Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26

T Ieana of Rumania to Arch
~ duke Anton Won Hapsburg OF
Austria Is the result of a love
match" but there are many who rear
that it is much more likely just state
alliance-and not very satisfactory one
at that.
Ileana has legions OF friends in every
quarter of the world. Their hearts Will
90 out to her today. They will hope for
her happiness That is all that they
can do. For princesSes additionally are
Observation-Disclosures pawns on the great
international chess board. They must
do as they are told Marriages are ar
ranged for them. They are living sacrt-
fees to policy. In Ileana's case espe-
cially it seems a bitter pity that this
should be so.
Compa ~isons are unkind. but OF all
the royal daughters of thu twentieth
century Ileara has been the loveliest,
the most truly charming, the most ro-
mantle.
Born January 5, 1909. she was the
fifth child. the third daughter OF King
Ferdinand and QUEEN Marie.
Her father, second son of Prince Leo
pold o. Hohenzollerr-S igmaringen, Yves
a scion Of the Roman Catholic branch
Of thu Hohenzollern clan. Her uncle,
King Carl l. scmctirl-s called Charl7s,
recognized him as Crown Prince Of Ru-
mania in March. 1889. He was by ma
ture shy. reticent, methodical, delib-
crate, conservative. content with the
beaten path" not an ideal man Of ac-
ton, but destiny called him to military
career. and during the quarter century
through which he waited for the throne
he amused himself by recognizing the
Rumanian army along modern lines.
Joined Allied Forces,
He was so years of age when King
Carol died. October IL, 1914; his health
was not of the best; his reign began in
a Europe torn with war. For nearly
two years h managed to keep his coun-
try out of the strife. but at last on
August 81, 1916, Allied insistence tri-
umphed. and Ferdinand cut with his,
sword the ties of blood which bound
him to the Kaiser and the German
cause The decision cost him much.
Instantly Gen. Mackensen took up the
challenge. Rumania was overrun. Fer
dinand and his court fed perforce to
Jassy, in Moldavia Later he rallied his
troops to face Mackensen at Marasesti,
and the rest of his realm was saved.
In the end, in 1918, after the German
collapse, he invested a territory much
larger than the whole of old Rumania-
the provinces OF BeSSarabia BukoVlna,
Pennsylvania, CriSana, MaramureShssnj
Banat, formerly held By Russia and
Austria -Hungary-and these lands were
confirem to him by the peace treaties OF
1919. He was crowned King OF all Ru-
manianS October Is. 1922, at Alba Ju-
liza. But he was ill., and soon his condl-
ton bscame serious. At the last mo-
ment an operation was performed, but
influenza interviewed. The King died on
July 20, 1927. A homely, unattractive
man, he was but little known abroad.
Without talents of more than mediocre
caliber, ruling an undeveloped country,
he was conceded to have done well. Per-
haps his most conspicuous achievement
was his marriagc-his alliance with the
Princess Marie of Edinburgh. 1leanas
gifted and beautiful mother.
Eldest daughter, fourth child Of AL
fred, Duke of Edinburgh, second son OF
Queen Victoria, the future Queen Ma
RE was but II years old when she was
betrothed to the heir to the Rumanian
crown. Her mother was the Grand
Duchess Marie Alexandrovna, only
daughter of Alexander II, Emperor Of
Russia. She had three sisters: Victoria
Melita, who became the Grand Duchess
Cyril of Russia; Beatrice, who married
Don Alphonso Of Spain and was known
as the Infanta BeatriZ, and Alexandra
Louisa Olga Victoria, who welded the
Prince of acknowledgements A
brother. Alfred, died unmarried, Febru-
airy 6, 1899.
Was Gay, Lovable Girl.
Marie was granted happy child
hood. The duke, her father, was called
1.-THE sailor prince" for his love of the
sea and his knowledge of naval science.
At different times he was commander
in chief of the British fleets and sta
tons at Malta and at Portsmouth. La
ter he became Duke of Coburg. from
one location to another his family fol-
lowed him with zest born no less OF
affection for his work than for himself.
Marie, called Missy by her intimates,
was a gay and lovable girl. Even the
atrocious fashions of the time cannot
conceal her grace and charm In photo
graphs now yellow from the touch OF
passing decades. Her hair was golden
in color; she had rose-leaf complex
ion; her eyes were frank and deep.
While she was just little child King
Edward VII was considering her" for
his son, the present King George. APP
parently George was enthusiastically
willing. We know that he was often at
Malta, and there is still extant a crystal
travelling clock which he gave to Marie
at Christmas, 1891-"From George to
Daring MISSY - tIlS 1IlSCLlpIkOI1 Gil"
graved upon 1t. But George was only q
second son; he was not then in sight Of
a throne. So other plans were made for
Marie. She was sent to Potsdam to
visit the Emperor william. There she
met Ferdinand, and there the Kaiser
himself announced her engagement, May
%, 1892. The marriage took place at
Sigmaringen, January 10, 1893. There
were three ceremonies.
For the next 20 years Marie was
occupied with family duties. She
found that she was expected to at