Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

close by and distant, which surround
the huge and elaborate royal estate.
The beautifully cultivated parks might
have been at Fontainebleau, or Pots
dam, so perfectly are they arranged and
cared for.
The little boy seems to enjoy Gods
nature. and as he and his callers go
farther, he leaves them and starts to
run toward stretch of open lawn
Enear the PeliSor Castle. The visitors
EAncrease their pace, not knowing quite
what to do; but just as they start to run
the King stops. He stands stifly at
Iduttering at the peak of a high flag
tpole. To one side, in platoon front, the
lpalace guards are led by the colonel
commanding the royal bodyguard in
salute to the flag, also. His respects to
1.-THE sacred emblem of his country paid
q daily ceremony-the King salutes the
colonel gravely, and turns sharply away.
His face shows an entirely different
expression now quite serious, quite King
like. But, as he nears the other present,
he Is more and more the boy again.
people. His interviewer is standing on
the left of Gen. Costescu, inspector
general of the Rumanian army and
personal adjutant to the King. Others
are the Kings goyerness, the chief valet
of the castle, three officers of the royal
bodyguard q chauffeur, stableman
and servants.
Typical Boys Choice.
AS they start again to continue their
promenade along the smooth gravel
paths his, majesty is asked what he
likes best to do. And now, just as
any boy Of any country would answer,
whatever his means, he starts to tell
his long list of favored pastimes. Not
going to school, Of course, but travelling,
outdoor sports and every sort of active
play; running, playing ball, bicycling,
horseback riding and driving a car.
A farm boy of about the same age,
from Iowa, said the same things q few
years ago. And Immediately after, as
If to prove the truth of his feelings,
he calls:
"Eugen! Get my bicycle!P
He addresses the silver haired chief
The bicycle appears as if from a ma
gician's hand, as il a Houdini had
pulled it out of a pocket. The King
mounts the brightly polished bicycle,
and soon he is riding confidently. The
governeSs and the footman begin run
ming after him. Twice around the
castle the painting couple follow him.
Then. laughing over his shoulder, he
gives them the slip by pedaling at full
speed down the long hill to the garages.
Full OF anxiety, the governess is shout
ing after him:
BE careful, your majesty! You'll
fall"
Everybody is concerned over the
precious body of the nice little boy
Mihai who has forgotten that he is
his majesty the King. The long-legged
footman says nothing. but races after
his master at full speed.
Arrived at the garages, the King
hands over his bicycle and orders his
automobile, which is a small eIectri-
cally driven roadster, just big enough
for the royal child and an adult COM
panion.
Drives Own Car.
Every one waits expectantly, as II
they were watching Douglas Fairbanks
try to start his Lizzie on Hollywood
boulevard. But the Kings car is of a
different make. It starts noiselessly, and
with perfect assurance Mihai opens
the throttle and begins tooling around
the graVeled drives at a speed of about
S miles an hour. The boys face is
flushed with happiness and his mouth a
straight line, as he drives with utter
concentration. Again the governeSs and
a chauffeur chase madly after him to
see that he comes to no harm Soon the
boys nervousness relaXes, and he begins
teasing his pursuers by letting them al
most catch up with him, and then put
ting on speed to pull away.
That's the incest present Uncle
Nioky ever gave mel" he says joyously
as he gets out.
There is chorus, well done, your
majesty"
Uncle Nicky, incidentally, is His Royal
Highness Prince Nicholas, member OF
the regency council of Rumania, which
governs the country until the Kings
coming of age.
The party is slowly walking back to
the palace when his majesty stops in
front Of large clump of shrubbery.
Have you a penknife?" he asks one
OF his aides.
II have, your majesty" is the reply
Large or Small?"
Both
The official, a permanent penknife de-
pository, presents the penknives to the
King
With a few heavy slashes Of ths
larger penknife he cuts of one of the
branches eleanly.
Wen done, your majesty. says &
Euardsman.
Il can cut a very much bigger one,
Is the Kings modest reply
With the aid Of the smaller knife
The branch in the Kings hand sooE
takes the form Of very thin walking