Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-23
DR.. BRYAN DESCRIBES
HIS TRIP TO ROUMANIA
Gives Vivid Account of Experiences Abroad and of Suf
fering and Want of Great Numbers Of Peo-
pies in War-Rdden Countries.

For the second time since DR.. Robert
c. Bryan. head of Grace Hospital, re-
turned from Roumania. it was the
privilege of Richmond people TO hear
him relate his thrilling experiences
abroad. The nrst time he spoke be-
fore the Council OF Defense. Virginia
Division. but last night, under the au-
spices OF the Mems Association OF st.
Paurs Church, the general public had
the privilege of listening to DIR. Bryan
tell the story of his trip to Rouina MIA
in the interests OF the American Red
Cross. II was 4 narrative replete with
all the elements of adventure, and be-
cause truth is always stranger than
fiction. the audience was held spell
bound by the tale.
DR. Bryan, it will be recalled. re-
turned to Richmond December 5. over
month ago. Naturally OF slender
build. he had lost on tho trip about
twenty pounds since he left Richmond
the last week in July, and he was thin
to cmaciation and generally rundown
"all in" as he expressed it. when he
returned.
As he stood before the audience at
81. Paurs--an audience so large that
il could not he accommodated in the
sunday school room where IL was in
tended that the meeting should be held
--unbelicvably tall and thin. il wasn't
hard to believe his simple statement
that when he realized that he was go
ing downhill every day he had TO
come back home.
TELLS or ROUMANIA
AND HER STRUGGLE
Coming down 30 current history. Or.
Bryan told OF how Eoumanian through
the influence of the queen on" OF
Queen Nic;oria's many ErsndGanEh-
tcrs. throw in her lot with tho allies
f-t.n llI
lost in the onslaurh,s by tho Germans
since. DE- Eryan's account OF their
stay N Ronmania. while intensely in
,creStirE. was not calculated to cause
any sudden migration in that direction.
Their chief trouble was food. The
Eoumanian does not eat breakfast
said the speaker. And tcr the other
meals there was no cream, no butter
no sugar. no fruit, no desserts, nothing
that one could eat All tho water tina.
we drank was not only boiled first, but
had strong tablets dissolved in every
giassful TO ward off tho germs.
Carrots. cabbage, parsnip. cabbage
again and again in all sort OF Gujses
and disguisrs, and now and then an old
skinny Roumanian goose. were the
principal articles on the daily menu
/ II never want TO sec cabbage again,
declared DIR. Bryan. There were no
stores from which anything could h,
/ bought, poverty on all sides and
swacms of every sort OF people, happy,
brisk. Indifferent. apparently.
/ Most interesting was DR.. Bryan's ac-
count OF their interview with the Queen
| in her palace. Of her EraciousneSs and
sweetness OF her good looks and simple
cordially. She was the prcttiest and
! incest Queen ! ever met" declared DIR.
/ Bryan enthusiastically. King Ferdi-
nand's palace was further down the
street, not from any conjugal infelicity,
! but from reasons of state. Dining
with King and Queen was a very
simple matter, said DR.. Bryan The
King was small very nervous man
a German by birth and training and in
clination. but who. through the infiu-
ence OF his wife, had cast in his 10,
( with the allies.
/ The Queen wore nurses white
uniform, went on Dr.. Bryan, and on
black ribbon around her neck a
curious little silver cross. which. the
( speaker thought, had some peculiar
significance. since aftcrward he found
/ scratched, obviously with diamond
ring, on window pane the same en-
blcm.
Il talked 10 the Queen about vir-
sinia," said Or. Bryan with Yhimsi-
cal humor, and she said she knew