South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-14
Princess VIOra,
Gotham Visitor,
Throne ASbirant
American Princess to Press
Fight for Albanian Throne.
She Declares.
BY II. III. WHITNEY

NEW YORK. May ia have
1 just talked with a woman who may
be the first American 10 be address.
/ ed as Your Majesty" She is the
/ Princess Vlora. formerly Mrs Heller
Kelly Gould and more recently Mrs.
/ Ralph Thomas.
II she attains the throne Of Alba
MIA. as seems possible. she bids fair
10 eclipse socially Princess Anasta-
| sia Of Greece. formerly Mrs William
I 3. Leeds, who through her marriage
TO Prince Christopher of Greece has
/ climbed the royal ladder ligher than
any other American woman.
Princess Vlora is in New York "on
business, while her royal consort.
Prince Vlora, is at their home IN
Paris. arranging plans 10 ascend the
throne of his grandfather
The father Of VIora. Ferid Pasha
is prime minister TO Abdul Hamid.
and is working quietly with Turkish
I leaders.
Prefers Paris.
What will you do in Albania,
where most Of the men are poIyga
mists and addicted to bloody fueds ?''
I asked her in her apartment in the
Hotel Lenorie.
Il don't know" she said. smiling.
perhaps remain most of the time i'm
my Paris home with my two chill
dren-Helen, who is I9. and Doro-
thy, who is 17-who are now in
| school in Switzerland"
The princess was Helen Margaret
/ Kelly. granddaughter of the million
aire New York banker. Eugene Kel-
~. She was married at Is TO Frank
Jay Gould and afto- divorcing him
married Ralph Thomas. son of the
sugar king. After a brief married
life. he died suddenly in 1914. Ieav-
ing her several millions
Served as War Nurse.
During the war she sailed for
Paris, where she became war
nurse. While recuperatirg in Switz-
erland, she told me. she met Prince
Vlora, who was brooding over the
fate Of albania and meditating
schemes for its restoration.
He told me sad stories of Alba
I NO. SAAt NOnAAlAuGuf OF It's WHO
scenery and of the picturesqueness OF
its people. He was a delightful chan
and 1 confess that / lost my hear
to him. We were married quietly.
Whether the prince will become
king Of Albania is not certain. 1t i.
we'll known in diplomatic circles that
the problem Of finding a satisfactory
/ ruler is hard one The prince il
/ the natural ruler and is mapping out
his course in Paris and London now
Picture OF Albania.
Albania is the roughest country
in the Balkans, a country Of wild
/ mountains. entirely without rail
roads. The only towns are situated
on the coast of the Adriatic. The en-
| tire population is less than 800. 600
! The people consist mainly OF
| fierce mOuntaineers, walking arse
mails Of rifles and knives. They are
J Mohammedans in religion and con-
/ firmed polygamists."
The princess explained that short
/ ly before the war Prince William ot
/ Wied, with German and Austrian
\ backing, succeeded in getting in
! stalled as king OF Albania at Duraz-
20. He never succeeded, she said. in
winning the allegiance of the noun
/ taineers, because Essad Pasha and
local chieftains were hostile to him.
I So he returned TO Germany
Since then the Italians have occu-
pied more of Albania and Joined
hands with the allies. operating from
! Saloniki.
Aiding Husband
| i am here 10 assist 10y husband
in my own way" Princess Vlora said
If he wants the throne he can have
| IL.
Il am very much IN love with him
and will help him all / can, but ]
/ think 1 would prefer 20 spend most
! Of my time in Paris