The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09
RoUMAN1A's PoET-QUEEN.
Known as Carmen sylvia the Whole
World Around.


Carmen Sylvia is famous the world over
as the Poet-Queen OF Roumania. She lives
at Castle Pelesch, in SiInla, where she is
surrounded by every luxury that wealth
and royalty can bestow. The castle is To-
Gated in a picturesque region in the midst
Of dense forest. II is one of the best
specimens of early German renaissance. a
style of architecture which harmonizes
we'll with the natural surroundings of the
palace. Its construction was begun in
1915 and completed in 1877. On entering
the castle the first object that attracts
the attention is a tablet set in the wall of
the vestibule upon which is engraved in
the quaint Roumanian language the fol
lowing words:
Il, Charles 1. Ruler and King. together
with my people and mostly by means of
warfare, have acquired myself this king
dom, but during times of peace l have
built myself this CASTLE
The royal rooms are exquisitely furnish
ed and contain a number of rare pictures
and other valuable works Of art. But the
room which holds the greatest interest for
the visitor is the study of the royal p0
etess in which she has accomplished
much Of her best literary work. While
occupied there, il is said. she always
wears the picturesque Roumanian cos
tune. The dress is composed of a mate
rial of some solid color embroidered all
over with red and blue arabesque designs,
and over this is draoed a gauzy veil Of
light. transparent fabric which gracefully
shrouds the head. Under all circum-
stances Her Majestys ideas OF dress
strongly favor simplicity.
The bapt:smal name of Carmen sylvia is
Elizabeth, and by that name She is Off
cially known. although the world is bet
ter acquainted with her by her nom de
plume. She was born December 90, 1s43
and is the daughter of Prince Hermann CT
Weld and Princess Maria of Nassau. and
was married in 1861 to King Charles of
Roumania, whom she first met at the
court in Berlin. The only child of this
marriage died at a tender age. and the
Queen took the death of the little one
so much 10 heart that her hair turned
perfectly white early in life, adding TO
her distinguished appearance. In the
year 1874 Carmen sylvia" began her ia
reer as a writer In 1850 her Two poems.
''Sappho" and "Hammerstein,' were
published. and these great successes
were rapidly followed by many other
notorious productions that have made
their author famous. There Is hardly
subject in literature that Carmen Syl-
VAS prolific pen has not busted itself
with. She has been equally successful
with lyric poems. fairy tales. novels,
character description, and dramatic work,
the tragedy of "Meister Mancli'' meeting
with brilliant success at the Royal Thea
tire in Vienna. The plot was taken from
an old Roumanian legend, which the
genius of the writer worked up to a
tragic climax "Ullrandi." another strong
tragedy, was first produced at Braun
schweig few years ago.
Perhaps the most important and best
known Of Carmen Sylva's" works are her
poems entitled storms" her novelette,,
Prayer" her .'Polesch Fairy Tales the
beautiful illustrations of which were also
made by this versatile woman, The
Homestead" Ocean Songs Trades
mems Songs and a book of especial
charm entitled My Rest" This is q sort
Of year book which begins January ! and
ends December 81, a poem of consider
able length being devoted to each month
and shorter one to each day of the
month
The Queen devotes much of her time to
literary work and she is usually AT her
writing table between 3 and o'clock in
the morning. The Roumanian subjects
are especially enthusiastic in their appre
citation of her talent and they never Lose
an opportunity of showing her that they
love and honor her for her accomplish
men;s and kindness. She works unceas-
ingly for the welfare of her people and
the betterment OF their social condition,
her great desire being to raise the INTEL
lectuai standard OF her subjects. During
the Russian Turkish war, lS71-7S. Queen
Elizabeth gave a great deal of her time
10 the nursing of The wounded, and at
about that period was founded the Eliza
tethan order of Nurses, which includes
women of means and high rank.