Evening star., 1926-11-04

trying desperately to polish us up 81
of New York.
l shall never be able to explain how
got into my silver and black dress
the evening of the Ritz-Carleton re
ception. I do not know how I man
aged TO fasten my most brilliant tiara
on my head and my official decora
done somehow and l am told that
achieved a very regal aspect.
Mr.. Nelson Cromwell. the kindly
protector and leader of the Friends Of
Rumania, came to fetch me all re
splendent with his Ruma nian grant
Gordon, and he conducted me to the
brilliantly lighted and superbly dec
Grated halls Of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel
Here the rest Of my followers were
assembled, and | was greeted by {
committee of Friends of Rumania, al
OF whom are devoted to our cause.
Charmed by Welcome.
In a regal procession we then pro
ceeded to the upper reception rooms
where a brilliant crowd of guests hat
assembled to greet me and welcome
me to their tremendous town.
Mr.. Cromwell had done everything
well, and had decorated with Autumn
y
in front of a throne-like chair ant
here 1 had presented to me many in
teresting and charming people, head
ed hy Gen. Pershing. Some / hat
known abroad. but most of them were
strangers to me, although they Ger
tainly did not let me feel like q
stranger, so charming was their wei
come.
According to the American custom
I shook hands with every one. ant
discovered 1t to be almost as fatiguins
as I had been told it was. But my
strength has no end when I am in g
sympathetic atmosphere. and this
was the case with a vengeance that
evening. Hardly ever have l been
received with more evident expires
sions Of pleasure One thing which
struck me tremendously was what
charming things Americans find tt
say. They treated me like a sister
they had long desired to take into
their midst.
The official presentations over, the
carpet was cleared and nearly every
one began to dance, while 1 looked
on from my throne.like chair, enjoy
ing the charming sight, seeing ole
and young sharing in the same
pleasure. All were eager and delighted
and none was out Of place. Although
we were dead tired, we were not al
all eager to go home, so happy die
every one make us feel. But l can
not say that he'd was not a welcome
haven when it was reached.
Quiet Morning an Illusion.
I had hoped to keep the morning
for myself-that is to say, to do
little writing and to receive few
friends-but this was an illusion soon
dispelled driven away by the many
engagements people had made for me
quite without my knowing. But a
queen is to a certain extent public
property, and she must never protest
If by so doing she may upset any ar
rangement in which others are con
cerned. So before I knew what was
happening l was Whisked off to the
public library.
This was. indeed, worth visiting. 1t
is a grand building and a magnificent
institution.
was led through the whole build
ing by a charming, young-faced. gray
haired gentleman. His was one of
the most delightful faces l had yet
met, but I missed his name when he
was presented. l later discovered 1t to
be Mr.. Francis Polk, with whom had
often corresponded during the peace
conference and who had been a
stanch friend to Rumania when we
were sore beset The name of Polk
always had filled me with a sense of
gratitude, and there had been, walk
ing by his side and charmed by his
personality. all unconscious OF his be-
ing the friend who had stood by us
in our need. Later, when / saw him.
he told me that he had realized that
had not understood who he was.
but that he had been too shy to ex-
plain. We had a good laugh over
that, but l told him l regretted even
that short hour when had not known
that one who had rendered me such
precious aid was walking beside me
and that had not been able to express
my thanks.
More Packages and Flowers.
Audiences were awaiting me when
I returned to the hotel and there were
more packages and more flowers.
Everywhere the police stood about in
a way to which l had not been accus.
toned in Europe. They were friendly.
cheerful and patient, but, neverthe-
less. it takes a little time to get ac-
customed to being guarded AS though
one were something infinitely precious
which others might try to steal. l
found, however. that the only way to
stand the strange and disconcerting
state of affairs was to make personal
friends Of these policemen and to even
take them into every joke.
1 dressed. somehow, as l nowadays
always seem to dress. in a room with
every door open. the floor strewn with
flowers, the chairs piled with bundles
and the tables bending beneath the
weight Of letters. hats. dresses, cloaks.
shoes, fans and gloves. Stockings and
perfume bottles were heaped on the
bed and two haggard maids. daZed and
hollow-eyed. were misunderstanding
orders and placing crown jewels upon
the last free stool. With 1t all the
absurd "Craggie" was marching up and
down with a green and red slipper in
his mouth, officiously insisting that he
was part Of the show. In spite Of all
this pandemoniam l managed to don
a smart velvet dress. becoming hat
that did not hide my face too much.
and off I went to what might have
been a rather severe ordeal.
Received by Chamber of Commerce.
This was an official reception given
to me in grand and solemn style by
the Chamber of Commerce. II was
fiattering. but slightly awe inspiring,
and would probably have made me
quake in my shoes if had had time
to be frigMened. 1t was the frs; time
that woman had been received in
those sacred halls and l was duly
impressed.
Perfectly charming things were said
to me by Mr.. William L. Debost. presi.
dent Of the New York Chamber Of Com.