The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-23
M E N, w o M E N
 A N D T H 1 N c s

The visit of King George and Queen Marv of Belfast, where the former opens the first session of the Parliament of northern Ireland brings to my mind a curious inci- dent which l am going to set out here without any thought of the po- litical situation in Ireland, but mere ly for what it may be worth.
 found it in Kings and Queens 1 Have Known written by the cele- brated Roumanian, Helene vacareso, the friend of Carmen Sylvia" the beloved and gifted Queen of Rou- mania, who occupied an intimate po- sition at court, and was the conf- dante of her royal mistress; but at present l am not so much interested volume which was published in 1904.
 give the date in order to show that the story was not written with any bias whatever in regard to the present acute situation in Ireland. Helen may be gifted as a poet, but she is a mighty poor chronicler, for she does not bother to give any ink ling of when an event happened. All the trace I have of the time of the visit to the Queen of Roumania to Queen Victoria is that it took place before 1sp. when Helen's book was published.
 She tells of the royal journey of I her Queen to Scotland to be the guest of the Queen of England at Bal moral, and it was while there that she got "c1ose up" to Queen vic- toria; but I am going to limit her picture to just one Snap shot" but to my mind it is a gem, and without her unbiased testimony l would think that both scene and incident l had been "faked;" but it bears all the earmarks of the simple truth, and that is why 1t is of such interest. at least score of years later.
 Prince Henry of Battenberg had apprised the guests that tea would be served in the Queens drawing room, and showed the way to the presence of the royal family, where all of the princesses were standing, but the Queen sat in large arm chair. Helen, the teller of the tale. was shown favor by being called to a seat near the great Queen. The Queen of Roumania and the Duchess of Albany were turning over the ] leaves of a large music album and pointing out their favorite songs to a beautiful young girl who stood by the open piano.
 I'll have to cut out the description of the dashins young woman, who was dowR for three songs in the presence bf royalty. Everything was ready, but Queen Victoria would not let the singer begin until the Prin- cess of Wales arrived. When she came in the Queen greeted her as "Alsa," saying: T have invited a young and lovely Irish girl to sing us some Irish songs but am talking away, and the girl must sing
 Then" says Helen yacareso," the young voice went forth pure and powerful, while all of the rest of the room lay in darkness; two candles only flickered on the piano and stood out like big pins of light. The har- warriors in the glare of the rising sun, then moaned over the bleeding throng, and returned bruised and weary under the cold gaze of the came from the musicians lips. These were songs of wild rebellious Erin she was singing; the glamour of her soul shrieking for liberty was lifted up in woe. A solemn stiffness had fallen upon the august listeners. on the group ~of mighty ladies and lci ds, as the voice threw out its im- perious flood of protestation and de- fiance, thrusting its music into the silence of that hallowsd room as with dassers. like the flashes of spear"
 There was an embarrassed pause. and the Prince of Wales. gentleman that he was, went over to her and murmured some kind words of con- sratulation, and Carmen Sylvia" graciouslys added word. saying: How we'll you sing, madame. and how very near your heart this music must be, because I cannot suppose any one could offer us a nobler speci- men of Irish fervour and emotions" "The lamps" says Helen. had now been brought. but large shades pre- vented them from bathing the whole room with light, and most of the people present remained invisible. Suddenly, in loud, distinct tones. Queen victoria said: I want to hear .'the wearing of the Green."' Can you beat it7"
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