Evening star., 1919-05-02

i, IS1uSees, Jepdtf ~ iooAASAS o''N
wounded soldiers who since the ar
mistice have poured into the country
over every road and mountain pass
THE smiles which the American Red
Cross has brought to the faces OF my
people," he said. "are the best ex-
pressions of gratitude I can give the
American nation, for those smiles are
but the reflections Of hearts and souls
touched by the kindness and charity
of greater people"
Pictures Prompt Utterance.
King Peter was prompted to speak
by two photographs he had received
from Maj Daniel J. Mccarthy of
Davenport, Iowa, in charge of Red
Cross relief work at Skopolte, Serbia.
One showed a group Of ragged, bare
footed, despairing women and chill
dren in front of the Red Cross relief
station at that place and the other
showed the same group after having
received baths, clothing and food
from the Red Cross. One was a pic
ture of misery and detection; the 9TH
er of eontentment and joy.
you have dried tears. assuaged
sorrow and alleviated the sufferings
so painfully depicted on the faces of
our mothers, sisters and children"
said the king.
personally I am profoundly grate-
full for this Christian charity" he
people and. indeed. a part of them,
I do as they do and simply say to the
American people: Thank you. thank
you, with all my heart The Serbian
nation will ever be grateful to the
generous givers of the United States
who have made and are making the
wonderful work of the American Red
Cross possible. In every city of Serbia
to wi n the American Red Cross has
carried it's message of help and sym
and broken-hearted Serbian people
/ have been converted into new human
, beings and their sufferings and sor-
rows have given way to comfort and
| happiness
Silent on Political Issues.
| King Peter, who has been living in
this part Of Greece for more than a
year. a fact which has been unknown
to the outside world. asked to be ex-
cused from commenting upon the po-
litical situation. He said he was an
old man who had relinquished the
cares of state to younger hands and
was seeking the quistude of rest that
comes at the end Of a long public
career. He is no longer participating
actively in the affairs of the Serbian
government and is content to leave
them to his son, Prince Regent Alex
ander. and his cabinet.
The aged rulers health, while it has
improved since his last illness. is
still far from good. His right side is
paralyzed and he spends the most
of the time in bed, being able to walk
only with the aid OF crutches. King
Peter is living in simple. unpre-
the home of a laboring man. The
rental is less than S35 per month and
the furniture and equipment is plain
to the point Of modesty. Everything
about the place suggests the utmost
simplicity.
The king does not even enjoy the
common convenience Of an automo-
bile. When he is able to go trav
cling he prefers to use a motor cycle
which is equipped with side car.
This modest conveyance, which is OF
American manufacture, Is driven by
the kings faithful sergeant and body
guard, who was assigned to the king
from the Serbian army. Before his
illness the king was a familiar sight
on the roads in the neighborhood Of
Athens, where everybody knew him
by his motor cycle and his simple.
democratic manner.
Admires President Wilson.
The aged monarch received no vis-
itors except his personal physician
and his aid-de camp. and keeps him.
self in such seclusion that even his
own minister in Athens has been
able to see him only once in the last
gave the Associated Press today was
the first public announcement he has
made in more than year He still
follows with interest the course Of
events Of the world and has the news
papers read to him daily. He is
great admirer Of President Wilson.
whose photograph may be seen in
the living room OF the kings apart
ment.
Most people know King Peter as
wearing a flowing, patriarchal beard,
but this has been removed. and he
now has the appearance Of man ten
years younger. 1t is the custom
among Serbians, when undergoing
any great sorrow or trial, to let the
beard grow as an indication Of their
feeling. This was done by King Pc
ter when he and his heroic little army
| were forced out Of their native coun-
try by the Germans. When Serbia
was freed and the undaunted mon
arch and his soldiers returned, how
ever. he had his beard removed to
show the great JOY that has come to
him. 1t was only few days after his
entry into his liberated country that
! the old man was stricken with apo
plexy. The joy and excitement had
| been too great for him.
As soon as tho railroad from Salon
| ikf to Belgrade is restored King Pc
ter plans to return to the seclusion of
his private monastery outside his
capital. where he will spend his re-
| naming days aloof from the strife Of
| war and the stress of public life.
"Why I Am Going Back"
'My last years." said the aged ruler,
refiectively. today, (which now in
deed must be all too few. I desire to
pass as man might who has gone
beyond the allotted three score and
| ten and who has laid down the burden
| Of public life and bade farewell to the
outer world. My beloved Serbia is
/ now free and its future believe will
he a great one. My work is over and
/ desire only the continued affection
! and devotion Of my dear people and
F.: finally a simple grave on Serbian soil.
That is why I am going back to Bel