The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-04
Books Worth Serious Attention

Ci JULIO ZlIICfLLLOIL
 ance of iron. heart-shaped and leather covered, strapped on to make the wearer bear herself uprightly. Even. this," we quote. seemed quite mild though, com pared to the means employed in former generation, one of my great aunts being able to tell of the spiked collar which in addition to the iron back board. she was forced to wear, to prevent her from ever allowing her head to droop. Was 1t the effect of this instrument of torture that in her 90th year she had never been known to lean back in her chair.' Truly not easy rests the head that wears the crown.
 The author relates that on one occasion at sitting for a portrait to Karl Sohn she fanted from the effort to remain mo- tionless and the painter confessed his amazement at the means taken to restore her strength depleted by the effort: "A sip of cold water and little piece Of black bread. This black bread was chief and almost only diet of the children of the Wied household; 1t was eaten without either butter or meat. ITO this day l prefer a. slice of good wholesome black |bread to all the daintiest, most skillfully prepared dishes in the world
 Three times a day after this meager meal each child was made to brush the teeth till the "blood flowed from the gums,H heroic treatment to which the queen credits her sound and perfect teeth at sixty odd.
 Also to simple diet and unremitting self control (the true characteristic of the well lborn) the author credits the "well-tem- Ipered steel of her nerves" She proudly claims to dsdain nerves "and all who suf- fer from them, to have a contemptuous feeling for ''neurasthenia, neurosis, or any other such new fangled disorder" T should consider it something degrading, of which to be ashamed, to be justly ranged among it's victims" Nerves she wisely opines, "too often serve a mask. be- hind which sel1shness and hypocrisy are hidden"
 | Of self-control good breeding's first law, the queen writes: Taught that 1t was my duty to enliven and gladden. others, had schooled my face to aIr expression of perpetual cheerfulness. and should have considered myself eternally disgraced had anyone ever surprised me In tears
 | All demonstrations of affection were sternly repressed in our family" the queen writes The dictum of her mother being: There is no need to kiss often, warm affections may be cherished with but little display of them. The children of this princely house were taught to treat any little ailment or suffering as matter of small amount, such 'were put on one side by my mother as wholly unworthy of attention. with the remark that such things might happen to anyone, that few people had not something more to com plain off
 The world would be better place to live in and the flower of courtesy might gladden. even the hedgerows of existence did humber parents bring up their chill dren with regard to these excellent ideas and maxims; but after all it is the old re- gime which makes "noblesse oblige' It's watchword If it takes three generations to make a gentleman it surely takes on hundred to make one understand fully the meaning and value of those two simple words.
 As book upon the rearing of children this. without such intent Is the best pos sible one to put into the hands of parents.
 As to the advantage of being born in the purple most practical explanation is I given: q have always thought that the happiest lot on earth is that of the me diatzed princes. Such happy mortals are generally beloved from their birth, their fortune suffices for their needs without lawakening envy in others, and they have Opportunities for indulging intellectual and artistic tastes such as few others I possess. Their country seat is generally some old castle. to which historic memo ries attach, probably with fine library or picture gallery, and archaeological treasures perhaps beneath the soil As patrons of art as hosts to company Of. well chosen guests, as friends of scholars and of men of letters, as descendants of lforefathers renowned for talents and vir- tues. they are privileged beyond all |others.
 | One of the most interesting chapters re- lates of the lessons taken of the crafts men and mechanics of Neuwied Wood carving. book binding. weaving, em- broidering spinning were all learned by the children of the princely house From these early lessons were to come later Carmen Sylva's Songs of the Crafts" l Very prettily she tells how she and her lfather's old coachman, Lindner were lrivas in singing folk songs at village fes- ltivals, and it was the princess who bore 1 away the palm on these occasions-'I knew even more songs than he did" T A delightfully."- democratic little princess was this one: "One morning. she writes Ii 1T actually managed to steal out of the house unseen, and running away as hard as I could, I joined the children from the home-farm on their way to school Oh how I enjoyed myself, I sat on the bench between the farmers little boy and girl, and joined in the. singing with the whole strength of my lungs, though the I small girl kept trying to put her hand be- fore my mouth, for she thought 1t highly improper that princess should be sing ling with peasant children
 I Some seasons ago Carmen Sylva wrote T for an American weekly jourYal a paper upon bringing up children, Evidently she looks upon her own Spartan rearing as the best that could be, and for result it surely is to be commended. In the article l she defines her idea of education, thus "self discipline and devotion to duty" Self control" she writes is the chief es- sential in all conditions of life. Learn to have perfect control of your body and Iyour soul That is education
 Added to this home trainings it ex ltrinsic to observe that the home training of a princess seems to surpass that given to youngsters of more lowly origin-there was the wealth of teaching from the best of tutors Rubinsten and Clara Schuman l for music; little wonder the operas of this
 queens composition have been success fully presented in Munich and in other cities of Europe However, 1t is not in this volume that one is to learn of the success of Carmen Sylva as first poet of the Balkans accomplished musician, founder of hospitals, opera houses,
 schools, asylums, leader in moves to teach the peasants to embroider, to culti-
 vate the mulberry tree (for silk culture,
 as most industrious woman of this day.
 Her working day begins at four every lmoruinp and often sfs tilI ,,,;d,,io,+