The National tribune., 1908-10-22

As the Balkan States are very much
In the limelight just now, any item
connected with them is of more or
less interest. The serious illness of
r. King Charles, or Carol l., of Rumania,
makes it quite probable that a change
will also soon take place in that coun-
try tho not of the character which has
characterized the recent changes in
the other States. Carol /. and his wife.
the poetry-writing Carmen SYLVIA
have no children, and at the death OF
the former the throne will go to his
nephew, Ferdinand, who, by a decree
of the King in 1889, was created
prince of Rumania.' Rumania, as
all know, has been an independent
province since the Congress of Berlin,
having cut herself free from Turkey
in 1877, and is composed of what was
formerly the two provinces of Wal
1achia and Moldavia. Prince Ferdi
nand had the good fortune to marry
the extremely pretty and altogether
~ charming daughter of King Edwards S
sailor brother, the Duke of Edinburgh,
who died in 1900 as the sovereign
Duke of Coburg, and she is, therefore,
the niece of England's King and Queen,
j. and first cousin to the young Queen of
Spain. She is also first cousin to the
Car of Russia, her mother being the
only sister of the late Alexander III.
AS Prince Ferdinand is Roman Cath
Ollie, the Crown Princess Marie in
marrying him forfeited all right to the
English throne, and not only her right
in the line of succession but that of
her children, England's constitution
requiring that the reigning sovereign
shall be Protestant. The Queen of
Spain relinquished her rights in the
same way when she married Alfonso
2 Princess Marie has been married since
1893 and has four splendid children,
the eldest being boy of nearly 16. 1t
is expected that toward the end of the
year the dainty cradle in the nursery
will be again filed, and it is said that
the Princess is as happy at the pros
pect as she was before her first child
was born. She is a very clever woman
quite as gifted as Carmen Sylvia, tho
in different way, in a way perhaps,
which makes her more popular with
the Rumanians. for after all the pres
ent Queen is something of bore with
her literary aspirations. Americans
take a special interest in the Crown
Princess on account of her intimate
friendship with Pauline Astor, the
daughter of William Waldorf Astor,
which friendship has furnished the
material for several American novels
of no very great merit, however Prin-
cess Marie is certain to make a wise
and popular Queen when she does
Soiit " ehc- anu the WOTlQ VIII
follow her royal career with genuine
interest.
The Duchess of Marlborough seems
to be enjoying life thoroughly She ap-
pears here and there, opening bazars in
London, the chief guest at distinguished
house parties, causing no end of excite
ment by her appearance in most pro-
nounced directoire costume in a FASH
fonable restaurant of Paris. Her direc-
toire, made of the softest silk, cIung
so closely that one wondered how she
could possibly walk in it, and, as it
Was, 1t drew up about her ankles with
every step The front of the long coat
wiss filled in with many friils of fine
old lace, among which was fastened a
fasss pin set with pearls and diamonds
On her perfectly coiffured head was it
must be admitted, an unusually large
hut very artistic hat one side of its
pmbrella-like dimensions being covered
with gorgeous bird of paradise. AL
together she locked a perfect picture, |
and was the very last word in fashion
able attire. Everyone is glad to see the |
Duchess happy; she was very young in
deed when she married the Duke and
was doubtless influenced greatly by her
mother and other members of the fam
lily in making this marriage, and how
many young American girls would
have refused to become the Duchess of
Marlborough? Not many, it is feared,
Her unfortunate marriage seems to be
the only criticism her countrywome
make of her, for she has certainly
Shown herself to be a tender-hearted, |
generous, thoughtful. and unusually !
able woman in many respects. The
power which wealth and social position
have given her she is employing for
noble purposes, and certainly we
should rejoice that she has been able
to rise above the troubles which over
whelmed her short time ago.
Apropos of our international mar
riages ii is gratifying to know that the
Earl of Yarmouth. the good-for-noth-
ing husband of Alice Thaw, is not GO
ing TO get any of her American money
AT the time of this marriage, it will be
remembered, the Earl held out till al
most the time for the ceremony, de-
nandfng more satisfactory settle
ment. and finally induced the family to
consent to give him yearly income of
$4,000, and the tidy suni of 100000