Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-17
ROYAL GOVERNESS
WOMAN OF MYSTERY
Miss Margaret Brown Brings
English Influence to Italian
Court.
ANTEcEDENTs sHRoUDED

Correspondence OF The Associated Pressl
Rome, Dec. 6.-The least known
and vet one OF the most influential
women in Italy at present is Miss
Margaret Brown. the English gov.
orness OF three OF the girls of the
royal family.
Since the publication Of the ar
rangement of a marriage between
Edward Albert, prince OF Wales, heir
apparent to the English throne, and
Princess Yolanda, eldest daughter Of
the king and queen OF Italy, the po-
sition OF this humble governess as
the domestic power behind the throne
is said to have been greatly strength
ened Should the marriage between
young Edward and the wealthiest
royal heiress OF Europe take place, as
is expected, Miss Brown will receive
due credit as the matchmaker,
Can Hold Her Tongue.
The mystery that has grown up
around the personality Of Miss Brown
is one Of the sources of her influence
Also, it is of the kind that pleases
the king, who has horror Of the pub
licity which his position forces upon
him. Those persons Of the court life
who dislike Miss Brown because of
her confidential position, because of
her power to hold her tongue, and
her custom of standing beside the !
queens chair during receptions, have /
tried in vain to discover exactly who /
she is. To date all they have learned
is that she is strong-minded per-
son OF some As years who appeared
on the scene at the birth OF Yolanda,
the first child, and who has been in
charge of the children ever since. 1t
appears that the king and queen
wanted their children brought up aft
.x the English fashion and that Miss
Grown was recommended by some
member Of the English royalty.
Brings Outdoor Life.
The influence OF Miss Brown in
undermining the education OF Italian
children Of the noble families has been
remarkable, and far wider than that
Of the more popularity known sys-
tenn OF DR.. Maria Montcssori Miss
Brown has introduced into Italy the
English customs with the respect to
the education of girls, in particular.
Her example with the royal children,
who have been taught to lead an out
door life, to swim and ride and play
vigorous games, has been followed by
the noble and wealthy families, who
formerly brought up girls in the
strictcst indoor nun-like seclusion.
Quite, stir was caused some time |
ago by the way Miss Brown let the
girls run in athletic clothes about the
beach and woods OF Castel Poraiana,
the summer home of the royal family.
The Directing court ladies', when they
attempted to discuss the matter with
the king, were asked If strong bodies |
we're not to be preferred to snowy |;
clothing. The women OF the royal
nursery have also on several occa- 9
sions discovered that this English t
woman's will was law. Once it was r
The question Of dolls. These play
things were ruled out and have stayed
ruled out of the nursery.
Boy Scouts in Favor. a
Like the girls OF the family, young .
Prince Humbert, the heir to the p
hrone, is very fond OF Miss Brown, G
whose influence has been extended to Il
lis education in some measure. She b
.xerted her influence in securing the p
Of the boy scout move Il
nent into Italy, the prince being its Q,
ommander-in-chicf and the king con- Ct
ributing 100000 year to its sup ;,
'ort. q
During the war, though with her y
sual unobtrusiveness, Miss Brown y
as taught the girls the English o.
Methods Of helping in charities. While s.
he Italians are charitable as a peo- p
le, their charities have not been or &c
anized on the large scale made y :,
ecessary by the war. =.
With the marriage Of Yolanda, the =.
'ork Of the English governess will " "
OF be finished by any means, since T.,
here still remain Princess Mafalda, =
no was "A years of age November l9,
nd Princess Giovanni, who was 9
ears OF age November 49,.