RUMANIA'S KING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 206, 29 August 1916, Page 7

RUMANIA'S KING.

.... A LIFE OF ROMANCE. More a student than a soldier, romance has entered largely into the life of King Ferdinand of Rumania. He was greatlybeloved by his aunt. "Carmen Sylva,'' who has just died. "How I wish he were my son." she said one day. "But even so I could not love him more than I do." At the time King Ferdinand was a small boy, and little did either think he would one day, by a series of accidents, occupy the throne of Rumania.

King Carol and Carmen Sylva had one child, a girl, who died at an early age. and. as it appeared improbable that there would he a direct heir to the throne. King Carol's elder brother was made heir-apparent. He, however, resigned his right in favour of his eldest son, Princo Wilhelm, who in turn passed on the prospective royal heritage to his brother, the present King. Ferdinand was created Crown Prince in 1889, and with that thoroughness whic_t ; s so characteristic of him he set himself to learn the art of statesmanship. His Majesty possesses a tremendous capacity for hard work, and, although more fond of book 3 than of soldiering, has acquired great knowledge of military matters. He is not without experience as a soldier in the field. He took an active part in the campaign of 1913, when Rumania sent an army of abont half a million men across the Bulgarian frontier. Although the Bulgarians were too busily engaged elsewhere to offer any opposition to the new invaders, the Rumanian military establishment went through all the manoeuvres of a real conflict, and Prince Ferdinand, as he was then, bo.re his share of the work with a cheerful goodfellowship which won the admiration of his soldiers.

Love first came into the Prince's life when he was attracted by the charm of "ne of Carmen Svlva's ladies-in-waiting. He completely lost his heart to her. "I have never known anything so beautiful as their devotion to each other." Carmen Sylva wrote. "It is love pure and ideal: they were made for one another, but I fear their union is impossible." And so it proved, for King Carol would not hear of the future King of Rumania marrying Bis wife's maid of honour, however charming she might be. and to this edict tne lovers had to submit.

Ferdinand ultimately married the sweet-faced Princess Marie, daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh. After a brief and happy wooing he led her to the altar >n 1893. The King has six children, two ™ys and four girls, the heir to the throne being the Crown Prince Carol, who is now twenty-two years of age.