Evening star., 1928-05-20

7incing, except for two things-it doesn't
fit the man and 1t doesn't 1T the facts.
#%
CAROL never appeared In the news IN
the role of villain until he came into
open conflict with the Bratianu regime.
He served creditably as army officer in
the war. resisting the German invasion.
After the Bratianu government mad
made peace with the Central Powers,
when revolution was raging TO the nortn
of the small corner OF earth that was
still Rumania. and on the south the
country was virtually cut of from the
outside world, the chances of the dy-
nasty seemed nil Carol then went TO
Odessa and married the girl whom he
sincerely loved. Zizi Lambrino was the
daughter of a major in the Rumanian
army. woman Of irreproachable rep
utation. He married her In the Cathe-
draI of Odessa in due and solem form
in the presence of Rumanian witnesses.
After the treaty Of Versailles had
more than doubled the Rumanian
kingdom, the young couple came TO
Bucharest to live. The King, on the
advice of his minister tBratianu), or
dered his son TO join his regiment IN a
remote provincial town. Carol obeyed.
But in the castle TO which ne was
assigned he found himself virtually
prisoner. He was under military dis
cipline. and a superior officer, an agent
of the government. was over him. Her
eoyaI highness, ZiZi Hohen2ollern- Sig
naringen (although the government ac-
corded her no such title) lived with her
| oaby son In a simple apartment IN
| Bucharest. His mail was intercepted.
! She was isolated. Friends" whispered
| INTO Carols ear that hts wife was un-
| faithful (Such things are told in novels,
| for instance MeFcdiths THE Tragic
Comedians" but in Rumania they ac-
tually happen. Then, In Carols alb
| ;ence, the Rumanian Supreme Court
-endered judgment 10 the effect that
| his marriage was null and void.
In short, the whole machinery OF
| politics had been put into operation 10
| mold Carol into a King on the accept
ID model His family appealed TO his
| sense Of duty--his responsibility toward
| II, 900 900 subjects. Again Carol obeyed.
He accepted the annulment for reasons
| II state. But he wrote a private letter
! % Zizi Lambrino telling her that he
| continued 70 regard her as his wife and
! he baby as his legitimate son.
| This started the implacAble quarrel.
/ Carol refused To be nodded into con-
| genti0nal prince. He insisted on re-
| naming the husband Of his wife. Queen
Marie. his mother, has complained that
/ 1e did not know how 10 be- King.
| Promptly his father ordered him To
AXE Il cruise around the WOrld-the
| .iassic cure for the Iove-sick youngster
/ The voyage had lasted nearly year
when the prince arrived In Switzerland
,nd met fby careful arrangemenD the
! ,rincess Helen. daughter Of King Con-
1 aantine vi Greece to whom hs became
! SetI0thed They we're married Wlih Que
1omp and splend0r. Carol appeared 10
1e cured"
Again the appeal was made 10 his
sense of duty, and he settled down 10
learn the practical politics of ths King
business He was made departmental
9ead in the aviation section Of the war
ministry. Here he came into direct and
| continuous contact with the realities OF
| Rlmsnian political life.
One must picture what that life u
II one Is 70 make any sense OF Cafol'a
| subsequent story.
- UMAhIA has all the paraphernalia
Of a modern. progressive den1oc~
racy H. has universal suffrage and o
Parliament, and q cabinet headed by Q
prime minister and civil rules and
courts of justice. But IL has one slight
deviation from the usual constitutions
practice of European dem0efaeies. Thf
prime minister Is named by the Kinl
just before, instead of just after cleo
tious.
In Rumania the government which
il IN power during an election hiWayi
winB by an overwhelming majority, Gen
AyeEeSeu, when he Was named pTemieI