ALBANIA'S KING MARRIED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 115, 18 May 1938, Page 19

ALBANIA'S KING MARRIED

In a ceremony lasting six and a half minutes—three and a half of which were occupied in signing the registerKing Zog of Albania married Countess GeTraldine Apponyi of Hungary on April 27, states Reno Mac Coll in the London "Daily Telegraph and Morning Post." It was one of the most picturesque Royal functions which I have ever witnessed As no room in the palace was large enough the ceremony took place in a temporary annexe built specially for the occasion. This was a long room*, with a pillared balcony at one end. Sunshine streamed in, lighting up the walls hung with Oriental weapons and ancient Albanian cloaks. There was a. profusion of carpets on

the floor and the general setting was reminiscent of a film studio.

The illusion was heightened by a battery of cameras within a few feet of the Royal couple, rows of glaring, naked electric lights, and the exotic dresses and'uniforms of those present. . MEDIEVAL GARB. These presented a breath-taking spectacle, particularly in the case of the. large. Hungarian contingent, who .seemed to have stepped straight out of the Middle Ages.. . . The men wore an astonishing garb —wonderful bottle-green" dolmans, I ! fur-trimmed breeches, high boots, curved scimitars in velvet scabbards, and Hussarlike cloaks of red, blue, or vermilion. One man had a scarlet coat and white duck trousers like those of the British Army of 100 years ago. Some, of the Hungarian women swept down the room in Elizabethan tight bodices, high ruffles, and embroidered trains. Others wore the choicest modern gowns, with silver fox capes. There was a group of Albanian chiefs from the mountains, fiercely moustached. They wore white trousers, skull caps, and short bl*k

coats. f A prominent figure was General Sir Jocelyn Percy, the tall British Inspector-General of the Albanian police. The British Minister, Sir Andrew Ryan, and Lady Ryan, were present with.their two young sons. The Orthodox Archimandrites, with their high, black hats and noble grey beards, Moslem imams in brilliant robes and headed by the Imam of Tirana,' added to the picturesqueness of the scene. Down the middle of the hall officers formed a lane, while the kaleidoscopic company stood chatting on each side.

There was no music and no flowers. There was not much formality, and it was all rather casual, but an attractive and charming picture, unforgettable on account of its colour. It was King Zog's wish that simplicity should be the keynote of the actual ceremony. /ALL-WHITE DRESS.

A sudden hush heralded the arrival 1 of the Royal pair, half an hour later, j A Court official appeared, walking j backwards. Then King Zog and nisi bride, their arms linked, came in. Bothj looked very happy. .:. He was in the uniform of a general | and was bareheaded. The Countess, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, smiling vivaciously, looked like a happy American girl at her first dance. She was wearing a magnificent all-white dress, encrusted with pearls and diamonds. She moved with easy grace, Her long train was not borne by pages or bridesmaids, but by four army officers, who clutched it in both hands. and attempted to keep step. She carried a huge bouquet of lilies. . The bridesmaids were the King's sisters, the Princesses Maxhide, Myzejen, and Ruhije, the King's niece and iour Hungarian countesses. Behind walked the Duke of Bergamo, the King of. Italy's representative. He escorted one of the King's married sisters, dressed in blue. Then came Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, escorting another of the King's married sistersj also in blue.

101-GUN SALUTE. The was conducted by the Vice-Speaker of Parliament, as the Speaker. was ill. He was' in evening dress. In a low voice he asked King Zog and Countess Apponyi if they accepted each other as man and wife. Their reply of "Yes" was all they said throughout the proceedings. Then the Vice-Speaker continued, pointing out the marital duties, Including a clause which obliges the wifa to contribute to the upkeep of the family if the husband needs help. King Zog, glanced at his wife with an affectionate smile as the ViceSpeaker raised his voice on the last few words, the company shouting "Bravo!" and clapping their hands. Outside a salvo of 101 guns boomed a salute. Mingling with the reports were the high-quavering voices of the muezzins, calling the faithful to enter the mosque to pray for health and prosperity for the Royal couple. There were prayers also in the Orthodox churches. Witnesses had been standing at the elbow* of the couple during the cere-

VIVID PAGEANT OF MIDDLE AGES

mony—Count Ciano and Prince Abid, son of Abdul of Turkey, for King Zog and Count Charles Apponyi and M. Villani, the Hungarian Minister, for the bride: They now dipped their pons in a large .silver inkstand, which unexpectedly bore the inscription, "To Ahmed Zog, President of the Albanian Republic." It was the gift of an Italian insurance company in the days before Zog mounted the throne. The witnesses signed! the register, Count Ciano first. Smilingly the bride and bridegroom watched the signing, then shook hands with the witnesses. Thus, this briefest and simplest of ceremonies ended. The couple then walked out amid the bowing throng. There were practically no curtseys. I There was a military review after

the wedding. Troops marched past the Palace, where the King and Queen took the salute. ■ ! '

Afterwards King Zog and Queen Geraldine left for the -honeymoon at Durazzo. They walked down the pathway from the Palace hand-in-hand, the bride still wearing her wedding gown and the bridegroom's sisters arranging her train for her. As they entered their open car at the gateway girls dressed in white scattered flowers in the road. FLAGS AND ARCHES. Slowly the car moved along the streets of Tirana, the King and Queen acknowledging the cheers of their subjects. As the cavalcade of cars passed along the road to Durazzo, the country people of Albania greeted their new Queen. Moslem women watched from the roofs. There had been a touching incident on the wedding eve, when a Hungarian gipsy band visited the Palace to play for the Countess. When she heard the haunting strains of the ancient Hungarian melody, "Red Roses for Easter," the Countess broke down and wept The following tests may be found useful for determining the heat of the oven:—lf a sheet of writing paper bums whenever it is put. in, the oven is too hot; if the paper becomes dark brown, it is suitable for pastry, scones, muffins, little dinner loaves, etc.; if light brown, it does for buns and cakes, pies, and tarts; if dark yellow, for cakes; if light yellow, for biscuits, puddings, etc.