Evening star., 1920-03-03
STORY OF RUlMANZAN
PRINCE WHO MARRIED
GIRL OF HIS CHOICE

| "A1 vi
BERLIN, March 1-Cr0wn Prince
Charles of Rumania intends to dis
solve the morxanatic marriage he
contracted in 1918 with Mile. Zysfs
Lambrin0. a young and beautiful
Rumnnian woman. according to
dispatch from Bucharest quoting
the Newspaper EpOca. The crown
prince consequently has effected a
reconciliation with King Ferdi-
nand and Queen Marie. the news
paper adds, revivinE his claim to
the succession.
Reports received in Paris early
in January regarding the status OF
Crown Prince Charles stated that
he had effected "A reconciliation
with his parents, hut did not tndi-
cate that he hnd decided upon the
1 dissOlution of the mOrganatic Tlar-
riage. He renounced his rights to
the throne after the marriage. ands
when he was forced to separate
from his bride, tried to XIII him-
self with a revolver. but succee6-
ed only in putting bullet through
his right foot.
CHAPTER IL.
| tIn the Introductory chapter were counted
| the circumstances under which Prince Carol
met Mile. Jeanne LambrinO and the growth OF
! their attachment. The chapters that Will foi-
! low the personal narrative Of Henri serdici.
who was their guide and friend during thelr
elopement and their later troubies)
| At the time of Rumania's miseries, in
| the spring and summer OF 1918, when
| families were divided and hearts wrung.
an@ when our army. ill clad and worn
| with fatigue, lay intrenched in the Car
pathians. l often saw Crown Prince
I Carol. who was then with his regiment
at TarguNeantz.
The prince was very unhappy. He
spoke continually of his post of inaction
He tormented himself with plans for
escaping from it. At one time he want
| ed to form small legion of devoted Off
GERS brave enough to cross German boil
shevik Russia and reach the French
front. there to continue the hght 1or the
| entente and for Rumania. Knowing
these daring schemes that engrossed the
! ardent mind of the prince, l was not
surprised when one day upon my return
from Moscow, whittier l had gone on
personal affairs following my demob1il-
zation, he came to me with the question:
How can l cross Russia and reach
France?"
We sat down together and I traced for
him the route and acquainted him with
other details of the manner of reaching
She allied lines. My account made it
clear that such a journey was not only
not impossible. but perhaps even easy.
Indeed, during my trip just concluded no
one had asked to see my passports, no
one had interfered with my movements
at the Ukranian frontier. Inspection
was much disorganized and, at the
worst, the Rumanian passport was re-
spected In the bolshevist territory 1
had been asked no questions at all.
Moreover, at Moscow there were at that
time various allied military missions and
in the red army. by special design. were
three Rumanian officers personally
known to Prince Carol. 1t would be
easy for them to obtain Tor US a sare
conduct to Finland.
This conversation with the prince
left no great impression on my mind.
1t took place June 20. 1918. the very
day of my return from Russia. But
the next conversation l had with him
was different.
1t was on July 13 that received
letter brought in great haste by
messenger in a side car, inviting me
to visit the prince at Targu-Neantz
as soon as possible. I stepped at once
into the side car and we rushed across
country, some ScNcuty hllOiaSSOAS, "
the residence of the prince.
His royal highness himself opened
the door to me. We went into his
study.
He was under great emotion.
You must on no account repeat
what I am about to tell you," said he.
1 gave my word Of honor.
He then said he had mEde up his
mind. once for all. to 60 to France to
fight, and he asked II would consent
to conduct him.
I looked at the natter. naturally. as
any officer would under the circum-
stances, and assured the prince I
would assist him with all my might.
1t came to my mind that perhaps this
project was undertaken in line with
plans Of the king and that it had to
do not only with continuing our war
manian dynasty. Be 1t understood
that I, like others. felt full confidence
in the final victory Of the entente.
These thoughts passed vaguely
through my mind while j was assur-
ing his highness Of my loyalty and
Then, lii a different tone, he added
these words, which came like a light
min" stroke:
But 1 shall not be alone. You
know" he said, looking steadfastly at
leave"
I was more astonished than I can
describe; more than I should have
been. I. who. as friend OF Nine. Lam
brino and her family, had known OF
the attachment between the prince
and Mile. Jeanne.
When I was able te speak calmly.
I remarked that wha. had just been
said created different question.
'Tf you arrive in France alone" I
explained. "after having undergone all
the vicissitudes of such journey,
your presence will be an important
moral factor, and correspondingly a
blow to the enemy. You will be hailed
as a hero; you will, in Rumania, be-
come one of the figures corresponding
to the great ones in our history. But,
I ventured to add, 'ff you arrive with
your fiancee the high moral advantage
have me ntioned will be lost"
And ] explained. as tactfully as I
could, what l meant. He would be re-
garded simply as an adventurous
prince. He would not be taken seri-
ously.
He reflected and admitted I was
right. Yet he made it clear that some
means must be found to render both
his vital projects feasible.
1t was cruel situation. No one can
fail t. understand the drama then be-
ing enacted in the soul Of the prince.
One does not need to have seen, as 7
did. the despair and resolution that
CLEANED together in his eyes; to have
seen the huttering Of his eyelids as he
strove for self-possession.
sat regarding him, understanding.
considering his nature-the nature of
a military leader who knows the name
of every officer and his standing in the
army; the nature Of a prince who has
deeply studied his duties as future
! king; and that of a Rumanial de-
voted to his country, who even had re-
cited to us long passages of Cerna and
other native poets and exclaimed,
! What harmony more wonderful than
! these sounds,