The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-24
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T want to hear The Wearing of the Green" Tbese were the startling words of Queen Victoria which burst like bomb on the embarrassed as- sembly of royalty in the drawing room of Balmoral castle when the Irish girl finished her three wild and passionate songs of Erin.
 Helen Vacaresco says for herself and Queen Elizabeth of Roumania: : The title (of the song) bore no sig nificance whatever to our ears, but an uncomfortable murmur floated through the audience, and I could even discern few whispered words such as, Oh, no, impossible How ever, the Queen repeated her request, Sing that song, please. I wish to hear it very much indeed. Win you do that for me-"
 I am not here set to try and solve the unhappy situation which for so long a time has been a sore spot be- tween England and Ireland; neither do feel competent or called upon to pass judgment upon the handling of the matter; but l think l may be per mitted to remark, having studied the Irish question for a long time,- and knowing something of the tempera- ment of the Irish people, that if they could have heard Queen Victoria not only calling for but demanding to hear The Wearing of the Green" it would have done more to hearten them all of Gladstone's promise of home rule.
 But let Miss Vacaresco tell her own story: Yes, madame" answered the beautiful Irish girl, firmly. Her face was set, and her eyes shone with & strange glow. From the very in- stant she began to sing grasped the meaning of the constraint and uneas- mess with which the Queens proposi- tion had been received. In the full glare of a neighboring lamp the love- ly young woman, whose features were now fully revealed in the glory of an audacious perfection, began to sing. Her voice swelled out in ac- cents as fiery and glowing as the flame of lurd torches, as furious as the harsh cries of multitudes raised up by wrath to pitch of passion; fearful, indeed, but magnificent"
 
 Believe me, Helen Vacaresco not only sensed the tense situation, but in putting it down in white and black gives evidence that she has the dramatic instinct and the gift of making her readers see things as they happened. Hear her: "The song she sang was a popular anthem, shriek for mercy and pity, a defiant challenge from the weak to the strong, something startling and ap- palling like a thunderbo1t that falls on the bosom of a tempestuous sea and awakens thousands of echoes of pillows. All these waves of ven- geance, all the cries, all the wither- ing rage which that young voice poured forth came to die like foam at the feet of the quiet Queen" Now comes a tribute to Victoria: "Once again I saw that peculiar ex- pression in her eyes, that expression of clearness and limpidity, as if those eyes were made of fresh air and water, and could blow away or wipe out each tear, all anguish, every one of the complaints uttered by the des- perate song. It was evidently hasten ing towards it's end, the stanzas Quickened their faltering pace, and vehement desire for justice and vic tory" Possibly tho. Roumanian girl in waiting to Carmen Sylvia" be- cause of her knowledge of the wild and passionate strain in her own peo- pie, unconsciously in the interpreta ton of the song and the singer went to the heart of the Sim Fein move ment.
 Small wonder that towards the close of the song she could say: We were then one and all wrapped up in the same thought; What would we say after the young girl had ceased. who would dare to break the silence this time? What would follow?' When the dreaded pause came we almost held our breath; no word was spoken; no sound heard. Then an incident. unexpected as it was charming, took place. With dignified yet affection ate alacrity the Queen of Roumania 1 came over and knelt by the side of Queen Victoria's huge chair, and talk ling bother her hands carressingly between her own, said:
 What very great Queen you must be, and how sure of the affec- tion of your subjects, to be able to hear such a song sung in your pres- ence. In fact, were you not really great Queen, no one would have dared to obey you today" But the song is splendid" said Queen Vic toria. and I wanted you to hear it. Resides, am very fond of the Irish you may be sure of that" Then. turn ing towards the young girl. T thank you with all my heart, my dear. You have given me great pleasure and Ibeen the occasion of my receiving from the Queen of Roumania com pliment which I shall never forget l |c3uu1kzltMI@anefH
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