The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-03

The e name Carmen sylvia py
which he Queen Mother Elizabeth OF
Rumania was most widely known, was
chosen by her in expression OF her
ioye for song and the woods. she was
one of the most charming figures IN
the courts of Europe, practically tne
one Of the recent generations to Jam
fame as a poetess. .so.
In her own words, she was born "tar
from q throne for although b was
a nrincess of Weld, n OF the many
tinv municipalities with which Germany
ahoInded. her youth was that OF an
ordinary robust country g1rI VINO
Iea rned 10 cook and sew and who romp-
ad In the open with her companions
at tha village school. She was born
29, 1s43, and in her child
hood abe showed prediction LOT tue
no~etical fapcies that had such an IN
fnence on her life. She absorbed IN
nnmerable fairy stories and, Win
some of her own imagination deu
she delighted her playmates Win her
Fancies. At home she received spar
IAN training, and with a father VINO was
m invaIid for life, and a brother VINO
was incurable Ill, experienced many
sorrows and hardships.
T7non the death of her brotner' inc
Princess was sent away to Visit ner
amt, the Grand Duchess Helena OF
russia who took her travelling to Varl-
nTs narts of Europe. 1t was curing
This tour. however, that the frincess
herself was stricken with typhus 1eY-
or and when she recovered It was 10
Iearn that her father had passed away.
She was deeply affected by sorrow IN
her family, and music and poetry pc,
csma her only consolation. Must al
T1ove on earth be borne to the grave!
10 tha burden OF a mournful poem tnat
she wrote at the time OF her thers
Among her friends about her home
an the Rhine, "the little wild rosebud
n Wfed" had eyinced an almost say
arc dislike to matrimony, n haa OF
Ten exclaimed: II do not want 10
marry unless / can be Queen OF Hu-
mania" The principality OF Rumanla
had at that time just been founded, n
there was no sense in the young Prln-
casa'g remark except that she heliev-
al Il a sufficiently safe way TO a
that she didn't want to marry at all.
There is remarkable romance at
|tached to the fact that some years later
her suitor became Prince Gharles oL
uohenzollern. who was refused on the
same fanciful pretext that the Princess
would not marry unless she could De
nnieen az Rumania. In 1858, Prince
ries was chosen ruler OF Rumania,
and In the autumn OF the next year ne
retnrned TO Wied to remind The Pr1n.
cess elizabeth Of her desire 70 ule
over that Kingdom.
Married. end settled in the palace
at bucharest. tho Princess threw mel.
self with great ardor into the lie OF
the country. She learned to reao n
write Rumanian, made herselt ac'
ouainted with the needs and require
ments of the land, and became SO pc
loved that the people called her the
Little Mother" Out Of her own prl-
Yatel purse she founded schools, hos.
pitals. and art galleries, and devoted
practically her whole life to philan:
thropy. Although she had practiced.
her literary talents In a limited way
for many years. It was not until the
deathyof her first, and only child, az
the age of four. that much OF her work
was published. Though her poems
lose much from the translation. one
glimpse Ola favorite theme is as
.The fairest word on earth that's
IonShuman lips the fatrest word,
Is mother.
TO whom such name shall once belong,
IT. a. En LEaL VII E4L III e. - VIZ Ia