Evening star., 1939-03-19
Countess bernadotte,
Born in u. s., Likes
Sweden as Home
Wife Of Kings Nephew
TuIks of Fair and louds
Her Compotriots
BY MARCELLE FRANKEN.

PLEASANTVILLE, N. Y, March
10 (N.AN.AD.-Countess Estelle
Bernadotte couldn't come to New
York because it was the day out for
her children's nurse. But If you
come to Pleasantvilles =" she
said over the telephone.
Driving through the gates to the
70-room English mansion of her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. H. Edward
Manvil}e, one wondered how true
were the rumors about the utter
simplicity Of this American girl who
Is married to Count Folke Berna-
dotte, nephew of King Gustav v OF
Sweden, who arrived in New York
this week to represent Sweden at
the Worlds Fair. But it was a
definite fact that the crown prince,
Gustav Adolph, on his visit to this
country last summer, had said,
"Estelle Bernadottee hasn't a
shadow OF pretension in her nature.
She's as close to us as one of our
own children. Every one in Sweden
loves her"
There was short wait in small
sitting room filled with flowers and
family snapshots. Then the coun-
tess came in, carrying her own
breakfast tray.
Concerned About Figure.
The countess, wearing a simple
velvet hostess gown, munched crack
ley Swedish biscuits while she de-
scribed some special Mensendieck
exercises that help her to keep her
slim figure.
Schools in Sweden are very diff
cult" she went on. After the
fourth year the children must take
an examination. Those who get
the best marks can remain, the
others must go to less crowded
schools in the outlying districts of
Stockholm. Folke and Bertil will
have to take their chances. They
are going to state school until
they are IA. Then the boys will 90
of to boarding school. My husband
and I believe it's important for
children to get away on their own,
to be independent.
i am happy my husband accepted
the offer to act as commissioner
general of the Swedish exhibition at
the Worlds Fair because he will be
working for something near to our
hearts.
Lauds Compatriots.
"The pavilion will attract people
because it is living, pulsating SYM
Dol Of the goals toward which the
country is striving Swedish mod
ern' furniture will be co-ordinated
in whole room schemes showing how
people in different income brackets
can afford to live in lovely surround
ings. And what thrills me are the
modern conveniences with which the
low rental cooperative apartments
in Sweden are quipped. Then, of
course. there is the rotating smor-
gasbord in the restaurant pavilion
No one will have to walk around
the table for his hors d'oeuvres
The dishes will come around to
him.
I'm sure Americans will enjoy
the way Swedish people prepare
crayfish. It's a great national
favorite. My husband and I were
so delighted when our home Dragon
garden was completed. we had grown
so fond of the workmen that we
put tables out on the terrace and
all had big kraafter party chats
the Swedish name for crayfish.
Entertaining, in fact my whole
life in Sweden. is centered around
my home. We hardly ever go to res
taurants, and I haven't been in a
Swedish night club. Just as in
America, we do play lot of bridge.
During the season We join our
friends pheasant shooting, but main-
ly for the exercise and to keep out
in the open.
Sweden is such good place to
live in. It's not a rich country, but
always ready to give. Great quanti-
ties of food have been sent to the
children in Spain and linens tc
China. Everything in the independ-
ent, democratic spirit of the Swedish
people resents relationships. It's
over a hundred years, ever since
King Oscar I, son of the first Berna-
dotte, that Sweden has been at war
The people are so thankful that
they've had such long era OF peace
Perhaps it is just because both
Sweden and America are so perme-
ated with the desire for peace and
security for all that the bond link
ing them together is so strong"
(Copyrisht. 193e)