The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1916-12-16
|: .E:NGLISHWOMAN N
IS POWER BEHIND.
TRR(lNE IN ITALY
HUMBLE GONE.RNESS, But Is
WONDERFUL MAT G. IL
MAKER AND DIPLOMAT

Rome, Dec lG-T The least known
and yet one OF the most influential
women in Italy at present is Miss
Margaret Brown, the English gov
erness Of three of the girls of the
royal family.
Since the publication Of the ar
rangcment Of a marriabe between ED q
ward Albert, Prince OF Wales, heir
apparent to the English throne, and
Princess Yolanda eldest daughter Of
the King and Queen Of Italy, the p0-
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 weathiest
royal heiress of Europe take place
as Is expected Miss Brown will re-
ceiyc due credit as the matchmaker
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 a horror of the public
ity which his position forces upon
him. Those persons Of the court life
who dislike Miss Brown because Of
her confidential position, because o.
her power to hold her tongue, and
hor custom of standing beside ~,
Queens chair during receptions,
have. tried m warn to discover exact
ly who she is TO date, all they nave
learned is that she is a strong mind
ed person Of some 45 years who ap
poared on the scene at the birth OF
Yolanda, the first child, and who has
been in charge of the children ever
since. II appears that the King anu
Queen wanted their children brought
up after the English fashion and that
Miss Brown was recommended by
some member Of the English royalty
The influence OF Miss Brown in
undermining the education Of italian
children Of the noble families has
been remarkable and far wider thar
that of the more popularly known
system of Dr Maria Montossori 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 hacc been taught TO lead an out |
door life, 10 swim and ride ana play
vigorous games. has been. followed
by the noble and wealthy families.
who formerly brought up girls in the
'trictest indoor nun-lkc seclusion
Quite a stir was cau7ed some time
go when Miss Brown lot the girls
un in athletic clothes about the
'each and woods of Castcl porzlana.
he summer homo Of the royal family
'hc objecting court ladies'. when
hey attempted to discuss the matter
With the King, were asked If strong
odios were not to be preferred to
howy clothing The women in the
oval nursery have also on several |
ccasions discovered that the Eng
sh woman's will was law Once. It
as about the question Of dolls. These 4
laythings were ruled out and have
ayed ruled ont the the nursery. r
Like the girls of the family. young
rince Humbert the heir TO the
rone, Is very fond of Miss Brown.
hose Influence has been extended TO y
S education in some measure. She :
erted her Influence in securing the y
PRODUCTION of the Boy Scout move ~
ent into Italy, the Prince being It's 'e
in chief and the King "
a million dollars year 81
+ its support or
During the war, though with her nc
ual unobtrusiveness, Miss Brown &c
s taught the girls the English -
'thods of helping in charities. While
Italians are charitable as peo-
their, charities have not before
IN organized on the large scale
de necessary by the war.
With the marriage Of Yolanda. the
rk of the English governess will not
finished by any means since there
] remain princess Mafalda, who 4
S Il years Of age on November ls. \
PRINCESS Giovanna, who was .
rs sf%age November IS.