Russian gold none of the Ministers seemed in
| clined 70 provoke further the wrath of the hero
Of Pevna. 50 they stopped their scandalous story
in his presence: though they took good care TO
l,een il Ia circulation elsewhere as widely as posi-
| bic.
Il is pleasant to record for the sake of Ru-
mnria's honor. that these horrible libes upon the
Queen find few believers; none, might say.
| among decent people 1t has not been in vain
| that for twenty-five years Elizabeth OF Wild has
| shown herself an example of pure womanhood.
Tho standard of social morals in Rumania is not
the highest in the world, perhaps, though it will
! compare favoradbly with that of most European
countries But at least the people are able TO
appreciate virtue and uprightncss Of life and they
| do honor it in their Queen. Nor are they unmlnd-
! fGl of her other admirable qualities. When She
wont 60 Bucharest as q bride, it was to be Queen
over singularly caprcious, wilfui, half-barbofons
neoyle. whose years of contact with the Turks
| had caused them TO have poor opinion of woman
kind in general She was a stranger 10 them.
end therefore unacquainted with their ways and
unsyInpathetic toward their patriotism. She was
n woman. and therefore frail and shallow. II
did not take them long, however TO find that
! ths stranger was better acquainted with their
! history and folklore than they were themselves
and at least fully Rumanian at heart any
| Rumauian born; and that this woman was in
serous purpose and intellectual strength the equal
Of any man Of them ALL # was revelation to
them. hut they pro'ted by the lesson. Very soon
flcir chivalric natures made them as enthusiastic
admirers and champions of her as ever the Mag
| vars were of Maria Theresa. Then when the wal
CT 1877 came on, she personally organized TIN
army hospital service, and with her hands
| cared for the wounded soldiers. That made hel
their idol Nor did her good works stop ever
there. She founded schools and made herself th'
natrOn OF national education. She organized
charitable and benevolent institutions of all kinds
She developed the manufacturing and other in
dustrcs of the country, and secured markets 70
their products in other lands. Indeed in man
ners and morals, in patriotism, in literature an'
art. in industries and commerce, in every gOo'
energy of life she made herself the leader OF th
Rumanian nation. These things are not forgotten
just how the Queen has incurred the wrath o
the Gar is not easy TO determine, although Their
are several reasons which might suffice. For on
thing she has done too much 10 build up Ru
| mania and make it strong, homogeneous nation