Evening star., 1926-11-19
My Impressions of America
BY Her Majesty the Queen Of Rumania
Written Exclusively for The Star and Other Members of the North
American Newspaper Alliance

BY the time we parted, in a scufhe
of horses and clouds of dust. night
had come on entirely and we could
hardly recognize each other at all.
Day of Mourning.
November 2 is for me always a day
of mourning. In 1916. on that day,
my little Mircea was taken from me.
Maj. Washburn, who is on this
train with me as my aide, was
with us in Rumania then. He re-
members the tragedy of those days
when my child was dying and the
Germans from all sides were nearing
our capital-days OF stress and d1sas-
ter. which now lie far behind us. and
which the I'd of November brings back
to me ever anew in vivid torture. This
day, however, in your far-off America, !,
I was being received with honor in
one town after another. but we only
stopped for a longer time in Spokane
in the evening.
One pathetic little incident. how
ever, took place before we arrived.
At one of the stations. somewhere in
Idaho. where our train slowed down
without really stopping. a little hoy
by the name Of Lester Brown had for
some reason been left on the train.
having clambered up, pushed by the
crowd behind him.
He was brought to us all in tears.
He looked like a poor little swallow
that had been caught in room and
could not find the window through
which it could escape. My children.
however, quickly consoled him and
Ileana used every tact to beguile him
to take part in their game. a rowdy
exercise in the train corridor, con-
sisting in pitching small sacks filled
with beans at each others heads.
Lester Brown could not resist the
charm of this sport and soon one
heard him laughing and l understood
that this deplorable incident which
had at first frightened him out of his
wits was turning into a glorious ad-
venture
The end Of 1t was that Lester Brown
di,ed as the fourth at our family
board and was sent home by the next
train, laden with all sorts Of souvenirs
to commemorate the interesting event.
Spokane was gloriously illuminated
to receive us. There had been elec-
tions that night, SO the town was in
a turmoil of excitement for both
events. We drove. as usual, in solemn
procession through the streets with
a great display of military and bands.
WIFI Il waving VI ldSS dTu lTdHN
cheers in the Ruma nian language, for
there, too, are many of our country
men.
We were driven to the Davenport
Hotel and there In the great hall we
were received by a. beautifully dressed
committee of ladies-the gentlemen
had received us already at the station
and we We're seated upon platform
facing the crowds which kept moving
through the hall. so as to afford them
a good look at us, as in the evening
all outside ceremonies are impossible.
Between us and the ever-moving pro-
cession of townspeople picturesque
group of Indians had assembled.
Garb Of Indians.
They were marvelously garbed In
clothes of leather embroidered with
beads, fringes of buckskin and little
ermine skins hung from them on
every side. Their feather crowns
We're superb, many of them having
long tails touching the ground. They
danced and sang in their own weird
way. An India princess was pre-
sented to us. She walked with noble
gait and her costume was beautiful;
around her forehead lay bright ba nd
of cloth, her raven Black hair was
plated in two long tresses. her moe
casined feet made no sound.
On this occasion it was my son who
received the feathered crown, sign
of chiefdom, and with it the name of
white Whirlwind," which his sister
considred entirely suitable. Ileana
herself. although she was not given A
feathered headdress. was given the
charming name of Red Bird"
The whole of Spokane seemed to
have gone mad with plea BILE ex-
citement that evening and wherever
we showed ourselves we were re-
cived with mighty acclaim.
| was taken to chamber above,
where | had to speak message into
the radio, always a shy business when
people are looking on. One feels so
completely idiotic, standing in front
of a dumb listener who does not even
look at you, but stands stolidly there
As though defying your ina aginatio
heard prayer being spoken into the
forms modernism takes.
Later lady who had heard me
speak from far-away told me that
she was so disappointed not to know
what dress I was wearing that eve
ming when I spoke. This confession
tickled my fancy
1t was here that Mr.. Samuel Hill
met US. quaint and imposing figure,
all in gray, with a sombrero worthy
of our Yesterday evenings friends.
From this evening on he was to be
our host for several days.