Evening star., 1927-10-15

Playmates of a King and pets of a
Queeni
That doesn't often fall to the lot OF
little American boys and girls, but 1t
is the privilege of three tiny American
girls in far-away Rumania--the daugh-
ters of William Smith Culbe1tson'
American Minister to the country.
says an Associate Press dispatch from
Sinaia, Runlania.
Whenever little King Michael OF
Rumania can steal away from his
royal throne, which hauntS his boy
hood like an evil goblin, he may be
seen rollicking and gambolinG on the
lawn of the royal palace or in the
gardens of the American legation
with Junia, Jane and Josephine Gull
bertson, aged IA, IL and 2, respectively
In his dashing nature, joyous
laughter, impish pranks and bunonng
enthusiasm, Michael is much more OF
an American boy than a Rumanian
king. Although two of his American
.playmates gre older than himself, he
insists. as the boy in the group, on
bossing and leading them.
When the American young hopefuls
ara not playing blindman's buff, tag.
ring-around -the.rosie or some other
childhood game with their little royal
chum. they are sure TO be found stroll
ing in the Palace grounds with queen
Marie. who has taken great fancy
to the American Minister'S little girls.
Among the children of the foreign
colony in Bucharest the Culbertson
girls are enviously called queen
Marie's pets"
The Queen delights to listen to what
she calls their yankee dialect. Ihe
onIv time the Queen hears English
snoken outside her own household is
when the American children come
romping over t. the palace.
Although ruler over the destinies of
16 O00. 600 people. King Michael is Just
like any other 5-year-old boy. lie
cares mora for his toys than Tor MS
throne, much more for his little
American playmates than Tor MS Sc
yere.yisaged ministers OF state. he
would prefer to have his whole KING
dom taken from him than lose MS
beloved and inseparable cocker span
iel, Brown Mumbo, who shares all MS
joys and sorrows.
mickey would much rather have
q thrillins fairy tale read to him than
a drv old protocol. Although the
Rumanian state sets aside million
dollars a year for him. the tiny mon
arch cares more for the dimes MS
mother gives him for beng "a good
boy"
of toys, which he shares unseihshly
with his American playmates. But
hot GrIr IL
hertson children know nothing about
operating mechanical things. and he
must show how each one runs.
The Culbertson girls only play
things are dolls, tiny girls dresses,
miniature kitchens and embroidery
baskets. Neither as hoy nor as King
does Michael have the slightest in
terest in these things.
Like any American boy of 5, Michael
IS put to bed at or 7:30 in the eve
ming. At $50 in the morning he is up
again and dressed. At he goes for
Il carriage ride, and at 1880 he has a
hearty American breakfast of orange
Juice, oatmeal and milk, buckwheat
cakes and sirup, of which he usually
has two helpings. At $3.50 he goes
his pet dog, Brown Mumbo, and plays
with his American rubber-tired scooter
or his miniature hook and ladder.
Machinery and all mechanical things
fascinate the royal youngster. When.
ever any one makes him a present of
a toy he insists on taking it apart to
''see what's inside" When the cor
respondent of the Associated Press
took ithe little fellows photograph
Michael inquired
"Will you open the camera and let
me see what's inside? Is there really
a bird there?"
At 10 in the morning the Juvenile
monarch has short and simple les.
son in reading, writing and spelling
from his English nurse. English 10
the only language the boy King un'