The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-07-24
QUEEN HELENA OF ITALY.
AB!LITY TO COOK WE'LL DE-
SCRiBED rs ONE GIFT.

Hlshes She Used to Prepare for He
Royal Faihcr-in-Inw- Cyclin:
and Walking Tours with Her Hus
band-How Naples Took Advontag'
of Her Love of Chldrsn.
One of the most attractive royal fig
ures now in view is the young Queer
Helena of Italy She is not strong
minded woman. On the contrary, like
all orientals and semi orientals, she
learned at her fathers court in Monte
negro that the woman is less than the
man, that the wife is to be governed
by the husband. But if not strong
minded, she is high minded woman
who, as Crispi said of her, will govern
without seeming to do so, just by her
gentleness and grace and quiet dignity,
and because she would generally be
right in her Judgment and always in
her Intentions
King Humbert used playfully to call
her 1.-The little mountain savage" ref
| erence to certain unroyal ways and
| tastes which Helena acquired at her
| fathers court Nikita the old-fash-
| Toned mountain Prince of Montenegro,
who always wears the rich oriental
costume of the mountain chiefs, his an
cestors, insisted, as, by the way, the
| Emperor of Germany does, that all his
sons and daught ers, should know some
useful trade or profession. Helena be-
came an excellent cook, skilled both in
preparing plain roast and boiled" and
| in the confection of the curious sweet
| meats and articles Of patisseria, for
| which orentals have so decided a
| taste.
| When Heena's gift became known to
| her father-in-laW, he insisted on tasting
| her dishes and liked them so well that
one day in the palace at Naples he con-
| ferred upon her with mock ceremony
the title of Lady-High-C Cook to the
King of Italy. He had, as everybody
knows, a strong dose Of wandering
blood; a mighty hunter of big game in
t he Alps, he used sometimes to take his
son, then Prince OF Naples, and his
daughter-in- law, Helena, far away
from the routine and ceremony of
tain shooting boxes. A few servants
would accompany the party and Prin-
cess Helena would herself prepare the
luncheon to be brought out on the
hunting expedition or the dinner for the
return in the evening.
1t seems to be agreed between King
Victor Emmanuel and Queen Helena
that while she shall provide the wisdom
for the couple in important matters,
outside the affairs of state, he shall be
absolute lord in the minor details of ev-
eryday life, Sometimes his exercise Of
the prerogative seems to amount to
petty tyranny. A striking instance of
this trait in his character was afforded
at Naples in connection with the cy-
cling mania Of the royal couple. In the
days when they were only Prince and
Princess of Naples they used very of
ten to set outfromthe palace on long
bicycling expeditions together, the
prince dressed just like any young man
out of an American office or store; the
princess in short skirt and a soft felt
hat. Hundreds of foreign tourists must
have often seen them whirring by along
the splendid sea road by the bay with
out any idea of their exalted position.
They both like this occasional ano-
nymity. bur the prince did not wish his
wife to indulge it except when he was
along.
One dav when he was foo busv over
state affairs to go with her, she COM
mitted her first act of martial disobedi
ence. She went ONT cycling without
him. ACCOMPANIED only bv a ladv-in-
waiting. AS luck would have If. de-
scending the steep olive-lined hill that
leads toward the blue bay the princess
ran into an OK cart laden with barrels |
of wine. and was thrown violently.
After suffering q good deal of aims, |
from the half-tipsv driver. she had to |
return showing her wheel before her
Her companion rode before her to t1a
nalace. Arrived home she was met bv
the nrince with anger in his eve
"Yo1 do not look like the Princess of
Naples inst now" he said. land onlv
the Princess of Naples has the right TO !
enter in bicycling dress by the grand
st aircase."
"T am very sorry" said the princess.
all covered with confusion and she
orourht her machine round to the SER
vants' entrance whence she made her
vav tn the nrivate apartments.
n was a lesson that she remembered
-,,o ,,o,.o,, o.,o;,, ,..o,,+ o,,t an how biox,