Evening star., 1935-07-10
Elizabeth Hurt, but Brave
FORMER QUEEN HATES COURT HYPOCRISY.
BY GLADYS BAKER.
BY Radio to The Star.


n UCHAREST, July 10 (N.A.N.A).
x I'm her secluded pink villa
on Victoria street. Princess
- Elizabeth. the former Queen
Of Greece, talked as q disillusioned
woman about her divorce from ex-
King George, granted Saturday In the
Bucharest Appeal Court.
1T is difficult to marry two types
of mentality" she said. unless there
is an overlying strong feeling. So
much depends upon character and
education. The temperaments of two
nationalities are so essentially differ
ent that, when the inevitable moment
comes, a misunderstanding will form
much deeper wound"
The scars of her severed marriage
are obvious to the eyes of another
woman, despite the gallant Elizabeth's
efforts to conceal them from the out
side world.
She received the correspondent in a
drawing room Of simple dignity. q
setting of antique woods and soft
toned green's. There was q nun-like
severity in the plain gray gown she
wore. Her patrician head was sill
houetted against white Madonna lilies
in a silvery bowl.
Would Never Have Returned.
Although the royal couple had been
separated for some time, the divorce
came as a crushing blow to the Greek
monarchists. who had hoped, through
the forthcoming plebiscite, to restore
George and his Queen to the throne.
I never would have gone back"
she said. L never wanted to be a
Queen. Ever since I was a child |
dreaded the thought of it. One of the
reasons 1 married my husband was
that I thought he never would go
back to the throne. I hated the hy-
pocrisy, the superficialty and the false
admiration given to me because I
happened to be born to a position OF
royalty" The decisive gestures of her
ringless hands emphasized the con-
trolled emotion in her voice.
Il would rather be a street sweeper
earning his living than a queen who
had done nothing to deserve her posi-
ton. The only satisfaction I have
had from the manifestations accorded
to royalty is that know the public
likes 1t and I could give them that
pleasure. My greatest personal salts
! faction came from the small things of
life-simple consideration and sim
cerity; not honor or beautiful tributes,
only the true feeling of the heart be-
hind the thing
Generosity Held Lacking.
"The Greeks have none of the gen.
erosity of the Rumanians," continued
the Rumanian princess. They are
less hospitable, less spontaneous. The
Rumanian has his heart under his
hand. Although he is quick-tongued
his temper is soon over. But when a
Greek hates, he hates completely, al
most like vendetta.
What I missed most" she added
was the lack Of educational culture. ;
Between Elizabeth and her royal
husband there existed a wide gulf OF
divergent tastes. George is a bon
| 'A'hAAb, q AiVClys 4UU pCI CCllG SAIIONeTl
seeking his pleasure where he finds it
Elizabeth is by nature an artist, re-
served and introspective; she paints
and sings.
Another cause of the marital rift
was the fact that Elizabeth was
childless. In the second year of hel
reign, she lost her unborn child. TIC
fulfill her maternal longing, she now
makes a brave attempt to sublimate
this need in work for other women's
children.
Children interest me most" she
said. II have no patience with wom-
en- who leave their children in the
hands OF others, who lose the love anc
intimacy which are based on family
life"
Founded Maternity Hospital.
In Bucharest she has established
pital, one of the most modern insti.
tutions of its type in Rumania. OF
5000 mothers attended by the efficient
staff in the last year, only five, who
were brought in dying, were lost. Fol
poor children, she maintains two can
teens in the most miserable sections
of the city.
Out Of her own tragic experience
has been cryStallized a formula for
the rearing of youth.
"Give our young people hope" she
said. Teach them humanitarianism
to help their neighbors. Give them
the right basis for life. not the stupid
illusion that everything is perfect"
Asked about the Greek plebiscite
she said: mo one can be sure il
actually will come OF. It may moi
happen at all. The Greeks are al.
ways trying to destroy the person or
top. They poisoned their poets ano
did away with their philosophers
That is because they have never founo
what suited them
will your majesty be happier liv.
ing in private life than you woulo
have been as a queen?" she was asked
wistful look came into her calm
gray eyes. Happiness" she said, "k
a secondary thing. Life is hard ano
characters are weak We must trave
the thorny path of philosophy. A
person, however, looks for the roses
that are grown upon thorns."
tcopyrisht, 1895. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc)