The Detroit times., 1914-10-17
Blow Received During Messina
Earthquake Results Serious
ly For "Best Loved" Ruler
KING GRIEF-STRICKEN
AT SPOUSE'S ILLNESS
Cares of State Made Doubly
Hard For Perplexed Mon
arch-Queen For Peace

RENE, Oct. 3.-(By mail to New
York. behind the ofiicial attitude OF
Italy in the great war drama there
turks great tragedy OF sadness
which has unouestionably played its
part in the efforts King Victor En-
manuel has made to prevent his cean--
try becoming involved In the great
conflict.
1t In now known In official circles
that ueen Helena expects to become
a mother the first part Of December.
This happy event In the most domes-
tic OF European royal families is to-
day tinged with O sorrow unknown
upon the four preceding occasions
when the queen presented Italy with
three princesses and the heir 20 the
throne.
1t .has ben acknowledged by the
court physicians that the beloved and
beautiful queen IL suffering from can.
Ger of the arm. The delicate condt
tion of the queen has made an oper
alton impossible.
At the time Of the Messina disaster.
|ueen Helena worked among the desti.
tute and unfortunate with a courage
which won new affection for her from
the Italian people. At this time while
caring for a miserable family, the
queen received severe blow on the
arm. For sometime she experienced
discomfort, but II was not until the
last few months that the disease de-
veloped in serious form.
In the royal palace where this erst-
while Princess OF Montenegro awaits
the expected arrival OF new member
OF the kingly household, her fortitude
as she realizes the Inroads the disease
Is making upon her, Ia regarded almost
with veneration by her attendants. II
Is said that King Victor Emmanuel de-
spite the knowledge that the life OF
the coming prince or princess might
De jeopardized. has desired an oper-
alton rather than have the disease
make further headway upon the queen
he adores.
Indeed. the inlesposition Of the kind
|of italy, reported at various times
during the past two months an grave,
Is said to be due to anxiety over the
state OF health Of the queen. Under
these conditions the approaching
(eighteenth) anniversary or their mar
riage on Oct. "a, an event heretofore
celebrated by these two royal lovers
with family rejoicinss. has augmented
| the grief OF the king.
For the past two months stories
have been circulated OF the illness OF
| Princess Yolande. age 13. the eldest
child OF the Italian royal house.
Princess Yolande, conceded to be the
most beautiful royal girl In Europe,
has been suffering from hysteria. II
| n known that the young princess has
learned of the serious condition of her
moth er. and that her own malady has
developed from grief.
The family life OF the royal family of
| Italy .is ideal. No mother is In more
complete intimacy with her children
than ueen Helena. The love which
both she and King Victor Emmanuel
have lavished upon their three dauRh.
ters and one son has been returned
| In rull. This Is especially true OF the
eldest child, Princess Yolande. who
adores her mother
The democratic queen. born and
reared 10 girlhood In the mountains az
Montenegro has maintained for her
native country where she spent life
free OF formality and courteous re-
strains. patient love. The simplicity
Of the royal household Is due 70 Queen
Heiena's aversion to arti6ciality and
faise etiquette
II IL accepted that King Victor EN-
manuers reluctance to participate IN
/ the European war was Influenced bv
the queens condition, which has turn
ed the royal >Aousehold into one of
grief. Tne flfernational problema IN